TEMPLEGATE takes on one of the best Saturdays of racing all year confident of hammering the bookies.
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MYRETOWN (2.55 Newbury, NAP)
Produced one of the performances of the Cheltenham Festival in the spring. He absolutely bolted up in the Ultima and still looks well-handicapped for trainers Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore. All ground comes alike to the progressive eight-year-old and the fact he has winning form in a big field handicap chase is an added bonus.
FRENCH SHIP (1.40 Newbury, nb)
He was wildly impressive when winning a good handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in October and an 8lb rise won’t be enough to stop him. He is still lightly-raced and clearly improving fast for his in-form yard.
INDEMNITY (2.15 Newbury, treble)
He was unlucky to bump into the runaway Greatwood Hurdle winner Alexei at Ascot last time out. He travelled like a well-handicapped horse that day and a mark of 122 still looks very workable.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
NEWBURY
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1.40
FRENCH SHIP can sail to victory under Harry Cobden.
He was wildly impressive when winning a good handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in October and an 8lb rise won’t be enough to stop him.
He is still lightly-raced and clearly improving fast for his in-form yard.
Similar comments apply to the promising Lud’or, who bolted up at Bangor 17 days ago. This is a deeper race but he is clearly the main danger.
Guard Duty was probably stretched by three miles on his final run of last season, but he had been on a roll prior to that and should run well back at his optimum trip.
Personal Ambition needed the run on his comeback but he had some good form over fences last season and could be well-handicapped in this sphere.
The wheels have come off a little for East India Express, but he would have a good chance if rediscovering his form.
2.15
INDEMNITY looks a safe bet for Emma Lavelle.
He was unlucky to bump into the runaway Greatwood Hurdle winner Alexei at Ascot last time out.
He travelled like a well-handicapped horse that day and a mark of 122 still looks very workable.
He is narrowly preferred to Live Conti, who ran a cracker in a Grade 1 at Aintree on just his second run for Dan Skelton.
He has a big weight to carry but is clearly an exciting prospect.
Give It To Me Oj scrambled home at odds-on last time out, but the runner-up has since given Rubaud a fright in a Grade 2, so the form looks better now.
He is one to consider closely, as is Indeevar Blue who returns with his yard in great nick.
Viyanni will need to step up but he is still lightly-raced and open to progress.
2.55
MYRETOWN produced one of the performances of the Cheltenham Festival in the spring.
He absolutely bolted up in the Ultima and still looks well-handicapped for trainers Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.
All ground comes alike to the progressive eight-year-old and the fact he has winning form in a big field handicap chase is an added bonus.
Resplendent Grey is another horse on the up and I was impressed with his performance at Carlisle first time out.
He rates as the biggest danger, but there are plenty others in with a shout, including Alan King’s The Doyen Chief and Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Panic Attack.
3.35
JAVERT ALLEN should take a big step forward from his reappearance at Aintree.
He has been well-backed in each of his last three starts, but on his comeback he just appeared to run out of puff.
He will strip fitter this time and returns to the same C&D as his career-best performance.
General Medrano caught the eye at Ascot last time when he was perhaps given too much to do when a running-on fourth.
He commands respect, while Etalon is always a solid proposition in these two-mile handicap chases.
Rare Edition bumped into the subsequent Haldon Gold Cup winner at Kelso and there is nothing of that calibre in here.
He should run well, while the booking of Harry Cobden catches the eye for Nicky Richards’ runner Doyen Du Bar.
NEWCASTLE
2.00
ANZADAM can land the knockout blow in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
Willie Mullins’ unexposed five-year-old has yet to be tested at the highest level, but he looked out of the top draw on his two starts last season.
It remains to be seen exactly where Lossiemouth will run come March – you’d have to think surely the Champion Hurdle over the Mares’ now.
But if she should switch for whatever reason then this guy could end up the Closutton No1.
The vibes around Constitution Hill suggest he’s back to his best and The New Lion is sure to be geared up for this Grade 1 cracker.
Golden Ace was a lucky winner of last season’s Champion Hurdle and, while a fair mare, scoped dirty on her last run so don’t bid on an upset here.
Nemean Lion was supplemented but is a Grade 2 performer at best and won’t be up to this level.
3.15
DOCPICKEDME looks the one in the Rehearsal Chase.
Trainer Richard Hobson is brilliant at targeting these big pots for staying chasers and his nine-year-old can defy the handicapper again.
He shaped fine on his return over hurdles at Newbury and thrashed the ultra-consistent The Changing Man at Doncaster in last season’s Great Yorkshire. He’s only 2lb higher today.
Deafening Silence has to be respected for the Skeltons.
He mixed it with some good horses last season and stays well. He has a decent record fresh and has less miles on the clock than a lot of these.
Cruz Control signed off with an impressive win at Aintree’s Grand National meeting for the second season in a row.
He has taken another jump up the weights as a result and tends to come good in the spring.
Konfusion goes for the in-form Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith yard and has hit the ground running this season. He was unlucky at Haydock when unseating.
Templegate’s tips
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