TEMPLEGATE tackles a huge Saturday of action from Cheltenham, Doncaster and beyond confident of giving the bookies a hiding.
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HYLAND (2.20 Cheltenham, nap)
He can score at this meeting for the third year running. He did well last season, winning here three times and going close in hot company at Kempton off this handicap mark. Ignore his last run when he never looked happy in the Grand National. This is more his game.
TRILBY (1.30 Doncaster, nb)
He has a fantastic record in heavy ground. He’s won both starts in the mud and has been knocking on the door for the past month or so. He has gone close twice at Haydock with a good run at Pontefract in between. He has won off 4lb higher and is fine over this 5f trip.
INTENSE APPROACH (4.05 Cheltenham, treble)
He found the Albert Bartlett Hurdle too much at the Festival but has always looked a chaser in the making and struck on his first spin over fences at Galway in August. He was a winning pointer in his younger days and jumped well as he won a decent race. This trip should be ideal and he’s the one to beat.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
CHELTENHAM
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1.10
CREST OF FORTUNE was classy over hurdles and ended last season with a close-up third in an Aintree Grade 1 over three miles.
He goes on any ground and should make a really nice chaser.
Double Powerful is another newcomer over fences with a big chance.
He was also last seen at the Grand National meeting when third in a big handicap and won here over timber so the track should be fine.
Of those with chase form, Innox Allen had 11 lengths in hand when winning at Perth last time out in April and is a strong stayer who should relish the hill here.
Darcy’s Friend would have won at Killarney last time but for clouting the second-last.
That was his first run over fences and he’ll improve for Emmet Mullins.
Henry De Bromhead has solid claims with Zurich who ran well at Killarney last time and should enjoy stepping up in trip.
1.45
MINELLA SUPREME looked a nice prospect when winning at Kilbeggan last time with more up his sleeve than the half-length winning margin.
That was just his second spin over hurdles and trainer John McConnell won this race 12 months ago.
Soldiers World improved a bundle from his hurdles debut when second at Listowel last month.
He has won both starts in a visor so far and has that headgear on again today. There’s improvement to come.
Pour Les Filles is another strong Irish contender from Gordon Elliott.
He was a decent bumper performer and has translated that to hurdles with two places and a cosy win at Downpatrick last time out.
He should enjoy moving up to this longer trip and has strong claims.
Catchintsavo looks the pick of the British challenge after some good bumper outings.
He was last seen finishing third at the Punchestown Festival in May and should make a nice hurdler.
Great Fleet looked solid when third at Kelso on hurdles debut behind Conman John who won despite a late mistake and looks all about stamina so should like this trip.
2.20
HYLAND can score at this meeting for the third year running.
He did well last season, winning here three times and going close in hot company at Kempton off this handicap mark.
Ignore his last run when he never looked happy in the Grand National. This is more his game.
The Short Go was second in this last year and trainer Henry De Bromhead has won the past two runnings of the race.
He stays well and has a handy weight so should be right there again.
Transmission was fifth in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival and took a similar contest to this here last season from just 3lb higher.
He goes well fresh and should be on the premises.
Three Card Brag is fit from his comeback at Listowel last month and has place claims despite his rising mark.
Rock My Way has had a wind op since his Scottish National fifth and was second in the National Hunt Chase last term so he should be finishing strongly.
2.55
LONG DRAW won nicely on his last crack at this course and distance in April before going down in a tight finish for a hot contest at Haydock in May.
He sees out this trip strongly and has scored with give in the ground.
He’s up the weights but is still progressing and trainer Olly Murphy is in incredible form.
The strangely named Winning Smut had plenty up his sleeve when scoring at Galway in August and an 11lb hike in the weights doesn’t ruin the chances of Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old.
Chance Another One won on his chase debut last time but is a smart hurdler too and the first-time hood may help.
Willie Mullins sends over Chart Topper who was second in a Grade 2 as a novice and was behind Winning Smut last time.
He tanks along and has improvement to come.
Supremely West and Prince Zaltar have place claims for the Skeltons.
3.30
GIVE IT TO ME OJ progressed over hurdles earlier this year and ended up winning the big novices’ final at Sandown in April.
Fitness won’t be an issue as he’s won a couple of times on the Flat this autumn and looks set for another big season over timber.
Hamlet’s Night looks the main danger after easy wins at Stratford and Warwick already this term.
This is the softest ground he’s faced but he’s got more to offer.
Caballo De Guerra caught the eye when scoring on hurdles debut at Kelso earlier this month.
He quickened nicely and should take a step forward.
Loriko placed in all three French starts before joining the Skeltons.
He was a promising third on yard debut at Uttoxeter and is another with plenty of scope for more.
The Egyptian Ginge has gone close in a couple of bumpers but this is a tough hurdles debut despite his yard being in flying form.
4.05
INTENSE APPROACH found the Albert Bartlett Hurdle too much at the Festival but has always looked a chaser in the making and struck on his first spin over fences at Galway in August.
