TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s action confident of finding a few winners.
Read on for our man’s tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
VASILISSA (5.35 Doncaster, nap)
This well-bred filly did well to win at Kempton last time after meeting trouble in running. She showed a good burst of pace to get up late and a 1lb rise in the weights is very fair.
ARREST (3.35 Sandown, nb)
This son of Frankel went close in a French Group 1 to end last season when testing ground was ideal. He likes this trip and has a lot more to come.
GINGER MAIL (1.30 Perth, treble)
He would have been coming here off a win but for a final-flight mistake at Ayr last time. He can make amends for his in-form trainer here.
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Templegate’s telly and Punchestown verdicts
SANDOWN
1.50
LEGEND OF LEROS shaped well when third on comeback at Kempton. He ended last season with a good win in the mud at Donny and looks a fair price.
Local Dynasty progressed well last term and finished with a Listed win at Ponty. He has every chance of giving the weight away.
Saxon King enjoyed soft ground when scoring at Haydock in October. He has a fair mark on handicap debut.
Physique is better than his rusty comeback at Chelmsford and is another who likes soft.
2.25
ADAYAR came back to his best when a close second in the Champion Stakes on his latest start in October.
He has had health issues since winning the Derby and King George but has enough class to win on return. Some cut in the ground suits.
Anmaat is another who missed a season but made up for lost time last year by winning the John Smith’s Cup before proving he’s a Group-class horse with two good wins.
This trip is ideal and he goes on any ground. He will cash in if the favourite is rusty on return.
Regal Reality has won three times at Group 3 level so can’t be ruled out although he needs his very best.
Highland Avenue has gone well fresh but hasn’t won beyond Listed level.
3.00
LIGHT INFANTRY mixed it with the world’s top milers last season and went well in a £3m race in Australia last time.
He is a Group 1 performer who goes on soft and looks hard to beat.
Migration clocked a good time when winning the Lincoln and deserves a crack at this. He’s a big price for second.
Mutasaabeq got the better of Potapova at Newmarket last time while Agent Bleu was hampered in France latest.
Checkandchallenge is no mug either and likes this trip.
3.35
ARREST was pipped in a French Group 1 last time on heavy ground.
This Frankel colt will love conditions and should improve as a three-year-old.
Flying Honours has classy form and finished with a Zetland Stakes win at Newmarket.
He’s bred to handle the ground but has yet to encounter anything this soft which is the concern.
Salt Bay was placed in a French Group 1 on just his second start and has more to offer for in-form Ralph Beckett.
Circle Of Fire will enjoy stepping up to this longer trip but this is a fair hike in grade on ground that’s not certain to suit.
PERTH
1.30
GINGER MAIL went close in a decent race at Ayr last time and the form has been franked. This trip suits and his yard is in form.
Inca Prince could well be helped by the first-time visor from his falling mark.
Cuban Cigar battled to score at Musselburgh and a 4lb rise looks fair.
2.05
DESTINY IS ALL went close in good company at Warwick last time and likes a proper marathon. He can strike for National hero Lucinda Russell.
Gentleman De Mai was just getting going at the end of three miles at Wetherby and will appreciate this test.
Concetto is having just his fourth chase and has won two of them. He is another with loads of staying power along with Geryville.
PUNCHESTOWN FRIDAY VERDICTS
3.40
AN DROICHEAD GORM can score on his Rules debut for Peter Maher. He was last seen at Roscommon running a decent race in fourth.
He sees out this trip strongly and can go close for his new connections.
Gordon Elliott warrants a lot of respect in this grade and his Happy Victory can produce a better showing than we saw at Downpatrick last time where he was a distant fourth.
Jet Fighter wasn’t disgraced when sixth on the cross-country chase here on Tuesday. He can give his stablemate something to think about.
Artic Weather has shown some promise in point-to-points and was second last time out at that level.
Keenaghan Lass was on the podium at Thurles last month, albeit a long way behind the winner.
We haven’t seen a lot from Speaker Thomas yet after his fall here at the meeting last year.
He won in the pointing field last time and could have more to offer for Shark Hanlon.
4.15
LIFE IN THE PARK tried to come from too far back when having to settle for third in a Limerick Grade 3 last time out.
This slightly shorter distance should be fine as she tanks along and will hopefully be a bit nearer the pace this time.
Kilcruit has his sights lowered here after coming up short in Grade 1 company on his past two outings.
He has no issues with this trip and he won the big bumper here two years ago so there should be no track worries.
Grandero Bello finished a place ahead of the tip at Limerick after winning a novice contest at Gowran.
He has a tongue tie fitted for the first time today which may help him get home.
So Scottish ran a solid race when seventh in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham last time.
He was coming back from a break there and could take a step forward here.
Adamantly Chosen didn’t fire at Fairyhouse latest but has placed form at Grade 1 level so can’t be ruled out.
Authorized Art has lost his way a little having landed a hat-trick in the autumn. It’s still relatively early days for him over fences.
4.50
IMPERVIOUS has risen nicely through the ranks and was impressive when winning the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time out.
