Cheltenham Festival tips: Templegate NAP is a fantastic jumper and can strike for Yorkshire trainer on day two

TEMPLEGATE takes on Champion Chase day at Cheltenham Festival confident of finding you some winners.

Read on for our man’s top tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.

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THE REAL WHACKER (2.10 Cheltenham, nap)

Can strike for Yorkshire trainer Patrick Neville. He has shown his liking for Cheltenham a couple of times this season, particularly when taking the Dipper Chase here on New Year’s Day.

His jumping was fantastic that day despite having few miles on the clock and he kept pulling out more when challenged. He takes on stronger rivals here but is capable of improving.

EDWARDSTONE (3.30 Cheltenham, nb)

Trainer Alan King hasn’t been afraid to run his superstar who has won six of his ten chase starts.

He peaked last season when winning the Arkle here in good style and he bounced back from a blip at Aintree a couple of weeks later by destroying his Tingle Creek rivals at Sandown on comeback.

A DREAM TO SHARE (5.30 Cheltenham, treble)

Has improved with every run and was impressive when landing his hat-trick of wins at the Dublin Racing Festival. He made very light work of Fact To File in that Grade 2 – so much so that his owner JP McManus got the chequebook out and bought him.

He travelled strongly just off the pace before bursting through to suggest the Cheltenham hill will hold no fears.

Templegate’s race-by-race guide to day two of Cheltenham Festival

1.30

CHAMP KIELY was impressive when winning a Naas Grade 1 last time and can follow in the hoofprints of Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen who took that race before winning the Ballymore.

He travelled really well despite the testing ground and had plenty left in the tank to see out the 2m4f.

Moving up in distance brought real improvement and he took a Tipperary Grade 3 on good ground in October so it shouldn’t matter what the weather does.

He is part of a strong Willie Mullins team with Impaire Et Passe one of the meeting’s talking horses.

He looked smart when scoring at Punchestown on just his second hurdles run but needs to raise his game again.

Despite the hype, stablemate Gaelic Warrior could be a bigger threat as he looks for four wins on the spin.

It was only a handicap he took at Leopardstown last month but he did it well and looks well up to Grade 1 standard.

The only slight worry is he jumped to the right but he shapes as though this stiffer test will suit.

But the Mullins batallion won’t have this all their own way with Good Land looking a massive each-way chance.

He saw out a demanding trip strongly when winning a Leopardstown Grade 1 last month.

He crossed his hurdles slickly and that will be a big asset at Cheltenham.

He’d be a much shorter price if he came from a big-name yard.

Paul Nicholls has high hopes for Hermes Allen who was impressive in taking the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

That’s been a poor trial for this race but the horse doesn’t know that and he’s another who jumps very well.

This is his stiffest test yet so more is needed.

2.10

THE REAL WHACKER can strike for Yorkshire trainer Patrick Neville.

He has shown his liking for Cheltenham a couple of times this season, particularly when taking the Dipper Chase here on New Year’s Day.

His jumping was fantastic that day despite having few miles on the clock and he kept pulling out more when challenged.

He takes on stronger rivals here but is capable of improving again.

The only worry would be if the ground got really soft as all his runs so far have been on decent going.

Gerri Colombe is the obvious threat on the back of two Grade 1 wins.

He was impressive in the mud at Limerick on Boxing Day before matching that form in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown last month.

He looks to be crying out for this longer distance. He hasn’t run at Cheltenham before that most winners of this but Gordon Elliott should have him ready.

HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

Thyme Hill isn’t the greatest jumper but we know he’s classy from his Stayers’ Hurdle second and that engine can take him a long way.

He landed Grade 1 honours at Kempton last time but it wasn’t the hottest race for that level so he needs more.

Sir Gerhard is hard to assess. He won the Ballymore over hurdles last year and didn’t look a natural when winning a match on his chase debut at Gowran. His jumping will be put to the test here.

Adamantly Chosen looks a big price given he ran well behind Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He should appreciate this longer distance and has solid each-way claims.

Galia Des Liteaux was pulled up behind Thyme Hill before hammering some modest rivals at Warwick.

He jumped well there and saw out this trip strongly. He needs another step forward for this.

2.50

FIL DOR is a class act who was second in the Triumph Hurdle last year and came back to the smaller obstacles to land a game win in a Gowran Grade 3 latest.

It looks a wise move by trainer Gordon Elliott to revert him to hurdles as he didn’t look a natural chaser.

He has done most of his racing over two miles but is a strong stayer who should relish this stiffer test.

Horses near the top of the weights have a good record in this hot contest and he looks a big price.

Run For Oscar is one of many dangers. He won the Cesarewitch on the Flat in October and has been kept fresh for this since a solid Punchestown hurdling third on New Year’s Eve.

He should be in the mix for canny trainer Charles Byrnes.

San Salvador just got the better of Captain Conby when they clashed at Punchestown.

They both handled the big field there and are open to improvement. It would be no shock to see one or both of them figure in the finish.

Camprond has been a big gamble for this – as was the case 12 months ago.

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The soft ground ruined the plot that day and could again if more rain comes.

His form has been iffy this season but he’s tumbled down the weights and has been laid out for this.

Beacon Edge is a Grade 1 winner dropping into a handicap for the first time. He warrants respect under a good 3lb claiming rider.
Benson is going for a £100,000 bonus after winning the Morebattle at Kelso last week.

That was an impressive win and a 5lb penalty is more than fair. He doesn’t always travel well but can’t be written off.

HMS Seahorse is up 11lb for winning at Naas so needs more.

