TEMPLEGATE picks his top ten money-spinners on the Flat this season.
Our racing guru has scoured the top yards for the top runners and put together his big ten below.
Digest all the info, put the horses in your tracker and take a punt as the speediest horses in the world get going for the summer.
Templegate says…
I’M banking on Persian to carpet the bookies.
Persian Force impressed when winning the Brocklesby at Doncaster on the first day of the season and can go on to bigger and better things.
His trainer Richard Hannon has some red-hot two-year-olds this term and filly Powerdress is another one of his to keep a close eye on this term after staying on well to win this week at Newmarket.
Charlie Appleby has also kicked the season off in fine style and, as well as Classic hopefuls like Native Trail and Coroebus, has superstars Hurricane Lane, Adayar and Yibir to ease him to title glory again.
And he has red-hot William Buick riding most of them for good measure.
Here is my Flat ten to follow this season.
ALENQUER
Trainer: William Haggas
Age: 4; Form: 11329-16
THERE could well be a Group 1 win in this four-year-old who took the King Edward at Royal Ascot before hitting the frame at the top level in the Grand Prix De Paris and Juddmonte International at York.
He got no luck when a big outsider for the Arc before coming back to win the Winter Derby at Lingfield in February.
William Haggas stepped him back up to a mile and a half for the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan where he was beaten just over a length despite pulling.
That seems to be his trip and he could even get a bit further. That top-level win surely isn’t far away.
Lovely performance! Alenquer finds plenty to beat Lord North in the Betway Winter Derby at @LingfieldPark for @CierenFallonJr and William Haggas! pic.twitter.com/2H0xf8qtHp
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 26, 2022
BANDINELLI
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Age: 4; Form: 1371121-1
THIS son of Dubawi looks a stayer to follow given the way his form has improved since stepping up to two miles.
He has some decent turf efforts on his CV, including a handicap win over 1m6f at Haydock but really enjoyed the longer trip when finishing last season with a victory at Kempton.
He was back at the same all-weather venue to start this campaign and had little trouble winning a Class 2 handicap.
He looks capable of making his mark at a higher level.
Bear in mind his one poor run came in tacky ground so only put your money down when it is nice rattling good to firm on the grass.
RAYMOND TUSK
Trainer: Alan King
Age: 7; Form: 623228-1
THE excellent Alan King is as well known for his Flat horses as jumpers these days and he will find winning opportunities for this hurdler on the level.
His form over timber wasn’t great last season but he had four lengths in hand when winning over 1m4f at Doncaster and looks set to possibly go one better than last year’s Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes second.
Either way Raymond Tusk will be winning again soon. He should be a nice money-spinner for punters this term.
JUMBLY
Trainer: Roger Charlton
Age: 3; Form: 1141-
SHE did well as a two-year-old last season, winning at Leicester and Kempton before a solid fourth in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket.
She finished the campaign by taking the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury, in October.
The ground was testing there and she saw out the seven furlongs well. A slightly longer trip than the mile could suit her best.
LILAC ROAD
Trainer: William Haggas
Age: 4; Form: 132912-
THIS well-bred filly took a Listed race at Salisbury in August and was unlucky not to end the campaign with a Group 3 win at Newmarket in October.
She had to settle for a half-length second after losing a shoe and being carried across the track in the closing stages.
She stays ten furlongs well and may get further. There’s definitely a Group race in her.
LIONEL
Trainer: David Menusier
Age: 3; Form: 2
WE got just one look at this well-bred colt last season as he made his debut at Newbury in late October.
He came home a close second despite only being ridden with hands and heels by softly-softly Jamie Spencer.
He is related to other high-class types and will come into his own when stepped up to middle distances as the season wears on.
He showed lots of promise here and picked up nicely despite the testing conditions.
There’s a lot more to come for his astute trainer.
MOBADRA
Trainer: Roger Varian
Age: 4; Form: 121-
SHE had just three runs last season and kicked off with a fast-ground win at Haydock over a mile before going close in a Newmarket handicap coming back from a break.
She then stepped up on that when scooting in at Kempton dropped to seven furlongs when last seen in November.
With few miles on the clock she should be capable of scoring again in a decent handicap up to a mile.
NEW LONDON
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Age: 3; Form: 1-1
LATE-season Newmarket maidens are well worth looking at and this colt won his sole start on the Rowley Mile in late October.
There was some cut in the ground but he powered through it well despite looking green on debut.
He returned to action over course and distance with another good performance when staying strongly to win a decent novice race on Wednesday.
He was cut to 14-1 from 20s for the Derby after that but the King George VI handicap could be the way to go.
He has a great attitude and looks a good pro. He definitely has scope for the St Leger trip too.
Blue is the colour
The @godolphin dominance continues as New London (Dubawi) leads home a 1-2-3 for the outfit and hands a quickfire double to the formidable William Buick and Charlie Appleby partnership
@NewmarketRace | @bet365 pic.twitter.com/V6FGAtCmaU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 13, 2022
PERSIAN FORCE
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Age: 2; Form: 1
SO impressive in the Flat season’s first race — the Brocklesby at Doncaster.
He couldn’t have got the job done any easier and didn’t have to hit top gear.
It wasn’t the strongest renewal but he clocked an excellent time and looks a nice prospect.
Connections are rightly aiming him at Royal Ascot and that looks fair enough. He can build on this.
The yard’s Powerdress also looks one for Royal Ascot while Backing Ballymore has more than scattered a few pigeons on the gallops.
VIA SISTINA
Trainer: Joseph Tuite
Age: 4; Form: 31010-
THIS four-year-old has run just five times with the highlight being her big fillies’ handicap win at Newmarket in October.
She won that despite having a modest draw and managed to score pretty much on the bridle.
That saw her well backed for a Doncaster Listed contest where she lost her chance with a bad break and was then hampered.
She is up to Listed or slightly better level over ten furlongs.
