Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP looks a good thing for Paul Nicholls in a race he loves

TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s brilliant racing action confident of landing a touch or two.

Read on for our tips, back a horse by clicking their odds below and try to win the £10,000 jackpot in Paddy Power’s Pick 5 game.

HERMES ALLEN (3.00 Newbury, nap)

He already looks a star in the making after his impressive nine-length success in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. He travelled strongly there and looked more than capable of this step into the highest level.

He saw out this trip strongly so should have no problems getting up the famous hill. Trainer Paul Nicholls has a cracking record in this race and can win it for the third year in a row.

BOLD ENDEAVOUR (3.35 Newbury, nb)

He spent the early part of his career with Laura Morgan before moving to Seven Barrows ahead of last month’s 10-length win at Leicester.

Having been a hold-up horse before, Nico De Boinville bounced him out in front and he absolutely tanked along. He jumped well and stayed on strongly up Leicester’s punishing finish.

That bodes well for this step up in distance and he should have a lot more to come.

MIDNIGHT MOSS (2.10 Warwick, treble)

He was a little rusty when a close-up second at Doncaster last time.

That was his first run for eight months and he looked the winner jumping the last only for that lack of a recent run to tell up the run-in.

The handicapper has left his mark alone despite that encouraging effort and he’s still 4lb lower than his last win.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

NEWBURY

1.15

GALLIC GEORDIE won this race 12 months ago and can score again. He went close at Lingfield on comeback last month and was going well there just before Christmas before a clumsy late fall.

He can bounce back from that from what still looks a fair handicap mark.

Gamaret is an interesting chase newcomer from Venetia Williams. He is being thrown straight into a handicap and won one of his two hurdles starts next season. There should be lots come over fences.

Only Money started this season with a couple of wins before solid runs at Aintree and here last time.

This looks slightly easier than his last assignment and he’s a danger.

Mongol Emperor has looked a little rusty on both starts this season but there was some promise in his Wetherby fourth and he’s a solid each-way player.

Casa Tall has had a little help from the handicapper and wasn’t disgraced at Sandown latest.

Kauto The King has dropped to below his last winning mark and is better than his disappointing effort at Taunton last time.

1.50

LADY ADARE shone at novice level last season with wins in all three of his hurdles outings.

Her opening handicap mark of 130 looks fair and she looks a big threat on comeback for in-form Harry Fry.

Nina The Terrier ran well when fifth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last time and went close on her last visit here. She has had a nudge down the weights.

Pikar returned for the Skeltons with an easy win at Chepstow and makes his handicap debut from a fair-looking mark.

He’s run over hurdles just four times so there should be more to come.

Blenkinsop has landed a hat-trick at lower levels and had lots in hand when kicking it at Exeter.

2.25

SHANTY ALLEY was useful a couple of seasons ago before losing his way last term.

He came back from a break and a wind op to find something close to his true form when second at Wetherby earlier this month.

That will have blown the cobwebs away and he’s very well handicapped if anywhere near his best. This trip is ideal.

Tallow For Coal charged home to score over 3m at Lingfield last time and will have no trouble with this slightly longer distance.

His best has come with cut in the ground so rain would be ideal.

Laskalin took a big step forward when scoring by three lengths at Ludlow when a wind op seemed to do the trick.

He’s up a fair 5lb for that and is a strong stayer.

Undersupervision is a bit hit and miss but he shaped well in third at Cheltenham on comeback and would go close with a repeat of that.

Killer Kane ran well enough when fourth in strong company here last time and is only 1lb higher than his last win.

Foxboro had plenty in hand at Fontwell and a 4lb rise gives him a chance.

3.00

HERMES ALLEN sets a high standard on form and he had an impressive nine lengths in hand when winning the Grade 2 Hyde over a similar trip to this at Cheltenham last month.

That was just his second start so he has a lot more to offer champion trainer Paul Nicholls who is looking to win this for the third year on the spin.

Joyeux Machin finished strongly when winning a big-field novice contest at Fairyhouse last time. He has his sights raised here but is another who will improve for this stiffer stamina test. Canny trainer Paul Nolan is coming over for a holiday.

