Horse racing tips: ‘He’s a slick jumper whose style will suit Cheltenham’ – Templegate’s 7-1 Trials Day NAP

TEMPLEGATE tackles a Saturday full of Festival clues confident of finding some winners.

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IMPERIAL SAINT (1.50 Cheltenham, nap)

He is rising up the ranks and took a step forward when tackling the trip for the first time at Aintree last time. He jumped really slickly in running out an easy winner to add to his other two victories at the track. His style suggests he’ll be fine at Cheltenham and his fencing ability is a real plus.

L’HOMME PRESSE (2.25 Cheltenham, nb)

This fine chaser can warm up for another crack at the Gold Cup by scoring under Charlie Deutsch. This fine 10-year-old has an excellent Cheltenham record with two wins and his only reverse coming when a solid fourth behind Galopin Des Champs last March. He looked as good as ever when third in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day when jumping out to the left didn’t help. He sees out this trip well and won’t mind what the ground does.

BILLYTHEREALBIGRED (12.40 Cheltenham, treble)

He has taken really well to chasing, winning both starts over fences so far. He kicked off with a 14-length success at Bangor before improving at Exeter last time. He goes in the mud so it won’t matter if the ground eases and he should still be ahead of the handicapper over a trip that suits.

Templegate’s big-race verdicts

CHELTENHAM

12.40

BILLYTHEREALBIGRED has taken really well to chasing, winning both starts over fences so far.

He kicked off with a 14-length success at Bangor before improving at Exeter last time.

He goes in the mud so it won’t matter if the ground eases and he should still be ahead of the handicapper over a trip that suits.

Jagwar started his chase career with two promising wins before a late blunder saw him settling for third at Uttoxeter last time.

He’s a proven stayer in any conditions who has more to come.

Masaccio took a fair Newbury handicap on his first spin over fences in November and held his own in Grade 2 company when second behind The Jukebox Man back at the Berkshire track.

He chased that promising type home again at Kempton last time and there’s nothing of that quality in today’s field.

Resplendent Grey made mistakes at Sandown last time before plugging on and needs to jump better.

Guard Your Dreams wasn’t disgraced in the December Gold Cup here and could run into the frame from 4lb above his last win.

1.15

EAST INDIA DOCK was a good handicapper on the Flat and has translated his class to hurdling for excellent trainer James Owen.

He couldn’t have been more impressive when winning the Triumph Hurdle trial here last time and should be too good for them again.

He did win in heavy ground on the level so it shouldn’t be a big worry if the heavens open.

Stencil comes over from France where he won his first two starts nicely before a blip last time.

He was too bad to be true there and can bounce back into the places, especially if the ground eases.

Sauvignon makes his debut for Paul Nicholls after landing a Listed contest in France when last seen in June.

His long break is a worry but he looks a nice prospect.

Torrent has run some good races in defeat, including when third behind East India Dock here in November.

There’s no reason why he would turn that around but he could make the frame again.

Quantock Hills dead-heated with Terriferma here last time and there won’t be a lot between them again.

They are both capable of improvement but have a fair gap to bridge with the tip.

Believeitanducan was a game winner on hurdles debut at Newbury for Alan King but this is a lot tougher.

1.50

IMPERIAL SAINT is rising up the ranks and took a step forward when tackling the trip for the first time at Aintree last time.

He jumped really slickly in running out an easy winner to add to his other two victories at the track.

His style suggests he’ll be fine at Cheltenham and his fencing ability is a real plus.

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have been firing in the winners and have another good chance.

Moon D’Orange has a nice low weight and went close in solid company at Newbury last time.

He has lots of stamina and Irish trainer John McConnell has a fine strike-rate with his British runners.

Ginny’s Destiny loves it here and went close in the Turners at last year’s Festival.

He has not hit the same heights yet this season and didn’t like being held up in the Peterborough Chase latest.

He can do better here despite his hefty weight.

Iroko was fifth in the Turners last season and was an unlucky first-fence faller at Ascot latest.

He should enjoy this challenge, while Il Ridoto and Gemirande have already won here this season and can go well despite climbing the weights.

2.25

L’HOMME PRESSE can warm up for another crack at the Gold Cup by scoring under Charlie Deutsch.

This fine 10-year-old has an excellent Cheltenham record with two wins and his only reverse coming when a solid fourth behind Galopin Des Champs last March.

He looked as good as ever when third in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day when jumping out to the left didn’t help.

He sees out this trip well and won’t mind what the ground does.

Gentlemansgame hasn’t scored since taking the Charlie Hall in 2023 but he’s run some good races, including a third in the Savills last time.

He has yet to prove he stays this far but he should do and looks the main danger.

Chantry House got his mojo back to score in a small field here on New Year’s Day.

He really enjoyed switching back from hurdles and jumped well.

You can’t rely on him to back that up in this stronger race but Nicky Henderson has his horses in excellent nick.

Stage Star won the 2023 Paddy Power here but was poor in the December Gold Cup last time and has something to prove now.

Old boy Delta Work was a brilliant second in the Grand National in April but should find this a bit of a struggle while Tommie Beau is well short of this standard.

3.00

IT will be the shock of the season if CONSTITUTION HILL gets turned over against these rivals.

Indeed, anything other than a convincing win on the bridle would be a turn up.

