Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP clocked a massive personal best last time out and can jump rivals into submission

TEMPLEGATE tackles an intriguing Saturday of racing confident of hitting the bullseye.

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MY SILVER LINING (3.15 Haydock, nap)

Can strike gold in the Grand National trial having clocked a massive personal best when winning the red-hot Classic chase at Warwick last time. Emma Lavelle’s stayer jumped them into submission there when the stamina-sapping trip brought out her best. She loves testing ground so should be in her element today as Haydock heavy is proper heavy. It makes good jumping all the more important as horses tire and this mare hardly puts a foot wrong. She showed real heart to get up in that punishing Warwick contest and that will be an asset up Haydock’s long straight. A 5lb rise still sees her on a winnable mark and jockey James Best was in Grade 1 winning form at Sandown a couple of Saturdays ago.

BUTCH (2.40 Haydock, nb)

Olly Murphy’s rising star has few miles on the clock for a seven-year-old and has done nothing but win on three starts this season. There was a lot to like about his back-to-back victories at Cheltenham including on New Year’s Day when he fought back after being headed. This stamina test on soft ground is ideal and there’s a lot more to come.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (3.00 Ascot, treble)

Has been knocking on the door and this looks an excellent winning chance. He’s had a break since a good second behind Broadway Boy at Cheltenham in December when he boxed on well up the hill. A repeat of that gives him a big chance.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

ASCOT

1.50

KILBEG KING could have this race set up nicely if front-runners Apple Away and Brave Kingdom take each other on up front.

Either way, Anthony Honeyball’s hopeful ran a cracker behind French superstar Ile Est Francais in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He sees out this three-mile trip strongly and handles a bit of cut in the ground. He is improving with every chase run and can pull out more.

Apple Away was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and has done well since switching to the bigger obstacles.

She paid the price for cutting out the pace behind the excellent Grey Dawning at Warwick last time.

Her 5lb mares’ allowance will come in very handy and it will be interesting to see if Derek Fox lets her take a lead this time.

Brave Kingdom has gone from the front every time he’s been on the track and Harry Cobden got the fractions spot on when winning at Newbury latest.

He’s up in class here but looks capable of better.

Henry’s Friend has won a couple of minor contests and will need more at this level, while The King Of Ryhope was disappointing at Wetherby latest.

2.25

RARE EDITION has the benefit of Harry Cobden in the saddle again after he steered Charlie Longsdon’s hurdler to a comfortable victory at Kempton last time.

That was over two miles but he certainly wasn’t stopping and shapes as though this longer distance will bring improvement.

A 3lb rise in the weights is very fair and some cut in the ground is ideal.

There was a lot to like about the way Santos Blue scored at Wetherby last time.

His jockey could even afford to lose his irons as they pulled nicely clear. He stays strongly and can be relied on to run his race.

Bad seems poorly named after a good third in hot company here last time.

Trainer Ben Pauling has been in decent form and puts cheekpieces on this five-year-old who has enough ability to figure.

Hyland is consistent and followed two good wins with a solid Newbury third. Dropping back to this trip looks a wise move and he can figure in the finish.

Irish Hill went too quick in the Lanzarote last time but he won this last year and is off a 3lb lower mark this time. He looks solid each-way under top 5lb claimer Freddie Gingell.

3.00

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE has been knocking on the door and this looks a good chance to land an overdue win.

He was an excellent second in the Badger Beer at Wincanton in November and went close again at Cheltenham last time.

This slightly lesser test of stamina may help and he is the only confirmed front-runner in the field.

Shan Blue came right back to his best when beaten half a length in good company here last time.

The first-time cheekpieces may have helped and he’ll be right there again if the headgear does the trick again.

Venetia Williams’ excellent run has gone flat in the past couple of weeks which is a slight worry for Victtorino.

He won a nice pot over course and distance at Christmas before a disappointing effort at Cheltenham last time.

The drop in trip may not have helped there and he could easily bounce back.