Accidental Rebel won a Chepstow Grade 2 last time out in October with a bit left in the tank.

He likes this trip and is one of many with place claims.

Vicki Vale may not have had a lot to beat on debut at Hereford last month but she cruised home by 17 lengths and crossed her hurdles like a natural. This Skelton runner will come on plenty for that.

You Wear It Well won by a distance at Hexham and is another who warrants respect in a very hot race.

Crambo scored on hurdles debut at Ascot in November. He is upped in class by Fergal O’Brien and can figure if crossing his hurdles better which he should do after that run.

3.35

BOLD ENDEAVOUR jumped beautifully when winning by ten lengths at Leicester earlier this month.

That was his debut for Nicky Henderson and the move to Seven Barrows has clearly done him the world of good. Despite a rise in the weights he could easily be ahead of the handicapper and this longer trip will be ideal.

Malinello came back from two years off to win cosily at Newcastle last month. He stays strongly and should build on that excellent chasing debut.

Doctor Ken kicked off his chase career with a win at Aintree before improving on that when second in decent company at Ayr. A 3lb rise for that looks fair with more to come.

Halo Des Obeaux returns to chasing for Paul Nicholls. He landed a decent handicap hurdle at Sandown two runs ago before another solid run there last time. He fell on his only run over fences but is better than that.

Nothin To Ask and Tea For Free are both in cracking form and have every chance in this tough puzzle.

WARWICK

1.35

YOUNG BUTLER will be happy back over hurdles after not taking to chasing on his two outings this season.

His form in this sphere is much stronger as he scored at Plumpton before a close second at Exeter.

He looks well up to this modest level and has no issues seeing out this testing trip.

Last Quarter was much improved when scoring after nine months off at Lingfield last month. He stays well and looks in the hunt again.

Langley Hundred has every chance of landing a hat-trick after scoring at Exeter and Ludlow.

He’s up 6lb for those successes and gets on well with this 10lb claiming rider. He won’t be far away again.

Cawthorne Lad was beaten just a length at Leicester and will appreciate this stiffer test of stamina.

One Fer Mamma needed his comeback when third at Haydock and was a good winner on his last visit here in February.

2.10

MIDNIGHT MOSS has been knocking on the door and went close after eight months off when second at Doncaster last time He saw out this three-mile trip there and has every chance off the same handicap mark.

Smugglers Blues had every chance of winning when falling two out at Wincanton three weeks ago. He’ll be competitive again if that has left too deep a mark.

Go Steady got the job done nicely when winning at Lingfield on his return to chasing earlier this month. He steps up in trip here and can go close if his stamina holds out.

Venetia Williams won this last year with claiming rider Ned Fox on board. They try again with Cuban Pete who has been out of sorts but has tumbled down the weights and today’s first-time blinkers could help.

Gwencily Berbas wasn’t disgraced in the London National at Sandown and is now 4lb lower than his last winning mark.

LINGFIELD

2.40

MORGAN FAIRY went close in a stronger race than this on her last all-weather start at Kempton in September.

She didn’t get home over 1m2f at Newmarket after that and William Haggas is wise to drop her back in trip.

Wadacre Grace has been going close and was just pipped again at Southwell last time. She’s off the same mark and will be right there again.

Stablemate Jilly Cooper has champion jockey William Buick on board but her best recent efforts have come over a furlong shorter than this.

Sunset Bay has been running in much stronger races than this. She’s still 7lb above her last winning handicap mark but should finish a bit closer.

Crystal Casque just failed at Kempton last time after coming from a long way back.

Moving back up a mile should help. Hollie Doyle partners Sayifyouwill who was last seen running well enough at Newmarket in August. She may need this comeback.

Templegate’s tips

Irish tips

Punchestown

12.15 Mahler Mission

12.47 Stumptown (nb)

1.22 Sinbad Le Marin

1.57 Summerville Boy

2.32 Captain Conby (NAP)

3.07 Up She Flew

3.42 Abi’s Champ

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