TEMPLEGATE tackles a huge Saturday of racing confident of making it three winning NAPS in a row.

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WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (2.40 Doncaster, nap)

He was highly impressive when winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket last time. He powered home over the mile in tacky ground, clocking a good time in the process. His sire Kameko won this race five years ago and he can follow in his hoofprints.

BROADWAY BOY (2.20 Cheltenham, nb)

He threatened to be top class last season and landed Graded and handicap wins here early in the campaign. The move to the highest level was too much for him though and local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies – who always targets this meeting – wisely lowers his sights for this comeback. He jumps well and still looks on a fair handicap mark so this front-runner can go close.

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ABERAMA GOLD (2.05 Doncaster, treble)

He landed his last win in this race 12 months ago and is back from 11lb lower in the handicap. He likes testing ground and went close behind Vintage Clarets at Catterick last time despite not getting the run of the race. He’ll go close again.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

CHELTENHAM

1.10

MARV MICHAEL was useful over hurdles but took his form to a new level when scooting in on chase debut at Kilbeggan.

He jumped superbly in front and didn’t see a rival. That was over this trip and he should improve. Cheltenham’s hill should be right up his street.

Will Carver scored on his first spin over fences for Nicky Henderson at Cartmel before a late mistake proved costly at Uttoxeter last time. He’s had a wind op since that effort and is open to improvement.

Guard Your Dreams held on to win by a nose on his chase debut at Warwick three weeks ago. He won a Grade 2 here at his hurdling best and jumped well. He should build on that good start.

Riskintheground is one of the more experienced over fences in the field but needs to improve on his Newton Abbot third last time.

Weveallbeencaught was a good sixth in the Ultima at this year’s Festival but would prefer a longer trip.

1.45

MILLFORCE won well on debut at Bellewstown before a couple of mistakes proved costly at Cork earlier this month.

He still did well to finish second and he should improve for that experience. Henry De Bromhead’s hopeful is a proven stayer who has more to come.

Intense Approach won a couple of minor contests before stepping into the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow two weeks ago.

He more than held his own there in finishing second but he does throw in the odd error. He shapes as though this longer trip will suit.

Fine Margin landed three novice wins on the spin in Britain for Willie Mullins before coming a cropper at Worcester last time.

The soft ground may have been to blame and it’s too early to write him off although he needs to find more here.

Donnie Devito looks ready for this longer distance but needs to improve on his modest Listowel run last month.

2.20

BROADWAY BOY threatened to be top class last season and landed Graded and handicap wins here early in the campaign.

The move to the highest level was too much for him though and local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies – who always targets this meeting – wisely lowers his sights for this comeback.

He jumps well and still looks on a fair handicap mark so this front-runner can go close.

Some Scope progressed nicely last term and went close off this mark at Donny before finishing the campaign with a fourth around here. This six-year-old has more to offer.

Le Milos won the Coral Gold Cup in 2022 but has been hit and miss since. He ran well in the Bet365 Gold Cup when last seen and is only 1lb higher than his last winning mark.

His best form would make him a contender for the Skeltons.

Chasing Fire signed off last season with a game win at Perth and has no issues seeing out this trip. He’s up 6lb for that but should be competitive.

It’s still early days over fences for Senior Chief who didn’t stay in the Irish National last time. He earlier won well at Punchestown and the first-time cheekpieces may help.

2.55

ZAIN NIGHTS landed the hat-trick when taking a hot contest at Haydock last time.

That built well on a win over this course and distance in April where he powered up the hill. He’s creeping up the weights but looks open to lots of improvement and likes a sound surface.

The Wallpark comes over for Gordon Elliott with every chance. He is another with a hat-trick and he stays strongly. He has a bigger hike in the weights to defy but hasn’t stopped improving yet.

Supreme Gift was a couple of lengths behind the tip when they met here in April but is better off at the weights today and can’t be overlooked.

Gowel Road was a solid sixth in the Pertemps Final at the Festival and should have another good season.

3.30

BOTTLER’SECRET would ideally have the ground a bit softer but his class can see him home.

He was useful on the Flat and won two Graded hurdles last season before going close in the Irish Champion Juvenile at Punchestown. Nothing else in the field comes close to that standard.

Givemefive is fit from the Flat and was a good second in the Adonis at Kempton in February before a poor run in Ireland. He’d appreciate some rain but is good enough to take the forecast spot.

Dodger Long didn’t have a lot to beat at Chepstow last time but did it easily and deserves this crack at a higher grade. He’ll need to improve but it’s early days.