Nicky Henderson’s superstar defied a year off to beat Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle and you would hope he could improve on that fitness-wise.

We know trip and track are fine and only really soft ground could throw a spanner in the works and he probably wouldn’t run on that anyway.
If you’re trying to make a profit on the race, you could do worse than have a forecast with Spirits Bay chasing home the jolly.

He ran a decent race despite being sent for home miles too soon when third at Haydock last time and more rain would help.

Brentford Hope is useful handicapper who was second in a Wincanton Grade 2 on comeback.

He didn’t enjoy himself when hammered at Windsor last week but is better than that.

Gordon Elliott sends over Fils D’Oudairies who has a couple of Grade 3 wins on his CV but he was poor over fences last time.

3.35

GOWEL ROAD can lead them all home for the Twiston-Davies team.

He has finished second on all four runs here this season including when just pipped in the Relkeel on New Year’s Day.

The standard of opposition today is a bit lower and stepping back up to three miles holds no fears.

Crambo cashed in on Strong Leader running a stinker in the Long Walk at Ascot last time.

The Fergal O’Brien stayer enjoyed being up with the pace and managed to keep going.

He wasn’t disgraced in the Stayers’ Hurdle here last season and should be thereabouts again.

Strong Leader has had a wind op since that flop and hopefully he can get back on track.

He won the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle in April and kicked off this season with a Grade 2 success at Newbury so there’s no doubting his talent. He wouldn’t really want it a lot softer.

Botox Has has been struggling this season and was never going in the Long Walk. He’s hard to fancy after that.

Monmiral was behind Strong Leader at Newbury and looks a bit short of this standard.

4.10

POTTERS CHARM has done nothing but improve and was impressive when taking the Grade 1 Formby Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.

That built very nicely on his two wins around here, which included a Grade 2 on the Old course in November.

He goes in any ground and can take another step forward and put himself right in the picture for the Turners at the Festival next time.

The others have lots of improvement to find but Bill Joyce held his own behind The New Lion in the Challow at Newbury last month and looks the biggest threat.

He is a proper stayer who won’t lack for stamina up the hill but he’ll need another big personal best to win.

Gamesters Guy could be overpriced for a place given his impressive success at Carlisle on New Year’s Day.

This is a much hotter contest but he did it nicely and will appreciate this test.

Sixmilebridge has landed his past two wins over timber without breaking sweat.

This is a massive hike in grade from Huntingdon laest time but there’s a lot more to come.

Quebecois was a solid second in a Sandown Grade 2 last time and should show more on just his third spin over timber.

DONCASTER

1.30

NELLS SON has come back a much improved model this season and followed a Carlisle success with a battling victory at Kelso last time.

The second home that day went on to land a hot race at Windsor last week so the form looks decent. This trip suits and a 5lb rise is fair.
Calico was puzzlingly bad at Cheltenham last time but scored there in October.

He’s been given a break by the Skeltons which could perk him up.

Stormin Crossgales had 35 lengths in hand when winning at Southwell last time.

This is a better contest but a repeat of that would give him a chance.

General Medrano didn’t fire at Newbury last time but was a good winner there two starts ago.

His trainer Emma Lavelle is in fine form so he could easily bounce back.

2.05

WESTERN KNIGHT looks hard to beat after his excellent second in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last month.

He absolutely tanked along there but made a couple of silly errors which will hopefully disappear with experience.

He landed good minor wins at Ascot and Uttoxeter before that and has plenty of stamina for this trip.

Yellow Car was a solid third in that race at Prestbury Park and has place claims again.

Ma Shantou didn’t have to hit top gear when winning at Windsor last time and should appreciate this longer trip with his yard going well.

Moon Rocket is another on the upgrade and he had 12 lengths in hand when winning on debut here in November.

He scored again at Southwell latest and stays strongly.

2.40

KATEIRA was just three lengths off the pace in the Long Walk at Ascot last time and looked the winner turning in.

She possibly just ran out of juice in the closing stages but she should get home against these lesser rivals.

Wyenot had a bit in hand when taking Listed honours over course and distance last month.

She went from the front there and kept producing more up the home straight. She looks a big threat again.

Jessica Harrington runners are always respected and her Jetara will appreciate this step up in trip.

She’s a Grade 3 winner who has shown her best in testing conditions.

Della Casa Lunga jumped nicely when winning a hot handicap at Kempton over Christmas. This is tougher but she’s a proven stayer.

3.15

THE CHANGING MAN was just pipped in the Ascot Silver Cup last time having hit the crossbar in a hot contest at Newbury two starts ago.

He stays well and handles any ground with the handicapper giving him a chance thanks to a rise of just 2lb. This looks an ideal race for him.

Forward Plan was beaten on the nod in this contest 12 months ago and has a chance again from 9lb higher.

He was a good third here last time and is all about stamina so more rain would help.

Snipe needs to be smuggled into his races and came from the back for a good second at Carlisle latest.

Harry Skelton will have to time it right but he has a good chance if he does.

Frero Banbou just beat the tip when they met at Newcastle two runs ago and there won’t be a lot between them again although my fancy is better off at the weights.

Tightenourbelts is in good form having lagged in at Ludlow latest.

This is tougher but he stays strongly and has each-way prospects.

Templegate’s tips

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