Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP can exploit a handy mares’ allowance for the in-form Skeltons

TEMPLEGATE tackles a simply monster Saturday of racing confident of smashing in some winners here, there and everywhere!

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KATEIRA (2.22 Wetherby, nap)

Gets a handy 3lb weight allowance from the boys and she can make the most of it. The Skeltons’ daughter of Kayf Tara finished last season with an impressive big-field win at Aintree where she wasn’t stopping at the end of 2m4f. This longer trip should be right up her street this season and the yard has won two of the past four renewals.

GOBLET OF FIRE (3.32 Wetherby, nb)

Nicky Henderson has been running this four-year-old on the all-weather with plenty of success and he relished his return to hurdles when scoring at Southwell last time. He needs decent ground so should get ideal conditions here and he has plenty of pace for this two-mile trip. The handicapper has been fair enough with a 6lb rise in the weights and there should be a lot more to come from this improver.

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MASTER CHEWY (2.05 Ascot, treble)

He had a fantastic first season over fences last term, landing Wayward Lad at Kempton’s Christmas meeting before holding his own at the highest level. He was booked for a podium place in the Arkle only to come down two out and he bounced back with a head second in the Grade 1 Maghull at Aintree. Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies continues to send out plenty of winners and this seven-year-old can add to his tally.

Templegate’s TV verdicts and Breeders’ Cup selections

WETHERBY

1.15

TEDLEY left his modest hurdles form behind when winning on chase debut at Uttoxeter 15 days ago. His young rider’s claim accounts for his 5lb rise in the weights and there’s a lot more to come.

Choosethenews is one to watch this season but he’s already crying out for three miles. He found this trip a bit sharp when running an excellent second on comeback at Hexham last time.

King’s Threshold didn’t do a lot wrong over fences last season, winning over a similar trip to this at Ascot in March. He was a little stretched by three miles at Kempton after that and still looks on a fair mark.

William Cody was a good second in this race first time out last season. He’s 7lb higher in the handicap now but is consistent and looks solid each-way.

Harry Cobden is an interesting booking for Emma Lavelle’s King’s Threshold who is best over this trip.

1.50

LUCCIA spent much of last season performing well in Grade 1s and should have too much quality for this field.

She was an excellent third in the Champion Hurdle before not quite matching that form in the Aintree Hurdle. She has already won a couple of times in this Listed class and dropping back to two miles is another plus.

The Skeltons have a solid record in this race and their Take No Chances is fit from a good third in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow last month.

Her best has come over longer trips but she has enough boot to make the forecast spot.

Sweet Fantasy is a decent handicapper on the Flat and he’s won both his hurdles runs – albeit at a lower level than this. You would expect plenty of improvement this season.

Gordon Elliott sends over Royal Eagle who went close in a Limerick Listed contest last time. She stays all day so some rain would suit.

2.22

KATEIRA can give the Skeltons their third win in the past five runnings of this race.

This daughter of Kayf Tara improved through last season and beat the useful Jango Baie in a hot handicap at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

That was over 2m4f but she shapes as though this longer distance will suit and she gets some handy weight from largely inferior male rivals.

Dashel Drasher is rising 12 but we know he’ll run his usual gutsy race. He was backed for this race 12 months when he needed the run in third place and he’s likely to fill the same spot again.

Sandor Clegane was competing at the highest level over fences last season and was a solid fourth in the Punchestown Champion Novices’ when last seen.

He was third in the Albert Bartlett as a hurdler and anything like that form would make him dangerous.

Thunder Rock was hit and miss over fences last year and is one to watch on this first hurdles run for two years.

2.58

BRAVEMANSGAME won’t have a much easier chance to land his first win since the 2022 King George – assuming Grey Dawning swerves this race due to the drying ground.

Paul Nicholls kept sending the tip to all the big dances last season and he was far from disgraced when fifth in the Gold Cup as his stamina gave way in the final quarter-mile.