4.05

YEATS STAR looked a handy recruit to chasing when winning by more than three lengths at Listowel last month.

He jumped nicely there and should appreciate this longer trip where he showed his best over hurdles. Trainer Gordon Elliott has a cracking record in this race too.

Theatre Man ran some fine races in defeat last season and was sent off favourite for the Festival Plate only to fall at the third fence. There’s plenty of talent there if trainer Richard Bandey can unlock it.

Hyland won on chase debut at Southwell but blotted his copybook a little when well beaten at Uttoxeter last time. He liked this trip over hurdles but needs to improve.

Moon D’Orange was a promising third on chase debut at Punchestown just ten days ago. That was over two miles but he was placed in a Grade 2 hurdle here over three miles and this trip should be more to his liking.
Bowtogreatness was hammered in the Kim Muir and lacks pace even for this distance.

Transmission should make a nice chaser but may need this experience after a long time over hurdles.

DONCASTER

1.30

DIEGO VENTURA won two maidens before improving to go close in a Group 3 contest at Newmarket last time. He relished the testing ground there and his stamina will be an asset in these conditions.

Bounty looks the obvious threat after an emphatic maiden win at Naas earlier this month. He won’t mind the ground and has more to come for Aidan O’Brien.

Arctic Voyage loved the mud when scooting in by six lengths at Nottingham 17 days ago. This son of Kingman takes a sharp hike in class here but is bred to hold his own for in-form trainer Ralph Beckett.

Fast Track Harry beat 12 rivals on his Newbury debut and the second has franked for the form since. He tanked along and is no forlorn hope with William Buick on board.

La Bellota was fourth in this grade over 5f last time but this trip suits better. Oisin Murphy gets on board today.

2.05

ABERAMA GOLD landed his last win in this race 12 months ago and is back from 11lb lower in the handicap.

He likes testing ground and went close behind Vintage Clarets at Catterick last time despite not getting the run of the race.

He’ll go close again with Vintage Clarets also in the mix despite a 4lb rise for his last success.

Blue Storm battled to score at Haydock last time in bottomless going. He has more improvement to come and is dangerous despite shouldering top weight.

Venture Capital is having a good season and was in winning form over course and distance last month. He went close off this mark at Ascot latest and looks solid each-way.

Jer Batt didn’t get much luck in running at York two Saturdays ago. He will enjoy dropping back to the minimum distance with soft ground also in his favour.

He’s had a little nudge down the weights and is another to consider.

Cover Up is coming down the handicap and likes this trip. He looks a big price for the Gosdens.

Solar Aclaim has shown his best in the mud but may lack a bit of pace for this trip.

2.40

IT’S game, set and match for WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE who was highly impressive when winning the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket last time.

He powered home over the mile in tacky ground, clocking a good time in the process. His sire Kameko won this race five years ago and he can follow in his hoofprints.

Royal Playwright chased him home at HQ and his stamina will be an asset in these testing conditions.

Delacroix looked a real battler when taking the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket two Saturdays ago. He saw out the mile well there and trainer Aidan O’Brien is a regular winner of this race.

Anno Domini looked a nice type when scoring at Sandown back in July.

It’s a concern that he hasn’t been out since then but he should appreciate this extra furlong and has more to offer for last year’s winner Charlie Appleby.

Hotazhell took a Curragh Group 2 last month but faces much softer ground here.

Templegate’s tips

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George Russell endured a hefty crash in Formula 1’s second practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix to introduce a lengthy red flag.

The Briton took too much kerb at Turn 9 and it visibly upset his Mercedes’ handling as the rear of the car began to bounce, pitching Russell into the Tecpro barrier sideways.

Russell was able to get out of the car unaided – though clutching his midriff – and the nature of the impact necessitated the appearance of the medical car, which took him to the circuit’s medical centre for checks.

Mercedes has since announced that the English driver has been released from the medical centre and made his way back to the hospitality, clarifying: “He’s physically okay but it was a significant impact.”

This led to a 24-minute break in proceedings to repair the Tecpro barriers damaged in the Russell impact on the exit of Turn 9, before the session was able to get going again. 

Russell’s Mercedes sustained heavy damage to the right-hand side of the car, particularly to the sidepod and rear wing, and thus will require lengthy repairs overnight.

It was the second heavy impact sustained by Russell in consecutive weeks after he spun out at Turn 19 in qualifying for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

FP2 had been extended to 90 minutes for the purposes of a Pirelli tyre test; the control tyre supplier set out the run plans for all teams – with 30 minutes of free running granted to the drivers who missed FP1 after giving up their seats to young drivers.

