TEMPLEGATE tackles a simply huge Saturday of action confident of finding you a few winners.
Read on for our man’s top tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
DELTA WORK (12.40 Cheltenham, nap)
He can show his class with Rob James’ 7lb claim taking off valuable weight. He’s an amateur in name only and the selection won the Festival Cross-Country just ahead of the great Tiger Roll.
He was then a brilliant third in the Grand National and returned with a good win at Punchestown. He’s different gravy to these rivals and can give the weight away.
PROTEKTORAT (2.25 Cheltenham, nb)
He was brilliant when winning the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on comeback and can cement his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials here.
The Skeltons say he’s a stronger horse 12 months on from his third in the big race last season and he’ll have no issues seeing out this trip.
PAISLEY PARK (3.00 Cheltenham, treble)
He turned back the clock with a brilliant Long Walk Hurdle win at Kempton last time. He ran his rivals into the ground despite that speed track not playing to his strengths.
He has won this race three times already and has seen off stronger opposition than this.
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Templegate’s TV verdicts
CHELTENHAM
11.40
DIXON COVE was edged out by Comfort Zone in a Chepstow Grade 2 last month but can turn the form around now she’s 5lb better off.
She finished strongly in Wales so the Cheltenham hill should be ideal. The Joseph O’Brien runner will be no pushover though and he’s got more to offer.
Scriptwriter was impressive when scoring here in November and is fit from a win on the all-weather.
This is tougher opposition but we know the track suits and he won’t be far away.
Jupiter Du Gite tanked home by 15 lengths in modest company at Newbury and deserves a crack at this even though he’ll have to raise his game.
12.10
STAGE STAR was high class over hurdles and is showing good signs as a chaser.
He scored on debut at Warwick before a disappointing second in a Newbury Grade 2. He bounced back at Plumpton earlier this month and can take another step forward over a trip that should suit.
Malinello hasn’t done much wrong in his two chases and went close in good company at Newbury latest despite a late mistake. This slight drop in distance can help him get home.
Fire Dancer came back from three years off when an all-out win at Ludlow three weeks ago.
He’s up a fair 6lb for that and will be a threat if this isn’t coming too soon.
Fern Hill didn’t fire at Kempton but won well at Uttoxeter before that and should appreciate this test.
12.40
DELTA WORK can show his class with Rob James’ 7lb claim taking off valuable weight.
He’s an amateur in name only and Delta Work won the Festival Cross-Country just ahead of the great Tiger Roll.
He was then a brilliant third in the Grand National and returned with a good win at Punchestown.
He’s different gravy to these rivals and can give the weight away.
Minella Times’ formline looks like a bad hand at Scrabble but he won the 2021 Grand National so will have no issue with this stamina test.
It would be no surprise to see him return to form on this quirky track.
Defending champion Back On The Lash goes from a 1lb lower mark and shaped well on the conventional track here in November. He looks solid each-way.
Singing Banjo pushed Delta Work all the way at Punchestown and is almost two stone better off at the weights today.
That can bring them close together again.
Snow Leopardess has a fine record over the Grand National fences at Aintree so should be suited to this and is another for the shortlist.
1.20
ENERGUMENE was superb when winning the Champion Chase on the Old Course at the Festival and can strike again.
He followed his Queen Mother success with an equally easy victory at Punchestown in April.
He didn’t see a rival when skipping around Cork to land a Grade 2 on comeback last month.
His only defeat came to a still-firing Shishkin in this race 12 months ago but that was Ascot and this track suits much better.
Edwardstone won the Arkle but took his form to a new level when stunning a strong field to win the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
He then suffered a rare blip when unseating in the Desert Orchid at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
He usually jumps brilliantly and will give Willie Mullins’ raider lots to think about.
Editeur Du Gite is clear best of the rest. He took that Desert Orchid when Alan King’s star ditched Tom Cannon and has run well at Cheltenham before.
Funambule Sivola was second in the Champion Chase but hasn’t come close to that form since.
1.50
NOCTE VOLATUS is capable of winning this and showed plenty when second on comeback at Hereford last month.
He sees out this trip well and won mind some give in the ground.
Brave Seasca was too bad to be true here last time after winning at Aintree. He stays well and can finish a lot closer.
Il Ridoto has ability and has gone close in hot handicaps here on his last two runs.
A drop to 2m would help as he doesn’t seem to quite stay this far but he’s a threat.
Fugitif had lots in hand clocking a big personal best at Chepstow. He’s up 10lb for that but should have more improvement in him.
Keep an eye on old boy Coole Cody with the Festival in mind.
2.25
PROTEKTORAT was brilliant when winning the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on comeback and can cement his Cheltenham Gold Cup credentials here.
The Skeltons say he’s a stronger horse 12 months on from his third in the big race last season and he’ll have no issues seeing out this trip.
