Horse racing tips: Templegate NAP is a 13-2 shot for the Moores crying out for a longer trip at Cheltenham on Friday

TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s racing looking to find some winners on a day which may sadly be affected by the freezing cold weather.

Read on for his tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.

NASSALAM (2.25 Cheltenham, nap)

He looked to be crying out for this longer trip when finishing well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here last time. He wasn’t helped by being hampered a couple of times and he’s a Grade 2 winner so has a touch of class.

ZOFFANIEN (3.00 Cheltenham, nb)

He ran well over a stamina-stretching 3m here last time but will be much happier tackling this shorter trip. His rider takes off a valuable 5lb and he can go close in this open contest.

ONLY THE BOLD (1.30 Bangor, treble)

He made a winning start to his chasing career over course and distance 13 days ago.

He battered his rivals there and looked like an old hand over the fences. That came after eight months off and there’s more to come.

Templegate’s guide to the ITV Racing on Friday

12.40

GENTLE SLOPES was an impressive Listed bumper winner here last month and should make a good hurdler. He bounded up the hill well and has more to come.

Master Chewy came down at the last when in control at Ascot 21 days ago. Assuming that hasn’t left any scars he should be right in the mix again.

Attacca looked a decent prospect when scoring on hurdles debut at Kempton. This is a very different track but he looks certain to progress for Nicky Henderson.

Timeforatune won a decent bumper here and scored by 13 lengths over hurdles at Exeter before a close second at Taunton latest. He didn’t look a natural there but it’s early days and there should be more to come.

Kiki Badger found a Grade 3 too hot at Navan. This is a bit easier but he still needs to find more.

1.15

HIDDEN HEROICS can win this tricky race where you can give them all a chance.

He was a decent hurdler but took a step up when winning by 23 lengths on chase debut at Exeter last time. He has lots of stamina and can improve.

Mister Coffey was second in the Kim Muir at the Festival before he didn’t seem to like the Aintree spruce in the Topham.

He hasn’t won over fences yet but has lots of ability and has run well fresh before.

Green Vault hasn’t done much wrong since going over fences with two wins. This is stiffer opposition but he stays and won’t be far away.

Art Approval showed promise when third at Aintree and is also capable of better.

1.50

GAZETTE BOURGEOISE showed promise when second on her chase debut at Uttoxeter last month. She stays well and doesn’t need to improve much to strike.

Marta Des Mottes won by 27 lengths on chase debut at Southwell before another good effort when second at Chepstow. She could improve for this step up in distance.

Hawthorn Cottage was impressive at Warwick when scoring by a distance. She jumped really well there which will be a plus at this track.

Her Indoors was thrown into a Listed contest for her chase debut at Bangor. That was too much but this should be more her level.

Fortunes Melody is a regular in the frame so has an each-way shout again. She needs to raise her game to win though.

2.25

NASSALAM looked to be crying out for this longer trip when finishing well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here last time.

He wasn’t helped by being hampered a couple of times and he’s a Grade 2 winner so has a touch of class.

Eva’s Oskar went close here last month and sees out every yard of this distance. More rain would help but his form is solid.

Commodore won this 12 months ago and ran just once more, when midfield in the Grand National.

He’s off a higher weight than 12 months ago but Venetia Williams is in form and Charlie Deutsch is high-class over these fences.

Switch Hitter has shown promise on his four chase runs and has more to offer for Paul Nicholls. He should improve for this longer distance.

Spiritofthegames does well over Aintree’s big fences and put in a solid run when sixth in the Grand Sefton. He enjoys this stiffer test of stamina too and has place claims.

Broken Quest was a decent second here last month over 2m4f but his latest wins have been at further.

This is tougher opposition but he’s not ruled out from just 1lb higher.

Captain Cattistock is another who goes well here and should be fitter for his comeback.

3.00

ZOFFANIEN ran well over a stamina-stretching 3m here last time but will be much happier tackling this shorter trip.

His rider takes off a valuable 5lb and he can go close in this open contest.

Mullenbeg is on an upward curve and landed the hat-trick at Ludlow by seven lengths. This is tougher but she has more to offer and could easily defy her 7lb penalty.

Punctuation is another looking for four wins on the spin after a battling success at Uttoxeter. He’s going up the weights but has few miles on the clock and some juice in the ground will be ideal.

Anyharminasking showed up well in third at Huntingdon but has produced his best form at an undulating track so Cheltenham should be ideal.

3.35

UHTRED drops into handicap company after tackling a couple of Graded contests this season.

He should also be happier over this longer trip and looks on a fair mark for his first run at this level.

It’s interesting to see Dusart make his comeback over hurdles after a good first season chasing that saw him finish fifth in the Brown Advisory at the Festival.

He’s a Grade 1 third over the smaller obstacles and his class makes him a threat despite eight months off the track.

His Nicky Henderson stablemate Captain Morgs has been called a few names lately for not going through with his effort.

He was second at Kempton last time and the first-time cheekpieces may help him get home.

Annual Invictus is another with a reputation for not winning as many as he should but he did the business over course and distance last month and a 4lb rise seems fair.

He has lots of stamina and decent ground suits.

Indefatigable has held her own in good company and is better than we saw at Wetherby latest.

BANGOR ON DEE

1.30

ONLY THE BOLD looked a real natural when bounding away from his rivals to win on chase debut over course and distance 13 days ago.

He handled this tricky track well and even a 10lb rise in the weights shouldn’t put the brakes on.

Fuji Flight looked more than a little rusty when fifth here at the same meeting and has dropped to just 3lb higher than his good win at Newbury over a similar trip.

His rider’s claim is valuable and he should get a lot closer today.

Golden Sovereign has been off the track for all of 657 days. He should need this run but his form is strong enough to make him a contender and he is on a fair weight.

A market move would be telling about his fitness.

Mumbo Jumbo has shown some promise since switching to chases and wasn’t beaten far at Sandown last time. He has to prove his stamina for this longer trip.

Templegate’s tips

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