Horse racing tips: ‘Superstar will be bang there on return' – Templegate's NAP to score for Aidan O'Brien
TEMPLEGATE'S Sunday picks are below.
Back a horse by clicking their odds.
Advertisement
LAKE VICTORIA (3.40 Curragh, nap)
Looked like a superstar in an unbeaten juvenile campaign that culminated in a trio of impressive Group 1 wins. She snagged top-level successes at 6f, 7f and the mile trip, running riot in the Cheveley Park before her remarkable win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was below her best on return in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, but Aidan O'Brien's horses tend to improve for their returns and he has a habit of bringing them forward from below-par Guineas runs.
KALPANA (3.05 Curragh, nb)
Looked the real deal last season, rounding off the campaign in the manner of a filly going places. After winning Listed and Group 3 races at Hamilton and Kempton in a common canter, she stepped into Group 1 company at Ascot and ran riot in the British Champions Fillies & Mares on Champions Day. Given that she did not race as a juvenile, there has to be a lot of hope she will blossom even further as a four-year-old.
Advertisement
MATTERHORN (3.48 Uttoxeter, 3.48)
Paul Nicholls saddles this seven-year-old who should have more to offer upped in trip.
Templegate's tips
CURRAGH
Advertisement
Most read in Horse Racing
Exclusive
1.20 Composing
1.55 Albert Einstein
2.30 One Look
3.05 Kalpana (nb)
3.40 LAKE VICTORIA (nap)
4.15 Varshini
4.50 Robbies Rock
5.25 Gifted
UTTOXETER
2.03 Getuptheyard
2.38 Kaituna River
3.13 Service Minimum
3.48 Matterhorn (treble)
4.23 Leading Force
4.58 Tara Iti
5.33 Bushstreet Bowman
KELSO
Advertisement
2.13 Pergamon
2.48 Spartan Warrior
3.23 Wee Alki
3.58 Rewired
4.33 Theirshegoes
5.08 Cushendall
FONTWELL
1.48 Just A Heartbeat
2.23 School For Scandal
2.58 Doc McCoy
3.33 Thirtyfour Thirty
4.08 Man Of The Sea
4.43 Jack Sparrow Grey
5.18 Hyperbole
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Advertisement
Read more on the Irish Sun
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare –
Gamble Aware –
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Templegate's ‘overpriced' Oaks tip, 1-2-3 prediction and complete runner-by-runner guide to £570,000 Epsom Classic
TEMPLEGATE delivers his complete guide, tip and 1-2-3 prediction for the awesome Epsom Oaks below. Nine of the finest three-year-old fillies in the land go to post for the prestigious Group 1 run over 1m4f. 1 Desert Flower has been the long-time favourite for the Oaks on the back of her dominant 1,000 Guineas victory Credit: PA He goes through each of the runners, rates them out of five stars and delivers his big-race tip at the bottom. Aidan O'Brien has dominated the Classic trials - but one legendary jockey reckons this Back any horse you fancy by clicking their odds below and check out the The action will be live on ITV1 at 4pm Friday. Epsom Derby 2025 free bets: Best new sign up offers - HERE Templegate's Oaks runner-by-runner guide and ratings DESERT FLOWER 4 FLOWER in bloom. Charlie Appleby's filly has yet to taste defeat in five starts and kept that run going with a smooth success in the 1,000 Guineas on comeback. Most read in Horse Racing She was a brilliant juvenile and took the Group 1 Fillies' Mile by five lengths after the May Hill at Donny. There's little doubt she's the best filly in the race with stamina the only question mark. She wasn't stopping at Newmarket and isn't a keen sort so isn't likely to pull her chance away. At first glance, her breeding does seem to scream a mile and the softish ground may play to more of a stayer. Despite that her class will take her close under William Buick who is a big-race jockey. ELWATEEN 5 TEEN dream. We have only seen this daughter of Dubawi twice but she has created a big impression. She won at Kempton on debut in August before Saeed Bin Suroor put her away. Her next outing was a really promising fourth in the 1,000 Guineas where she was definitely doing her best work in the closing stages. She was a little green when the pace hotted up and she will have learned plenty before being supplemented for this test. Her dam stayed 1m2f strongly in soft ground so there's every chance she'll relish this trip. Saeed is something of a forgotten trainer these days but he's got two Oaks wins from his halcyon days so knows what it takes to win. GISELLE 3 ELLE of a filly. She only had two rivals to beat in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on comeback last month but did it by nine easy lengths. She handled the track so should be fine at Epsom too. She is one of the few in the field who has no stamina doubts and there's a lot more to come. She scored on dead ground as a juvenile and has a lively each-way chance for Aidan O'Brien. GO GO BOOTS 2 KICK off Boots. Considering Oisin Murphy is on board for the Gosdens, she is big