James Tate is an accomplished young trainer who has won several top races in his time but landing a Group 1 contest is still missing from his CV. That will undoubtedly change at some point and the horse currently in his care most likely to achieve it for him is ROYAL ACCLAIM.
Aged four, this likeable filly has only had five races in her career, which means there is still plenty of scope for improvement – particularly as the Newmarket handler has been patient with her to date. Tomorrow (Haydock 3.30 p.m.) Royal Acclaim will line up for the competitive Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes.
I am usually loath to tip horses which have not run this season but I will make an exception for this filly. Yes, her fitness tomorrow has to be taken on trust, but for the past two seasons she has won on her seasonal debut and I would be surprised if Tate did not have her spot on to face 13 rivals, especially as there is a £70,000-plus pot on offer to the winner.
If all goes to plan, there is little doubt that Royal Acclaim will be lining up for the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in less than a month’s time. Neil Callan, who has won on this filly before, will be in the saddle tomorrow and he will be keen to secure her for the rest of the season.
There are dangers aplenty tomorrow with the younger fillies, The Platinum Queen and Dramatised, also likely to run well for the fairer sex. Live In The Dream is the horse in the race with the big fitness advantage as this will be his fourth run of the season, having already won two of his three races since the end of March.
However, Tate gave an upbeat appraisal on his Royal Acclaim earlier this week: ‘She is a bit bigger and a bit stronger, but she is really well in herself at the moment and is moving really well. We are really hopeful she can pick up where she left off and improve a little bit.
‘She has only had five races in her life so surely she is going to improve. In natural talent at home she is right at the top, but it is about what they can do on the track and she needs to just be a little bit more streetwise and get those sprinting muscles.’
On balance, back Royal Acclaim each way at 6/1 with Sky Bet offering five places rather than betting with other bookmakers offering slightly bigger odds but fewer places.
Elsewhere on the Haydock card, I can see De Bruyne running a big race in the Double Delight Edge Green Handicap (4.10 p.m.) for the Ed Walker-Hollie Doyle trainer-jockey combination. This will be only the fifth run of the three-year-old gelding’s career and he is certain to come on from his seasonal debut at Salisbury this month. I would be astonished if this horse does end this season being rated a lot higher than his current modest mark of 75.
Sadly, however, at the time of writing there are no prices on offer from any bookmaker for the race so I am not going to suggest backing De Bruyne without knowing what odds are likely to be available. Because of the name, Manchester City supporters may be keen to back the horse regardless of his price, as his Belgian midfielder namesake could hardly be having a better season on the football pitch.
This time next week I will be concentrating on trying to find the winner of the Betfred Derby. My problem now is that the two horses I fancy most for the race prefer soft ground and, with the weather forecast as it is at present, that is very unlikely. Watch this space.
2023 flat season running total: – 0.3 points.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Pending bets:
1 point each way Zoffee at 20-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
Settled bets:
1 point each way Royal Scotsman at 17/2 in the 2000 Guineas, 1/5 odds, paying four places. 3rd. + 0.5 points.
1 point each way Call My Bluff at 4-1 in the Chester Cup, paying six places, 1/5th odds. 3rd. – 0.2 points.
1 point each way Safe Voyage at 12-1 in the Victoria Cup, paying seven places, 1/5 odds. 5th. + 1.4 points.
1 point each way Popmaster at SP in the Connect It Utility Services Handicap. Unplaced. – 2 points.
My gambling record for the seven and a half years: I have made a profit in 14 of the past 15 seasons to recommended bets. To a one-point level stake over this period, the profit of has been just over 523 points. All bets are either one point each way or two points win (a ‘point’ is your chosen regular stake).
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