That took her 100% record over fences to four and matched the form that saw her land a Grade 2 here in January.
This trip is ideal and she looks hard to beat again.
Allegorie De Vassy chased her home at Prestbury Park and has had a run since, when turned over at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.
She emptied worryingly quickly after travelling well and will have to up her game for this.
Riviere D’Etel was in with a chance of making the frame when all but brought down three out in that Festival contest.
It’s been a while since she’s won now but she does have an engine if able to conjure up her best form.
Instit is improving and had almost ten lengths in hand when scoring at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
She still made a few errors there but got away with it. There should be more to come.
Elimay won the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham two years ago but hasn’t run close to that form since and was only fifth in last month’s renewal.
5.25
STATE MAN doesn’t have Constitution Hill to worry about today after he was put in his place by Nicky Henderson’s superstar in the Champion Hurdle last time.
Before that defeat he landed four Grade 1 victories in a row including the big novice contest at this meeting 12 months ago.
Paul Townend looked after him once it was obvious he wasn’t going to win at Cheltenham so he didn’t have too hard a race and he can do himself justice here. As with many races here this week, Willie Mullins’ biggest danger comes from… Willie Mullins.
Vauban won the Champion Four-Year-Old here last year but has found life tougher in open company since.
He was a little disappointing in fourth at Cheltenham but his best form would see him in the forecast spot.
Pied Piper had a heartbreaking (for those of us that backed him!) second in the County Hurdle last time.
He travelled like he was going to win ten lengths before he just didn’t go past at the line.
He takes on classier horses here but he’s up to Grade 1 standard.
Sharjah wad fourth in the County before getting within three lengths of Constitution Hill at Aintree.
That was only 15 days ago but he could hit the frame again if it hasn’t bottomed him.
6.00
IMPAIRE ET PASSE couldn’t have been more impressive when winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time.
He zipped right away from his rivals to score by a comfortable six lengths.
That was just his third run over hurdles and he was successful here at Grade 2 level in January.
He can stretch his unbeaten record.
High Definition has plenty of speed having come from the Flat and wasn’t disgraced in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He has to find lots of improvement for Joseph O’Brien but is capable of better.
Champ Kiely was a solid third in the Ballymore when trying to make all.
He could hold on for a place from the front but is likely to be collared late on.
Inothewayurthinkin didn’t enjoy dropping to two miles when third at Navan latest. This trip suits better but she has to find plenty.
The other two – Amir Kabir and Thecompanysergeant – look like solid handicappers who are likely to struggle at this level.
6.35
SNUGSBOROUGH HALL looks a big price given that he’s run well at this track before and is fit from a winning point-to-point run earlier this month.
This trip is fine and he can run into the frame.
Annamix can go close after his easy win at Fairyhouse last time.
He stays strongly and it goes without saying that the Willie Mullins runners are flying.
Vaucelet was well backed for the Cheltenham version of this race last month when managing only seventh place.
That could have just been a blip because he was in winning form at Down Royal earlier and could easily bounce back for David Christie.
Billaway won this last year after coming out on top at Cheltenham.
He doesn’t seem the same horse 12 months on and made plenty of mistakes before finally paying the price with a fall at the Festival.
He jumped better when second at Fairyhouse but needs to find his old spark to take this.
Chris’s Dream was a good fifth at the Festival when he cleared his obstacles a lot better.
A repeat of that effort would give him every chance.
Dinny Lacey runs in the same colours and had plenty in hand when scoring at Cork last time. He is another to consider.
7.10
SA MAJESTE is interesting making his debut for JP McManus and Willie Mullins.
He was picked up after winning a big-field contest at Auteuil in France this time last year.
He should improve for the move to Closutton and it’s interesting to see him dropped in trip here.
Monbeg Park was first past the post in a big handicap at Fairyhouse only to be demoted by the stewards for leaning on the runner-up.
It was still an excellent run over this trip and he’ll run well again.
Arctic Bresil was backed before a modest run in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.
He was earlier an impressive maiden winner in a big field at Cork and is clearly better than that last run.
Firm Footings has been busy and followed a Navan novice win with a solid sixth in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival.
His capable rider takes off a valuable 7lb and he’s right in the mix again for Gordon Elliott.
Spillane’s Tower clipped heels when unseating at Cork and is better judged on his good Naas effort. He has more to offer.
7.45
QUANTUM STORM showed lots of promise when second on debut here in February.
He comes here fresh after swerving the Cheltenham Festival and should take a major step forward from that first run.
Lecky Watson did well to finish fourth in the Champion Bumper after pulling his jockey’s arms out before being hampered when making his challenge.
He clearly has talent and is respected here.
Dr Eggman is coming back from a long break after a fair third on debut at Fairyhouse.
Coming from Closutton he’ll be fit enough to do himself justice.
Irish Panther was a decent third here last time behind the tip and won’t be far away again.
He’s My Hero was green when second at Naas and can take a step forward from that.
Did I Ask You That is another who needed more experience when fourth at Navan.
Littlefoot needs to step up on his three seconds but there was a good gap back to the third at Wexford latest.