Grand National winner Noble Yeats soared new heights when winning the Many Clouds over the Mildmay Course at Aintree last time. His engine makes him a massive danger.
Sounds Russian can take third after an impressive effort at Newbury last time.
3.00
PAISLEY PARK turned back the clock with a brilliant Long Walk Hurdle win at Kempton last time.
He ran his rivals into the ground despite that speed track not playing to his strengths.
He has won this race three times already and has seen off stronger opposition than this.
Dashel Drasher was a solid runner-up in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year’s Day.
He’s an honest performer who likes it here and can go close again.
Gelino Bello goes back over hurdles after not enjoying life as a chaser.
He won the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle in style at Aintree last March and could be rejuvenated by facing the smaller obstacles again.
The others have a fair gap to bridge with Botox Has returning here after a poor effort in the Relkeel.
Molly Ollys Wishes may finish closer if repeating the form she showed when winning a Listed contest at Wetherby.
That was over 2m but she has lots of staying power.
3.35
ROCK MY WAY went off at 66-1 on his hurdles debut in good company here last time and was mighty close to landing the spoils in second.
That was a fantastic start against quality opposition over this and any improvement can get him off the mark.
Pembroke zipped away from his rivals for a 16-length win at Ludlow on the back of an equally easy success at Wetherby.
His sights are raised here by the Skeltons but there’s every chance he’ll cope with it.
Blenkinsop has been in fine form down the grades with four handicap wins on the spin.
His latest Newbury win was his best yet and there’s more to come.
Henri The Second is a big threat after a Grade 2 victory at Sandown. He’ll have no problem getting up the hill and could give the weight away.
4.10
HACKER DES PLACES never runs a bad race and looks the answer to this red-hot handicap.
He was third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last season before a good win at Aintree.
He returned with a decent second at Ascot and will stay out of trouble up front.
Might I looked pretty rusty on return at Haydock and is better judged on his second in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
Dropping to 2m at Cheltenham looks wise and he has more to come.
Punctuation landed his fourth win on the spin with lots in the tank here last month.
He is best over this trip and an 8lb rise in the weights may not be enough to put the brakes on.
Nells Son has been chasing with mixed results but is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles and could be a threat back at handicap level.
Pikar was well backed before his handicap hurdle debut in a good race at Newbury.
He didn’t fire there as the 2m4f trip may have stretched his stamina. Don’t write off the Skelton hope with so few miles on the clock.
DONCASTER
2.05
EPATANTE will be pleased to see Constitution Hill isn’t in the line-up as the former Champion Hurdler has chased home her superstar stablemate on both runs this season.
This is her first drop from Grade 1 level in more than three years and her class can see her home.
Martello Sky looks the best of the rest after a trio of seconds in Listed races this term.
Her stamina has been a little stretched a couple of times and dropping to this 2m trip looks a wise move.
The others would be happier in a handicap.
Grace Macalo had 10 lengths in hand at Chepstow last time when running them into the ground from the front.
She’s likely to try those tactics again but is up against stronger opposition.
Finest View was in good form for Alan King before joining new trainer Andrew Martin but she isn’t used to this higher standard.
2.40
STAY AWAY FAY cost north of £300,000 and looked a good prospect for Paul Nicholls when winning nicely on debut at Newbury in November.
The form of that race has been franked and the champion trainer has been patient with him.
Stepping up to 3m should suit given how strongly he finished last time and there’s more to come.
Maximilian has had a wind op since an excellent third in a Grade 2 at Sandown early last month.
He saw out a testing trip well when winning in the mud at Bangor before that and won’t be far away.
Grand Soir made it three wins on the spin in Ireland when staying on strongly to score at Thurles.
He will appreciate this stamina test and is high on the shortlist.
Idealko Bihoue won easily at Worcester on debut and was pitched into the Grade 1 Challow where he was a promising third.
He’ll be a threat if seeing out this extra half-mile.
Mahons Glory was good at Aintree and has place claims against these stronger rivals.
3.15
GA LAW was impressive when winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November.
He dug deep up the hill and was going away at the line. He has Grade 1 placed form on his CV and it would be no surprise to see him progress into more than a handicapper pretty quickly for trainer Jamie Snowden.
Tea For Free is in the form of his life and made it four convincing wins in a row at Newbury on New Year’s Eve.
A 7lb rise means he needs to take another step forward but there’s every chance he’ll do so.
He gets on well with Lily Pinchin who takes off valuable weight.
Shanty Alley was carried out on his shield after a right battle at Newbury.
He has winning form around here and stays well so has solid each-way hopes.
Mister Coffey went close at Chepstow and is back from the same mark.
He was second in the Kim Muir at last year’s Cheltenham Festival so won’t lack for stamina.
Java Point has run well on both starts this season and is only 3lb higher than his last win.
Templegate’s tips
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