He was a winning pointer in his younger days and jumped well as he won a decent race.
This trip should be ideal and he’s the one to beat.
I’m still smarting from Pied Piper’s 2023 Triumph Hurdle chinning and he’s not quite fulfilled his promise.
He won some small-field chases earlier this year but has made costly errors on his two runs this autumn and must jump better.
Anyway was a 125-1 second in the Golden Miller at the Festival before landing a Kilbeggan novice.
He was poor in the Kerry National on comeback but should be fitter for the run.
Welcom To Cartries had a couple of spins over fences last season in hotter races than this and should be happier in this easier grade.
Leave Of Absence has few miles on the clock for an eight-year-old and landed a fair handicap chase at Newbury last time out in March.
He returns with his yard going well.
DONCASTER
1.30
IT’S hats off for TRILBY who has a fantastic record in heavy ground.
He’s won both starts in the mud and has been knocking on the door for the past month or so.
He has gone close twice at Haydock with a good run at Pontefract in between.
He has won off 4lb higher and is fine over this 5f trip. This is wide open but he looks solid.
Blue Storm didn’t get the run of the race in this contest 12 months ago and is another who relishes the mud.
He’s below his last winning mark and looks overpriced.
Rosario went close in testing conditions at Ascot earlier this month.
He may have won but for being hampered and the first-time visor could bring a little improvement.
Solar Aclaim wasn’t disgraced in the Ayr Gold Cup last time and has decent form in soft-ground sprints.
He’s another with an each-way chance.
Jer Batt has hardly finished out of the frame this season and tries cheekpieces for the first time.
He’s best over this trip and the booking of Oisin Murphy catches the eye.
This trip suits and he’ll be in the mix too.
Sophia’s Starlight is another who likes it soft but would prefer an extra furlong.
2.05
BENVENUTO CELLINI can give Aidan O’Brien an amazing 12th win in this Group 1 for two-year-olds.
He looked something potentially very special when winning a Leopardstown Group 2 with his head in his chest last time.
He is bred for middle-distances so should have no stamina issues as long as he handles the much softer ground.
Stablemate Hawk Mountain proved himself on soft ground when winning the Beresford at The Curragh four weeks ago.
He clocked a good time and will be the biggest threat.
Action is another Ballydoyle runner who wouldn’t be a shock winner.
He finished strongly when third in the Royal Lodge on quick ground at Newmarket last time.
It was tacky when he won at Galway so he should be fine in the conditions.
Oxagon has shown his best on good or quicker and may struggle to get home in the ground.
2.40
LAM YAI was beaten a neck in the Group 2 Firth Of Clyde at Ayr last time in soft ground and this looks a great winning chance getting weight from the colts.
She went from the front and there was a good gap back to the third so the form looks solid.
Karl Burke continues in fine form and can land another nice win.
Spanish Waltz enjoyed the soft ground when taking a Pontefract maiden without breaking sweat.
This is a fair hike in class but there’s a lot more to come from Ralph Beckett’s colt.
Boston Dan went close in a York Listed contest two Saturdays ago and won his maiden on good to soft so could well handle the ground.
Richard Fahey is in form and he’s a fair each-way price.
Figjam wants further and that stamina may be an asset in the conditions while Arduis Invicta could improve on her Two-Year-Old Trophy sixth with Oisin Murphy taking over.
NEWBURY
3.10
STELLAR SUNRISE can shine in the Horris Hill.
Andrew Balding’s colt has impressed with back-to-back wins at Goodwood and York, travelling smoothly and finishing strongly over this trip.
He’s bred to handle softer ground and has a real turn of foot. There’s a fair bit more to come.
Time To Turn sets the form standard on his Ascot Listed win, though he needs to bounce back from a disappointing French run and is unproven on soft.
Pandemonium has done nothing wrong in two starts and looks a colt on the upgrade but this is a fair hike in class.
He handled give in the ground at Redcar last time.
Wechaad is another improver after an easy Doncaster nursery success and Roger Varian is ending the season strongly.
May Angel could step forward in first-time headgear but needs to after a modest Group 3 effort at York last time.
Arabian Desert and Boiling Over both have a fair bit to find at this higher level.
3.45
ANCIENT WISDOM was only getting going when beaten a neck at Goodwood last time over 1m2f last month.
That was his first run since June and he’ll be much happier tackling this more testing distance.
He goes on soft ground and can see these off from the front under William Buick.
Hamish may have just been showing his nine years of age when third in the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot last time but he shouldn’t be written off just yet.
He loves soft ground and stays well so could easily bounce back for William Haggas.
Al Aasy is more than capable of winning this but doesn’t always relish a fight and was a modest fifth in a Leopardstown Group 3 last time.
He could figure if brought wide with a late run.
Starzintheireyes came back from almost a year off last time so should be fitter and won a Group 3 on soft ground at Newmarket this time last year.
Templegate’s tips
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