Langer Dan has another crack at a Festival handicap. He was second in the County Hurdle at best and has been plotted for this. He won’t be far away.

3.30

EDWARDSTONE can give his rivals a mountain to climb. Trainer Alan King hasn’t been afraid to run his superstar who has won six of his ten chase starts.

He peaked last season when winning the Arkle here in good style and he bounced back from a blip at Aintree a couple of weeks later by destroying his Tingle Creek rivals at Sandown on comeback.

Rider Tom Cannon gave Editeur Du Gite too much of a lead in the Clarence House here last time before going down by a neck. He can turn that form around.

Defending champion Energumene looks a main threat despite a modest run in that contest.

It was a surprise to see his jumping let him down late on but Willie Mullins will have him spot-on for this challenge.

He loved it soft when scoring 12 months ago so more rain would boost his chances.

Editeur Du Gite shouldn’t be written off given how he beat the big two fair and square last time.

That came on the back of another good victory at Kempton’s Christmas meeting again ahead of unseating Edwardstone.

Niall Houlihan will try to get away from the front again and we know he has enough stamina to get up the hill.

Surely Cannon and Paul Townend won’t make the same mistake again.

Funambule Sivola was second in this last year and came back to best when winning a Newbury Grade 2 last time.

It’s hard to see him winning but he deserves his place in the field.

Greanateen has three Grade 1s on his CV but they have all come at Sandown and he was poor in that Newbury race last time.

Nube Negra goes well over this course and distance and was second in this two years ago. It’s a while since he ran up to that level.

4.10

DELTA WORK is the daddy over these Cross-Country fences as he showed when beating Tiger Roll in a thrilling finish to this race 12 months ago.

Gordon Elliott’s star followed up by running an excellent third in the Grand National at Aintree.

He kicked off this season finished third over this track when giving lumps of weight away at the January meeting.

He’s had a quiet run over hurdles to warm up and can defend his crowd.

His own yard has thrown a potential spanner in the works by running Galvin who was fourth in the Gold Cup last season.

He then scored at Punchestown but his two runs this season have been poor – albeit in Grade 1 chases.

He’s reportedly schooled well over cross-country fences and has Davy Russell on board. It looks between the pair of them.

Franco De Port hasn’t won since 2020 but has spent most of his time at Grade 1 level so this is a drop in class for Willie Mullins’ hope.

He has run well at Auteuil in France which bodes well for handling this challenge. He looks a solid each-way bet.

Back On The Lash loves this track and won over it for the second time ahead of Delta Work in January.

He was getting almost two stone off him so will find life tougher off level weights today.

But his liking for the course can put him in the place picture.

Gin On Lime is remembered for Rachael Blackmore’s remarkable recovery after she all but fell here last November.

That was her last win but she showed promise when fourth at Listowel last time.

Her staying power isn’t guaranteed but her best form would give her place claims.

Snow Leopardess wasn’t disgraced here in January and was a good second back over conventional fences at Haydock last time. Her stamina will be an asset.

4.50

ANDY DUFRESNE was just denied in this race 12 months ago when sent out the hot favourite and can repay those losses.

He returns from the same handicap mark and has long had this as his No1 target.

He wears a tongue tie for the first time and has held his own in Graded company this season.

Owner JP McManus has another big chance with Dinoblue who kicked off this season with a Cork win before two good runs in strong races. His mark of 140 looks more than fair.

Final Orders just keeps winning and was impressive again in a Leopardstown handicap last month.

He has lots of stamina but also speed for this trip which should be a potent combination.

Global Citizen won this last year and the plan ever since has been to defend the title.

He’s been running over hurdles which means his mark is only 3lb higher. He looks a big price to make the places.

Epson Du Houx has been lightly raced with just two runs since winning at Cork in 2021.

He showed good signs when third at Fairyhouse in January and is another for the shortlist.

Third Time Lucki was a Grade 2 winner over course and distance as a novice and ran his best race for a while when scoring at Sandown last month.

He’s up a fair 6lb for that and could be the best of the Brits for Team Skelton.

Coeur Sublime isn’t the greatest battler but should find this easier than the hot contest he’s been contesting. He ran in last year’s Arkle and went close at Naas last time.

Thyme White was an impressive comeback winner at Ascot but needs to bounce back from a blip there when last seen in November.

5.30

A DREAM TO SHARE has improved with every run and was impressive when landing his hat-trick of wins at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He made very light work of Fact To File in that Grade 2 – so much so that his owner JP McManus got the chequebook out and bought him.

He travelled strongly just off the pace before bursting through to suggest the Cheltenham hill will hold no fears.

He can break the Mullins-Elliott stronghold on this race.

Better Days Ahead looks a big rival after winning eased down at Fairyhouse in December.

Jamie Codd stays on board and he has won two of the past six renewals of this.

Of course, the Mullins team is out in force and he’ll hope Fact To File can turn that Leopardstown form around with the tip.

There were no obvious excuses though so he’ll have to improve.

Paul Townend rides It’s For Me who had ten lengths in hand when winning on the bridle at Navan on debut.

This is clearly much stronger company but that was an impressive effort and you would expect a lot more today.

Fun Fun Fun followed a Sligo debut win with an easy Grade 2 success at Leopardstown.

She quickened nicely and gets a very useful 7lb mares’ allowance against the lads.

Chapeau De Soleil was beaten by Better Days ahead on debut but battled well and should improve for that debut outing.

It’s hard to get excited about the British team but Alan King’s Favour And Fortune came well clear from his rivals when winning at Warwick last month.

Jonjo O’Neill hope Beachcomber cruised home at Chepstow but this is a much hotter contest.

Templegate’s tips

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