TEMPLEGATE tackles a truly cracking Saturday of action with top-class racing galore confident of giving the bookies a pasting.
Follow him in on his selections simply by clicking their odds below.
There is Grade 2 action in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, a brilliant Gold Cup handicap at Ascot, the Grade 1 Champion Chase from Down Royal and, of course, the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
Templegate’s tips for all the top races in the States are here… and remember to pace yourselves, it’s a monster day of racing.
MARTATOR (2.05 Ascot, nap)
He kicked off last season by winning this hot contest and can repeat the feat for Venetia Williams who has a cracking record in the opening weeks of the season. He’s won three of his four chase starts at Ascot and is effectively just 2lb higher than last year thanks to his rider’s claim.
INDEMNITY (3.10 Ascot, nb)
He is improving with every run and made it three handicap wins on the spin at Market Rasen on comeback last month. He jumped well over this trip and didn’t come out of second gear in landing the win. A 6lb rise for that is more than fair and trainer Emma Lavelle has started the season strongly.
GO DANTE (3.30 Wetherby, treble)
He has plenty of weight but he has the ability to match. He finished last season winning the red-hot Imperial Cup at Sandown over this trip and has winning form around here. He can go close again under champion jockey Sean Bowen.
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Templegate’s TV verdicts
WETHERBY
1.15
GLEN CANNEL is ready for this step up in class after a smooth success at Perth last time out.
He went from the front and had lots left in the tank crossing the line. There’s more improvement to come.
Lightning Flash was impressive when scoring by a comfortable four lengths on chase debut at Chepstow.
That was over 2m but he stays this far over hurdles so should have no problem getting home.
Strong Foundations ran on up the hill over hurdles at Cheltenham last time and would have a chance if able to lie closer to the pace on this first run over fences.
Ninth Loch is another useful hurdler who is worth a betting check on this chase bow.
Pep Talking has been going well in lesser races but needs more for this grade.
1.50
GOLDEN ACE should come out on top in this trappy race but she’s a pretty short price.
She started last season with a good run in the Ascot Hurdle and took Grade 2 honours at Wincanton before her fortunate Champion Hurdle win after Constitution Hill and State Man both hit the deck.
She was then a solid second at Punchestown and has gone well fresh before.
Kateira is a proven Grade 2 performer who ran well in the Long Walk here at Christmas.
It will be interesting to see how she fares over this shorter trip and her best would take her close.
Dysart Enos looked a potential superstar as a novice but things went off kilter last season.
She’s had a spin on the Flat and the first-time tongue tie may help.
2.22
STRONG LEADER was a cracking second in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle over this trip in April and won well on comeback last season so clearly goes well fresh.
He likes decent ground and trainer Olly Murphy is still banging in the winners.
Potters Charm is another Grade 1 winner but his best has been over slightly shorter.
He’s had a wind op since his last run and will be dangerous if getting home.
Take No Chances get the mares’ weight allowance and had a very quiet comeback at Chepstow three Saturdays ago.
That may well have been with this race in mind and she likes it around here.
She won over 2m7f at Uttoxeter so has no stamina worries.
Winter Fog and Doddiethegreat aren’t without a chance if finding their very best form.
2.57
GIVEN we haven’t had a 10-year-old win this for more than two decades, leading fancies Hewick, Pic D’Orhy and Protektorat all have a slight question mark.
They are all proven at the top level and, of that trio, former Ryanair winner Protektorat may be the biggest threat as he’s gone well fresh before.
Pic D’Orhy is much better at Ascot but Hewick is fit from a hurdles win and likes this trip.
But THE REAL WHACKER showed his liking for this race when winning it 12 months ago and warmed up very nicely over the smaller obstacles last time.
He can go close again at fair odds.
Djelo shouldn’t be written off over an ideal distance and he’s won first-time-out three times for Venetia Williams.
3.30
GO DANTE has plenty of weight but he has the ability to match.
He finished last season winning the red-hot Imperial Cup at Sandown over this trip and has winning form around here.
He can go close again under champion jockey Sean Bowen.
Don’t Mind If I Do showed promise before getting stuck in the mud at Wincanton last time out in January.
He has ability and it’s still early days for Alan King’s hopeful.
Pure Gold is a regular winner who had plenty in hand at Hexham last time.
This is stronger opposition but the trip suits and she could have more to come.
