TEMPLEGATE takes on Ladies’ Day at the Grand National Festival confident of finding some winners.
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JONBON (3.30 Aintree, nap)
Won by a distance at this meeting 12 months ago and can show his true colours here. We all know the ups and downs the Nicky Henderson yard have been through in the past few weeks. But there were better signs from the Seven Barrows batallion on day one of the Aintree Festival and this high-class chaser can keep the ball rolling.
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He had a rare blip at Cheltenham last time but still almost won the Grade 1 Clarence House despite crashing through the fourth-last fence. He is better judged on his easy win in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December where he handled the soft ground with aplomb. We know he likes the track and he shapes as though this step up in distance will be right up his street.
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN (1.45 Aintree, nb).
Can get us off to a flying start. Gavin Cromwell has been bashing the Brits all season and this six-year-old was superb when winning the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. He’s well up to this higher class contest. He sports the famous JP McManus green and gold just like my treble bet…
MYSTICAL POWER (2.55 Aintree, treble)
He was a good second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and enjoys soft ground. He has more to come.
Templegate’s verdicts
AINTREE FRIDAY
1.45
INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN was impressive in winning the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last time. He cut through the pack easily to win going away.
He ran well behind Gaelic Warrior on his last crack at this Grade 1 level at Christmas and that form looks pretty strong now.
Three months off will have done Broadway Boy plenty of good and he landed two impressive wins at Cheltenham late last year.
He is an excellent jumper who may take a lot of pegging back off the front.
Iroko looked in need of this longer trip when lacking a bit of pace behind Grey Dawning in the Turners at Cheltenham.
He went close in a Grade 1 over hurdles here and has more to offer as a chaser.
Chianti Classico jumped superbly when winning the Ultima and seemed to love the testing ground. He will be a major danger if able to repeat that effort.
Giovinco isn’t out of this tight race either. He ran on strongly for third in the Brown Advisory and will appreciate ground conditions.
Heart Wood won a big handicap at Leopardstown and wouldn’t be a shock winner either.
2.20
CHAMPAGNE TWIST looked a hot prospect when winning the Novice’s Final at Sandown last month.
He travelled strongly through testing ground and had plenty left at the line. A 7lb rise looks fair on just his fifth run with his proven stamina.
Jango Baie won the Grade 1 Formby in a bog here on Boxing Day and has followed up with good runner-up efforts at Huntingdon and Kelso.
His handicap mark looks fair and he can go close for Nicky Henderson.
Inthewaterside has improved since winning a minor contest here in October. He took a nice Lingfield handicap before going close at Ascot. There’s more to come.
The Skeltons love a target and have laid out Kateira for this.
She was second to Irish Point in a Grade 1 at last year’s meeting and was a good second off this mark at Kempton last time. She handles soft and won’t be far away.
Ocastle Des Mottes pulled too hard for a young rider in the Martin Pipe so did well to finish fifth.
Paul Townend will surely settle him better on just his third run for Willie Mullins.
2.55
MYSTICAL POWER looks made for Aintree judged on his excellent second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He cruised along and looked poised to win before just being outstayed up the hill.
He doesn’t have that to worry about here and his best efforts have come with cut in the ground. He is still improving and looks hard to beat.
Firefox was third in the Supreme and might have been a bit closer with a clearer run. He’s another who handles conditions and is well up to this standard.
It would be great to see Dysart Enos give Fergal O’Brien his first Grade 1 success.
She won the big mares’ bumper at the meeting last year so we know Aintree suits and she has looked good in winning all three hurdles runs.
This is her first crack at the highest level but her 7lb mares’ allowance brings her right into the reckoning.
Mistergif still looked green when fifth in the Supreme. It was only his second run for Willie Mullins and he ran out of juice up the hill.
This speed track may be more to his liking and Paul Townend takes over today.
Golden Ace took a big step forward when winning the Dawn Run at Cheltenham.
She stayed well in the soft ground and was second to Dysart Enos in that hot bumper here last season so will be fine on this very different track.
She’s another one getting 7lb off the boys and she could easily run into the places.
Personal Ambition showed good fighting spirit to win a Kelso Grade 2 last time but this is much stronger contest.
Similar comments apply to Kempton winner Lump Sum who also needs more.
3.30
JONBON has had a nice break since his rare blip in the Clarence House at Cheltenham where he did well to get round after a big mistake four out.
That was most unlike this solid jumper who looked as good as ever when the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
He won the Maghull by a distance at last year’s meeting so Aintree suits and he’s fine with soft ground. Anything close to his best will be good enough.
Protektorat got his deserved day in the sun when winning the Ryanair at Cheltenham last time.
He has scored over course and distance on testing ground and is likely to go from the front.
That could leave him open to a late Jonbon surge but he can make the frame again.
Pic D’Orhy won this race 12 months ago and jumped for fun when taking the Ascot Chase last time out in February.
He has been saved for this and can run another big race.
Envoi Allen was second in the Ryanair despite never really travelling and has a bit to find after that.
4.05
SHAKEM UP’ARRY is a fantastic jumper who proved he’s got a big engine when winning the Festival Plate last time.
That race has been a good pointer to this and a 6lb rise in the weights looks fair. He likes to be up with the pace, which is wise around here, and soft ground suits.
Kandoo Kid was a good second in the Greatwood Gold Cup last time and is fresher having missed Cheltenham.
He stays and jumps well so should enjoy this challenge.
Last year’s winner Bill Baxter returns from just 1lb higher in the handicap. He’s been hit and miss this season but returning here could see a revival.
Arizona Cardinal was impressive when winning at Ludlow and deserves this crack at stronger company on suitable ground.
James Du Berlais didn’t get up the hill at Cheltenham when seventh in the Plate and will prefer this track. He jumps well so should take to the fences.
4.40
SHANAGH BOB looked classy when winning a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in December on just his second run for Nicky Henderson.
He won on debut in soft so ground shouldn’t be an issue and there’s more to come.
The Jukebox Man just got collared in the dying strides of the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham after being on the pace for the whole race.
Those tactics work well at Aintree and he looks a big threat.
Readin Tommy Wrong was backed off the boards for that race before pulling up. That was too bad to be true and he’s already won a Grade 1. He’ll do a lot better here.
Dancing City was third in the Albert Bartlett and is another with a Grade 1 on his CV.
Irish trainers have a poor record in this race but he is part of a strong team this year.
Kyntara ran a belter in the Pertemps Final but this is tougher.
5.15
GO DANTE battled right to the line when winning the red-hot Imperial Cup at Sandown.
He is best over this distance and the ground was pretty testing last time. He has a capable 5lb claimer on board and he handles a big field.
Brucio was brought down early at Kelso last time but had been in fine form with wins at Leopardstown and Catterick.
He’s climbing the weights but could have more to offer.
Zeeband won almost too easily at Limerick last time. He’s up the weights but loves it testing and gets on well with today’s rider.
Densworth ploughed through the mud to score easily at Donny. He was pulled up here before that but should do better in this ground.
Ted Hastings was a good second here in bottomless ground on Boxing Day. He’s only 1lb higher for that encouraging effort and should figure for Gordon Elliott.
Templegate’s tips
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