Iron Bridge stays forever as he showed with his staying-on second in the Welsh National.

He may find this a bit short but more rain would help as he loves it heavy. He may run at Haydock instead.

Revels Hill may need this after ten months off but he was third in this race last year and is on the same handicap mark for this comeback.

3.36

PIC D’ORHY clocked a big personal best when pushing the high-class Banbridge all the way in the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton last time.

It took a long time for the Irish star to overhaul Paul Nicholls’ hope who showed his liking for Ascot when second in this last year and in winning the 1965 Chase by 16 lengths in November.

He was helped by Shishkin refusing to race that day but it was still a good performance. His best form would take him very close.

It was great to see L’Homme Presse return from a year off to win nicely at Lingfield last month.

He was a brilliant Brown Advisory winner at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and will hope to tee-up a Gold Cup run with a good effort here.

He’s highly respected despite the Venetia Williams yard struggling for winners lately.

There’s always a chance this may come too soon after that comeback but he will be a tough nut to crack.

Ahoy Senor was second in an Aintree Grade 1 in April but has been well short of that on three runs since.

He makes too many mistakes to trouble the other two, while Sail Away was a good fourth in the Great Yorkshire Chase last time but this is a lot tougher.

WINCANTON

2.05

COLONEL MUSTARD will be happy back over hurdles after struggling at chase level last time.

Given his three podium efforts at Grade 1 level it’s puzzling that he’s only won once over jumps but he can double that tally here.

His last crack over timber saw him finish an excellent third in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle so this trip is ideal. He goes on heavy ground and can go close.

Nemean Lion is interesting back in a small field after good handicap efforts at Cheltenham and Kempton. He won in this grade at Kelso last season and goes on any ground.

Rubaud was no match for superstar Lossiemouth at Cheltenham last time but he was second in the Christmas Hurdle and won the grade 2 Elite here in November.

They were all over this trip and he’s another who can have a major say for Paul Nicholls.

Goshen is a very different horse to the one that won this race in 2021 and 2022.

He seems out of love with the game but trainer Gary Moore tries first-time blinkers here which may help.

There’s no doubt his best form would take him close but we don’t know what we’re going to get.

HAYDOCK

2.40

BUTCH is going from strength to strength and enjoyed this trip on soft ground when landing back-to-back wins at Cheltenham.

His most recent on New Year’s Day was impressive as he was headed jumping the final flight only to battle back up the hill.

He has a high cruising speed and can take another step forward in what should be ideal conditions.

Botox Has was no match for Noble Yeats in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last time but still put in a decent effort over this trip.

He won the West Yorkshire Hurdle in this grade at Wetherby in November and won’t mind the give in the ground.

Red Risk was only a length away in second that day but took a step backwards when well beaten in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

He should be happier dropping in class here and could pick up the pieces if the other two go too fast in front.

Sounds Russian was last seen being brought down in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’s got talent but may need this.

Last year’s winner Wakool has been struggling and it’s hard to see him following up.

3.15

MY SILVER LINING loves a slog through the mud and gets her ideal conditions here.

She took her form to a new level when winning the Classic at Warwick last time, getting better as that stamina-sapping race went on.

Her jumping is a massive asset and the ground can’t be deep enough for her. A 5lb rise looks lenient and there’s a lot more to come from Emma Lavelle’s stayer.

Famous Bridge is another who stays all day and it was really testing when he won the Tommy Whittle here in December.

He blotted his copybook when pulled up in the Great Yorkshire Chase last time but deserves another chance.

Credo has finished behind both My Silver Lining and Famous Bridge this season but was far from disgraced each time and is better off at the weights today.

He has every chance of hitting the frame again.

Iron Bridge is entered at Ascot too but would have place claims here judged on his Welsh National second last time.

Iwilldoit was third in the Chepstow showpiece and found the drop in trip against him at Lingfield last time.

He will appreciate this test and has had a little nudge down the handicap.

Templegate’s tips

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