The additional Pirelli tyres supplied are all unmarked; each driver was given an additional two sets of tyres, one of a 2024 compound used during the weekend, and another of a 2025 construction to provide back-to-back data without visually revealing the softness of the compounds themselves. One of these includes a C6 compound at an even softer grade.

Two referees have been banned from officiating in Uefa matches until June 2025 after a bizarre incident on the morning of a Champions League qualifier between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv.

Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were replaced as VAR officials before the third qualifying round match in Lublin, Poland on 6 August after reports of “improper behaviour”.

Polish media reports alleged the pair had been drinking and were stopped by police with another man in the early hours having moved a road sign, with Frankowski later confirming details of the incident in an interview.

Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body said on Friday the Polish duo were banned for violating “basic rules of decent conduct” and for bringing the sport and Uefa into disrepute.

A police spokesman said at the time that the men had been caught on CCTV cameras carrying the sign and were detained.

Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski said, according to Polish news outlet TVP World, that the men were breathalysed and had alcohol in their systems and were later fined.

Frankowski and Musial released statements of apology, with both saying that they co-operated with the police without aggression while Musial described the incident as “irresponsible and unprofessional”.

Musial added: “I feel very sorry and – in purely human terms – stupid, because I know that my unfortunate behaviour will cast a shadow over many years of hard work.

“I am aware of the consequences that await me, but I hope that I will be able to rehabilitate myself and rebuild your trust.”

Frankowski said: “Throughout my 22 years of refereeing I have tried to discharge my duties professionally and avoid any blemishes on my image.

“I made a terrible mistake that I deeply regret. I will accept the consequences with humility, but at the same time I would like to hope that I will be able to rebuild your trust someday.”

Frankowski and Musial were intended to be the video assistant referee (VAR) and VAR assistant for the Champions League qualifier but were replaced by other officials from the Polish Football Association.

The pair were also suspended by the Polish FA in August.

The match was drawn 1-1. Rangers suffered a 2-0 defeat at home the following week that meant Dynamo won on aggregate.

Victor Hugo grew up watching his father Marcio compete in full-contact fights and began training martial arts at 5 years of age, but quickly dropped jiu-jitsu to focus solely on striking practice. Two decades later, he’s now a UFC fighter looking for his first knockout inside the octagon.

Nicknamed “Striker” for his love of stand-up fighting, Hugo enters the UFC 308 cage to face undefeated Farid Basharat this Saturday in Abu Dhabi and wants to add the 9th knockout to his MMA record. Hugo won his UFC debut with a decision over Pedro Falcao, six months after tapping out Eduardo Torres on Dana White’s Contender Series.

“I’m by far the best fighter he’s ever faced,” Hugo said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “He fought (Taylor Lapilus), a kickboxing champion with no ground game or takedown defense. If we’re talking striking, my nickname says it all. And I don’t even need to talk about my takedown defense. And I’m a black belt on the ground, brother. He’s never fought a black belt before.”

“This is a test for him, not for me,” he continued. “It’s a good fight for me. He has good striking, he’s fast, and he has good cardio, but my takedown defense is ridiculous. He won’t take me down like he has against other opponents. … He’s good, but he’s not a fantastic striker. His kicks are fast but that’s it. He’s never finished anyone, and I’ve knocked out a shitload of people, so there’s a good chance I knock him out as well.”

Hugo said “it’s always been my dream to fight vale tudo since I was a kid” after watching old tapes of Royce Gracie winning the first UFC events and Mirko Cro Cop dropping people left and right inside the PRIDE ring, and it’s special to now find himself standing on the same cage that has once welcomed such legends.

“I was such a big fan of Cro Cop,” Hugo said. “We had no access to information like we have today, so I used to go to [n internet cafe] and burn CDs and DVDs of his fights so I could watch it over and over and over again at home.”

Though Hugo claimed otherwise, Basharat does have stoppage wins on his record, with one knockout and six submissions across a dozen of professional MMA appearances, but the Brazilian isn’t amazed. A pro fighter since 2011, Hugo says “my calm makes others desperate.”

“All that time has gotten me ready for this,” Hugo said. “I see fighting as math. Many people are emotional, but I’m different. He has this single leg takedown? I’ll defend it 50 times in the gym. What are his flaw? Body shots? Ok, I’ll work a lot on my attacks to the body. When you’re calm and collected up there you can see everything your opponent is doing, and that makes them desperate.”