Max Of Stars won here last time and will try to nick this from the front. He could hold on for a place if unpestered early on.
4.05
RIBEYE is as reliable as they come and had a bit left in the tank when winning at Hexham last time.
He is a thorough stayer who likes to come late and a 5lb rise seems fair enough.
Red Delta got the job done well at Sedgefield on handicap chase debut last time and is capable of better. He could be ahead of the handicapper.
Konfusion won by 17 lengths at Uttoxeter before a good Bangor second last time.
He likes it here and can figure if ready to go after 191 days off.
Wa Wa comes from Murphy and Bowen and returned with a distant second at Uttoxeter last month.
That will have blown the cobwebs away and he’ll be much closer today.
Yes Day has lost his way but did win a couple of chases last season and is back to just 1lb above his last winning mark.
ASCOT
1.30
VIROFLAY wouldn’t be the first top hunter chaser to make his mark in open contests.
He won by a distance at Kempton before going close in the Punchestown Festival Hunter which is a smart effort.
He just ran out of juice over 3m there and a shorter trip like this could be ideal. He’s lightly raced for his age and can improve again.
No Questions Asked was useful over hurdles last season and was too bad to be true in the Martin Pipe at the Festival. He should make a nice chaser.
Don’t Tell Su has moved from Paul Nicholls to Nicky Henderson and jumped badly on chase debut so is best watched.
Old Gregorian won a match last time and has a fitness edge while Lylian won over fences in France so have a market check.
2.05
MARTATOR kicked off last season by winning this hot contest and can repeat the feat for Venetia Williams who has a cracking record in the opening weeks of the season.
He’s won three of his four chase starts at Ascot and is effectively just 2lb higher than last year thanks to his rider’s claim.
L’Eau Du Sud has lots of class as he showed when winning the Grade 1 Henry VIII as a novice last season.
This trip’s fine and he’s a sound jumper who should be right there.
Boothill has a big engine but he can make costly jumping errors. He won this race in 2023 and he can make the frame if staying on his feet.
Petit Tonnerre ended last season with a big handicap win at Punchestown over this trip and a repeat of that would make him dangerous.
3.10
INDEMNITY is improving with every run and made it three handicap wins on the spin at Market Rasen on comeback last month.
He jumped well over this trip and didn’t come out of second gear in landing the win.
A 6lb rise for that is more than fair and trainer Emma Lavelle has started the season strongly.
Alexei enjoyed quick ground when a close second on return at Chepstow and should be competitive off the same mark.
Washington got the better of Moveit Like Minnie on the same card at the Welsh track and should be competitive again in this stronger company.
Paul Nicholls runs Fasol and Afadil who both like this trip and have run well in similar races before.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if either made the frame at decent odds.
Ooh Betty has had a wind op since a modest Swinton Hurdle effort and that may help and she’s useful over this trip.
3.45
THE CHANGING MAN rose through the ranks last season and ended with a good third in an Aintree Grade 1.
He won over this course and distance on the way and is only 2lb higher than his excellent second in the Ultima at Cheltenham. He’s set for another good campaign.
Courtland may be underestimated because he’s been in veterans’ races but he’s been clocking fast times and sees out this trip.
Neon Moon is a regular placer at this trip and has an each-way shout again from a falling mark.
Le Coq Hardi has some useful form in Ireland and was placed in the Kerry National last time. You never ignore a Henry De Bromhead runner in England.
Henry’s Friend was a good winner at Newbury around this trip last season before running out of steam in the Scots National.
He’s only 5lb higher than that success and this could be the time to catch him right.
Two For Gold likes it here but hasn’t won for two years.
DOWN ROYAL
2.40
ENVOI ALLEN can land this race for the third time.
He may be about to turn 12 but this is his cup final and Henry De Bromhead will have him fit and firing.
We know trip and track are ideal with the yielding ground also right up his street.
Many think Spillane’s Tower is destined for the very top but he was found a little wanting in the King George and Gold Cup last season.
This is clearly a softer race than those and he has scope to improve.
Found A Fifty came up short in Grade 1s last season before clocked a personal best at Fairyhouse in April.
His best form has been over a little shorter.
Western Fold returned with a convincing Grade 2 win at Gowran last month and could improve again with that under his belt but he needs to.
Templegate’s tips
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