price for all she has a bit to find on form. Her third in the Musidora at York last time was far from a disgrace. She looked very much a work in progress on the Knavesmire and ran around a bit in the closing stages. That's not what you want to see before tackling tricky Epsom and she looks more suited to the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot next month. MINNIE HAUK 3 HAUK has to fly. Ryan Moore's choice of the Aidan O'Brien trio crossed the line with plenty left when winning the Cheshire Oaks on comeback. She will definitely come on for that run and is guaranteed to see out the extra furlong here. Handling Chester often means Epsom will be fine too. On the negative side, she didn't beat a lot on the Roodee so will need to fine more form-wise although O'Brien runners often take a big step up for a run. QILIN QUEEN 2 QUEEN won't be crowned. She is progressing nicely for Ed Walker and battled all the way to win a Newbury Listed race last time. That was on the nod from Revoir who also lines up today. That was over 1m2f when she went from the front and just held on so stamina may be an issue. Either way, it's a fair leap to be winning a Classic on current form. REVOIR 3 REVVED up. The line came a stride too soon when she finished second to Qilin Queen at Newbury last time but Ralph Beckett's filly looks a hotter prospect. She came home strongly so should be suited by this step up in distance and has improvement to come after just two starts. In-form Beckett's fillies often come on significantly for a run and she's right in the each-way picture. WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY 2 WAY out. Add an extra star if the ground is riding genuinely soft as she relished testing conditions when winning a Navan Group 3 over 1m2f last time. That was a big improvement on her effort in the Ballysax on comeback where she looked a mile off Oaks standard. She has a fair bit to find on form so needs that downpour. WHIRL 4 GIVE it a Whirl. She may yet prove to be the best of the Aidan O'Brien runners after her easy Musidora win at York last time. That has been a useful pointer to the Oaks and she had lots of running left at the end of 1m2f so stamina shouldn't be an issue. She seems to handle any ground and looks capable of improvement under Wayne Lordan. Templegate's Oaks tip and 1-2-3 prediction SAEED Bin Suroor has got an El of a chance in the £570,000 Betfred Oaks. ELWATEEN (4.00 Epsom, nap) caught the eye with a staying-on fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and can blossom over this longer trip. She won't mind a bit of cut in the ground and can go close at decent odds under Jim Crowley. Desert Flower showed her class when winning the Guineas at Newmarket and will be hard to beat if lasting home — which isn't guaranteed on pedigree. Ryan Moore has chosen Minnie Hauk of the Aidan O'Brien trio but there isn't much between her, Giselle and Whirl who all have each-way chances. 1st Elwateen 2nd Desert Flower 3rd Whirl FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Calandagan favourite to be crowned in Coronation Cup
Dreams of a first top-level success are inspiring Calandagan's raid on the Betfred Coronation Cup at Epsom. No stranger to British soil, Francis-Henri Graffard's four-year-old won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last term, but then had to settle for second when returning for top-table action in the Juddmonte International and then in the season-ending Champion Stakes. "We would really love a first Group One with him and that's what we would like to do this year, he deserves to win a Group One and we're hoping it will be on Friday," said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs. "I suppose the only real doubt is handling the track and he's probably never run on anything like Epsom before. "He's a very balanced horse and we imagine he is going to be OK but you never know until they get there and run. We are confident he is going to run well, he always runs well." Calandagan was again runner-up at the highest level when returning to action in Dubai in April, with this race immediately earmarked for the gelding's next outing, a ploy the owners almost pulled off with Meydan scorer Dolniya in 2015 when going down narrowly to Pether's Moon at Epsom. "We were happy with his run in the Sheema Classic, he got a little bit far back but that's because he was drawn on the inside and he's not a horse with a huge amount of early speed," continued Routh. "He finished the race well and took the race well, he's very straightforward and we've been happy with his preparation. "We won the Sheema Classic with Dolniya and then came to this race and it gives them enough time to get over the trip to Dubai as you're winding them up quite early in the season to run in a Group One, which is quite a big ask for a horse coming out of winter. "The gap gives them