He was out of sorts at Aintree after that so missed Punchestown. He won this in 2022 and was second last season so we know he likes the track.

Should unforecast rain arrive and Grey Dawning runs, he’ll be hard to beat judged on his Turners win at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – but it seems unlikely.

Conflated has a decent engine but he makes far too many mistakes including when unseating on comeback at Punchestown 17 days ago.

The Real Whacker isn’t out of this given his liking for the trip. He was going well in the Kerry National in September before unseating and he could fill the forecast spot.

French Dynamite won the Punchestown Grade 3 Conflated unshipped his rider in. His trainer Mouse Morris won this last season and he’ll try to nick it from the front.

3.32

GOBLET OF FIRE looked the real deal when winning on hurdles debut at Southwell ten days ago.

He tanked along on good ground and James Bowen barely needed to shake the reins in landing the win. A 6lb rise for that is more than fair and he should get his ideal ground again.

Williethebuilder was pitched into some hot contests last season and looked more at home in this handicap class when beaten in a photo here on comeback.

It turned into a bit of a sprint finish and he’ll come on for that experience.

V Twelve has run well here before and has had a little nudge down the weights since his comeback third at Carlisle. He’ll need more to take this.

Spirits Bay has won two of this past three and ran another decent race at Fakenham latest. This is tougher but there’s more to come.

ASCOT

1.30

BHALOO can strike on this chase debut for Nicky Henderson. He has a couple of hurdles wins under his belt and ended last season with a close second at Warwick in May.

He looks the type to make a nice chaser and is on a fair handicap mark.

Leader In The Park was an impressive Irish point-to-point winner so could well improve on this chasing debut.

He has no trip or ground issues and Favourite columnist Ben Pauling is in excellent form. His opening chase mark of 121 looks on the skinny side.

Samarrive was leading this race two years ago before hitting the deck and he was last seen finishing second over fences here a year ago. He would be a threat if cutting out the errors.

Bad is another Ben Pauling runner who hasn’t shown his best on the track yet. This is his chase debut and it would be no surprise to see him better his relatively modest hurdles form.

What Path has left Willie Mullins and would probably prefer a longer trip.

2.05

MASTER CHEWY was last seen going down in a head-bobber for the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase on Grand National day at Aintree.

He led two from home, was headed and then nearly got up again on the line which is a good sign. He ran well before falling in the Arkle too and looks hard to beat in handicap company.

Martator finished last season with three wins including an impressive effort at Sandown by seven lengths. He’s up the weights for that has won here before and should be right in the mix.

Saint Segal has fitness on his side thanks to a solid comeback fourth at Chepstow last month. He tends to make mistakes which explains his modest win strike-rate.

Matterhorn was going the right way last season with four chase wins in a row before a couple of errors stopped him at Newton Abbot in August.

Nico De Boinville gets on well with him and he could easily bounce back.

Madara found the Grand Annual too much last time but was progressive earlier and is still only a five-year-old.

3.15

SECRET SQUIRREL loves going right-handed as he showed when winning at Kempton and Taunton last season.

He ended up going off favourite for the big novices’ final at Sandown where he was a solid fifth. That was just his fifth spin over timber for Hughie Morrison so there’s more to come.

He goes well fresh and right-handed Ascot should be ideal.

Stream Of Stars hasn’t had much to beat in winning twice at Fontwell but he’s done it nicely enough. He’s going up the weights but should have more to offer for in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Fiercely Proud was behind the tip at Sandown when trying to come from too far back. He has a good engine and won his first two starts last season.

Watch the betting for clues about Rightsotom having his first run for 546 days. He was fourth in an Aintree Grade 1 for Thomas Mullins last year and looks on a fair handicap mark.

Tapley had lots in the tank when scoring at Plumpton and deserves this crack at stronger company.

3.45

HIGHSTAKESPLAYER likes Kempton so should be right at home around Ascot too. He was a fair hurdler but took his form up a few notches jumping fences last season.

