Horse racing tips: Templegate NAP should relish step up in distance in big Grand National Trial at Haydock

TEMPLEGATE tackles a huge Saturday of racing and is confident of banging in plenty of winners.

Read on for our man’s tips, back a horse by clicking their odds and book your place at our Cheltenham Festival preview show HERE.

FONTAINE COLLONGES (2.40 Haydock, nap)

She is an improving stayer who caught the eye at Kempton over Christmas. This longer trip should be right up her street.

SUPREME GIFT (4.25 Haydock, nb)

He has been on a roll of late and was impressive at Catterick last time. There should be more to come over three miles.

APPLE ROCK (4.10 Ascot, treble)

Completed a hat-trick in fine style at Taunton last time out and still looks well-treated off new mark.

Templegate’s ITV Racing verdicts

ASCOT

1.50 

BOLD ENDEAVOUR has been a revelation since joining Nicky Henderson’s yard. He is 2-2 for the Seven Barrows handler and produced an impressive performance at Doncaster despite a tendency to jump to his right.

He gets a shot at a valuable Graded prize and there is no doubt the step up to three miles will see further improvement.

Kinondo Kwetu has been a fantastic advertisement for Sam England’s training skills. He has yet to be beaten since going chasing and has already improved a whooping 30lb  —with the scope to do even better. This slick jumper rates a huge danger.

Jay Jay Reilly likes to bowl along from the front, but has stamina to prove after winning over 2m 2f at Kempton last time. He can race keenly, so could set this up for the market principals.

2.25

IT’s well worth taking a chance on classy top-weight SPORTING JOHN. He has not been firing this season, but looks the type to pop up now connections have tinkered with his breathing.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has had an up and down season, but his yard is in better form now and that bodes well for the tip.

Cap Du Nord is hoping to make the most of a drop in the weights. He showed up well in a top handicap at Doncaster last month and a big run is expected.

Phoenix Way goes well here and put in a decent shift at Cheltenham last month. He has dropped to his last winning mark and looks ready for another shot at three miles.

3.00

WE’VE yet to see the best of PETIT TONNERRE and he could prove to be a spot of value in this competitive handicap. You can put a line through his run in the Lanzarote at Kempton as he was badly hampered early and his rider soon pulled him up.

His earlier placed efforts at Aintree and Newbury read well and there is no doubt he has the talent to win a race of this nature.

Irish Hill is improving with wins at Fakenham and Taunton on his last two starts. He stays well, but needs more at this level.

The market will speak volumes as to what to expect from French recruit Zoffany Bay. He has not run for 700 days, but trainer Peter Fahey has a fine UK strike rate.

3.35

LAST year’s winner FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES can defend his crown. He has been trained by Joseph O’Brien to peak for this Grade 1 prize and comes here with confidence high.

He knuckled down well to win a Grade 2 contest at Thurles last month and will be even sharper for today’s contest. He’s probably one of the more underappreciated horses around, but his four Grade 1 wins are proof he does not lack a touch of class.

It’s hard to know what to expect from Shishkin. This time last year he was one of racing’s superstars when winning an epic Clarence House, but the wheels have fallen off since and he now moves up in trip.

There were some positives to take out of his run in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and a recent wind op and first-time tongue-tie can only help.

Pic D’Orhy has to be taken seriously after winning two Grade 2s impressively. His jumping is assured and Paul Nicholls knows what it takes to win this.

HAYDOCK

2.05

ERNE RIVER looks the one to beat after a cracking effort off top-weight at Doncaster last month.

He could be classed as an unlucky loser on the day as he hit the front too soon and got worried out of things late on. More patient tactics will suit and a recent wind op could see further improvement.

Green Book looks the main danger after a powerful win over this trip at Sandown two weeks ago. Stamina is his forte but he has to give the selection 4lb and that could tell late on.

Ashtown Lad travelled well for a long way at Warwick last time but found little off the bridle. He looks one to take on.

2.40

VENETIA WILLIAMS runs three and can win this valuable staying prize with the progressive Fontaine Collonges.

The eight-year-old is a sister to 2012 Grand National hero Neptune Collonges — who was beaten a neck in this before his memorable Aintree win.

The mare has untapped potential over marathon trips and is a dour staying type. She proved her stamina with a snug win over an extended three miles here in November and can make light of a 5lb rise with Charlie Deutsch picking her of the trio.

Stablemate Quick Wave flopped when a beaten favourite in the Welsh National, but had earlier bolted up at Sandown. An 8lb rise is unlikely to anchor her, but she does seem best in deep ground.

Course specialist Bristol De Mai won this race last year and is respected despite carrying top weight, but a bigger danger is Notachance.

WINCANTON

3.12 

I LIKE TO MOVE IT can bounce back to form. He finished a disappointing sixth in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham where hold-up tactics were blamed for his poor performance.

He was ridden positively when bolting up off top-weight in the Greatwood Hurdle and he could take some catching if Sam Twiston-Davies decides to let him roll from the front.

First Street is progressing nicely and ran a cracker when finishing someway ahead of the tip in the Relkeel last time. The drop back to two miles will suit, but he can race keenly and is unlikely to get much cover.

Knappers Hill has to give his market rivals 2lb but this track and trip brings out the best in him.

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Templegate’s tips

ASCOT

1.15 Attacca

1.50 Bold Endeavour

2.25 Sporting John

3.00 Petit Tonnerre

3.35 Fakir D’Oudairies 

4.10 Apple Rocks (treble)

4.45 Between Waters

HAYDOCK

1.30 Afadil

2.05 Erne River 

2.40 Fontaine Collonges (nap)

3.18 Jerrash

3.50 Quid Pro Quo

4.25 Supreme Gift (nb)

5.00 Bennys King

LINGFIELD

1.03 Ower Starlight

1.38 Floating Spirit

2.13 Elegant Ellen

2.48 Aramis Grey

3.23 Rattling

3.58 Base Note

4.33 Densetsu

NEWCASTLE

4.55 Russian Virtue

5.30 Lady Bianca

6.00 Gifted Gold

6.30 Queen Regent

7.00 Lion’s Dream

7.30 Enderman

8.00 Primo

WINCANTON

1.57 Earth Cry

2.32 Flic Ou Voyou

3.12 I Like To Move It

3.42 Fantastikas 

4.17 Jet Of Magic

4.50 Beyond Redemption

5.20 Copshill Lad

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