enough time to get over that and then run well and Francis had always earmarked this race for after Dubai. This has been the plan for a while and we hope he's in great form." Aidan O'Brien will saddle a pair of St Leger heroes Jan Brueghel (above) in Continuous as he looks for back-to-back Coronation Cup victories following Luxembourg's success 12 months ago. O'Brien explained how Jan Brueghel was a late substitution into the race following a shuffling of the Ballydoyle pack, but expects him to improve for his reappearance second in the Alleged Stakes. "Everyone was standing in line behind Kyprios and when Kyprios was retired we had to find a Gold Cup horse and it was between him and Illinois," said O'Brien. "We just felt we could give Illinois the first go at it as he won at Chester and his preparation was going to fit into the Gold Cup, when that happened Jan Brueghel could take Illinois' position in the Coronation." Of Jan Brueghel, he added: "He was second to one of Joseph's (O'Brien) the first day over a mile and a quarter and he will definitely be much happier going a mile and a half. "I'm never surprised when they get beat. Obviously he was a Leger winning starting back over a mile and a quarter, so he was always going to lack race sharpness and fitness at that time of the year. "Joseph's horse beat him nicely on the day, but we thought it did our horse good and he learnt a lot and he came out of the race well." Giavellotto ended a winter of globetrotting by finishing fifth in the same Meydan event as Calandagan and now makes his UK return fresh from his trainer Marco Botti enjoying Italian Derby glory in his homeland. Botti said: "He's in good form and with Epsom you never know whether they'll handle the track or not, but he ran at Goodwood and handled the undulations there and it's not a big field, so fingers crossed he'll handle it. "He's proven now that over a mile and a half he's quite effective. It's not an easy race, but he deserves to be there." Ralph Beckett's Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me will make her first appearance in the colours of Amo Racing, while Andrew Balding's Bellum Justum and the Charlie Appleby-trained Ancient Wisdom finished seventh and eighth respectively in the Derby last year and have banked some smart form since.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It took years off my life' – Fabio Wardley lived off ice cream and noodles after brutal Frazer Clarke fight
FABIO WARDLEY resorted to a diet of ice cream and noodles after his brutal fight against Frazer Clarke. The pair put on a thriller over 12 rounds in March of last year - 5 Fabio Wardley's horror nose injury against Frazer Clarke Credit: Getty 5 He was unable to chew for days afterwards Credit: PA 5 The bout ended a draw with Wardley winning the rematch by KO Credit: Reuters Wardley was He told "I probably should've gone to the hospital afterwards. I remember being sat in my hotel room and I couldn't sleep because my head was pounding, like vibrating. "When I lay down, I felt sick. If I sat up, I felt sick. My face looked like the Elephant Man. My nose was stitched up. READ MORE IN BOXING "I'd bitten my tongue about 100 times. I couldn't chew for three days because of my jaw, so I just ate ice cream and noodles, but that's part of it. "Those fights are going to happen and you might get knocked out, but if you carry that around with you and hesitate because you're scared of it, it could have a negative impact on how you fight and almost make it more likely to happen. You've got to just take it on the chin.' Wardley scored a knockdown in round five and Clarke had a point off to even the judges scorecards. But Wardley won the rematch six months later with a brutal Most read in Boxing 5 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Now the Ipswich super-fan returns on Saturday at Portman Road Huni won the amateur World Youth Championships in 2016 - the same year Fabio Wardley prepares for dream Portman Road homecoming fight Wardley said: 'Huni is another opponent from a completely different end of entry in boxing terms. 'After starting in white-collar, anything was a win. This wasn't realistic, but you always imagine.' Wardley had four fights on the unlicensed circuit - winning them all by KO - after foregoing an amateur career. Now he is on the cusp of a world title shot as part of one of British boxing's most unlikely success stories. Wardley said: 'I fought at the O2, then I headlined the O2, I've fought in Saudi Arabia as the chief support to Tyson Fury and to Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol. "It keeps feeling like we've peaked and that it can't get any better and now I'm fighting at the stadium in my hometown. "I'm genuinely on the edge of a world title, which sounds crazy for me just to say.' 5 Wardley facing off with Justis Huni Credit: Instagram @justis_huni