He was value for further than the half-length winning margin at Kempton in April where his jumping was foot-perfect. Tom Lacey’s chaser goes well fresh and looks capable of better.

Chianti Classico is best when fresh and trainer Kim Bailey is aiming him at the Grand National in April.

He was impressive when winning the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival but is 9lb higher after that.

Two For Gold saves his best for this course and distance. His form figures here are 2122. He stays well and looks solid each-way.

Mylesfromwicklow is rarely out of the frame and went close on comeback at Market Rasen last month. He goes from the front and could box on for a place.

Neon Moon scored on return at Chepstow three weeks ago. He is hard to catch right but a 4lb rise for that seems fair.

DOWN ROYAL

2.40

GERRI COLOMBE was a good second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season before going one better at Aintree when Galopin Des Champs wasn’t around.

He kicked off last season by winning this race and can repeat the feat even without Jack Kennedy on board.

Envoi Allen isn’t the force he was when winning this in 2022 and he tried different trips last season with mixed results. His best form still gets him the forecast spot though.

It wouldn’t be a shock if Hewick wins given his stunning King George victory last season.

He stays well but the other two would have to be below par for him to take this.

DEL MAR

7.41

A FAST start is more important that the draw even on this tight track so BRADSELL is no forlorn hope from stall 12.

The widest gates have fared little worse than anywhere else here so far this season and Hollie Doyle’s mount has plenty of early speed.

He ran a cracker on unsuitably soft ground at Longchamp last time and these quicker conditions will be ideal for this triple Group 1 winner.

Cogburn is the obvious danger and he’s led from the stalls on his past two outings. He’s won all five starts over this minimum trip but his best speed figures have come over a bit further.

It’s hard to come from behind so slow starter Starlust will have to run the race of his life for Ralph Beckett.

George Boughey’s Believing looks to have a better chance under Ryan Moore. He was up with the pace throughout when winning a Curragh Group 2 on quick ground in July.

Motorious did well to win here last time but he’ll need luck as he’s isn’t the quickest out of the stalls.

9.01

SHAHRYAR ran a cracker to finish third in what was arguably a stronger renewal of this race 12 months ago.

He’s had his season built around this race and finished strongly into fourth over 1m2f last time. This extra quarter-mile is ideal and he can run another good race at big odds.

Rebel’s Romance ran the race of his life when winning this in 2022. He kicked off this season with a big win in Hong Kong and was last seen landing a cosy Group 2 win in Germany.

His stall 11 draw isn’t ideal but he has every chance albeit at a fairly skinny price.

Emily Upjohn isn’t quite the force of old but she ran her best race for a while when a close-up third at Longchamp last month. Her finest hours have come over this distance and fast ground holds no fears.

No offence to Kieran Shoemark but Frankie Dettori is a big upgrade in the saddle too.

Far Bridge has landed smooth successes at Grade 1 level on his past two outings, both over this trip.

He did particuarly well at Aqueduct last time in what was a rough race. He likes quick ground and is another to consider.

The ground is likely to be too lively for Luxembourg although he should be fine on this track having won the Coronation Cup at tricky Epsom.

9.41

CITY OF TROY can win a Breeders’ Cup Classic that doesn’t look a vintage renewal.

Aidan O’Brien says he’s the best he’s ever trained and the Derby winner was better than ever when taking the Juddmonte International at York last time. He likes this trip and has improvement to come.

This is his first run on dirt but he’s by American sire Justify who has a fine record on this surface. His low draw is ideal for a horse that likes to be prominent and he won’t lack for stamina.

Fierceness has been in flying form with back-to-back Grade 1 wins. If he gets on the front, he’ll be hard to beat but he’s never won when turning into the straight behind other horses.

Ushba Tesoro is getting on a bit but was a bit unlucky in this last year and is solid each-way.

Tapit Trice clocked a fast time when scoring at Aqueduct latest and is another with place claims.

Templegate’s tips

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