TEMPLEGATE tackles a sensational Saturday of racing confident of giving the bookies a hiding.
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O’CONNELL (3.35 Sandown, nap)
He really can’t go far enough so this real test of stamina should be right up his street. He won a hot contest here in February before an excellent second in the marathon Eider at Newcastle. He may well have needed his first run in eight months at Carlisle last time where he kept on well into third over 3m2f. He goes on any ground and will be doing his best work at the finish.
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY (2.25 Sandown, nb)
He won this last year and has a fine overall record at Sandown. Dan Skelton will have had this race in mind for a long time and he’s off a lower mark than his close-up run in the Imperial Cup here in March. He goes well fresh and sets the clear standard.
GABORIOT (2.40 Aintree, treble)
He ran a nice race in the Grand Sefton over these fences last month, hitting the frame for the second year running. He stayed on strongly into second and the pick of his form is over the kind of stamina test he faces here. Soft ground suits and it should be pretty testing on the National course. He has a nice low weight and should be right on the premises again.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
AINTREE
Most read in Horse Racing
2.05
EDELAK has some useful Flat form and scored at Galway on the level last time out when trained by Johnny Murtagh.
He is related to winners over hurdles and should know his job on debut for the Skeltons.
He can edge out Treasure Planet who had 18 lengths in hand when scooting in at Ludlow last time.
He’s another with Irish Flat form and should take a big step forward on his third spin over jumps for Paul Nicholls.
Bibe Mus was a French Flat winner and scored on hurdles debut at Gowran in October.
He didn’t improve on that when held at Down Royal last time and has a few questions to answer after that.
Scarlet Moon did the job nicely at Warwick last month but takes on stronger opposition here.
Lord won three minor contests in a row before being found out in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham last time. He needs to show a lot more in this company.
Diamond Jim looked more of a stayer when second on debut in the mud at Bangor, while Only One Blue was held in minor company at Hereford last time out.
2.40
GABORIOT ran a nice race in the Grand Sefton over these fences last month, hitting the frame for the second year running.
He stayed on strongly into second and the pick of his form is over the kind of stamina test he faces here.
Soft ground suits and it should be pretty testing on the National course.
He has a nice low weight and should be right on the premises again.
Excello was a place behind the tip in the Grand Sefton.
He’s yet to prove himself over this trip but would be a threat at a big price if getting home.
Mr Vango looks an obvious danger after his three from three record in staying chases last season.
He is now a whopping 17lb higher than the start of that winning run but he’ll ping these fences out in front and may take plenty of catching.
He is giving a lot of weight away though and that could just put the brakes on.
Bioluminescence comes from Gavin Cromwell in Ireland and needed the run at Clonmel.
She’s a Graded performer who stays and will enjoy juice in the ground.
Twig looks a big price after a promising comeback win at Sandown 27 days ago.
He was far from disgraced when tenth in the Grand National and could easily make the podium places.
Galia Des Liteaux stays all day and blew away the cobwebs at Carlisle. She has a Grand National eighth on her CV.
White Rhino took a hefty bump early in the Grand Sefton and was never really put into the race.
That was his first run for eight months and he’ll be fitter for it.
He won a couple of nice races last year and has dropped down the weights to make him competitive.
3.15
RAMBO T has enjoyed himself since going back over hurdles and landed the red-hot Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time.
The runner-up in that race has won twice since and he’s best over this trip. He’s up 6lb but should be right there again.
Stablemate Act Of Authority ran well at Newbury on comeback and should improve for it.
He was second in the Martin Pipe at the Festival the last time he tackled this trip.
Bear Market won here in May and struck on comeback at Southwell 22 days ago.
He has no weight and looks dangerous despite going up in class.
It’s still early days and there’s more to come.
Sunray Shadow had a quiet comeback at Newbury after a year off and he won a novice contest over course and distance.
He could easily hit the frame at fair odds.
Stream Of Stars is consistent and ran his best race for a long time at Plumpton latest. He is another with an each-way shout.
SANDOWN
1.20
KIKIJO was impressive when winning over this trip at Cheltenham last time and a 7lb rise in the weights looks more than fair.
That smooth success built on his excellent comeback at Aintree and some give in the ground is ideal. He can take another step forward.
Turndlightsdownlow looks a big threat after back to back easy Kempton wins.
He goes up in trip and class today but could handle both.
Absolutely Doyen had lots left when scoring on handicap debut at Ascot.
He’s unbeaten in three runs for Paul Nicholls and won’t be far away.
Chasing Fire was second in smart company at Aintree last time and comes from an in-form team.
Supremely West has loads of talent but you get the feeling he’s being trained for the final of this Pertemps Series at the Cheltenham Festival.
He got a puzzling ride last time and just needs to finish in the first four to book his place in March. Make sure he’s in your tracker.
1.50
LULAMBA looks to have translated all of his hurdles quality to chasing and looks hard to beat.
His only defeat so far came when an unlucky neck second in this year’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham before he took Grade 1 honours at Punchestown.
His chasing debut at Exeter last time was full of promise as he trotted round without breaking sweat.
Low sun took out four fences that day but he looked good at the eight he had to jump.
This will be a much sterner test but he can pass it.
Be Aware looked a little tapped for speed when a still excellent second in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last time.
He shapes like a bit further would be ideal but he jumps well and looks the main threat.
Lump Sum has a lot more hurdles miles on the clock than the others but he was an impressive chase debut winner at Uttoxeter.
His jumping was very slick and he deserves a crack at this prestigious race.
Alnilam has won both his chases and passed the Cheltenham jumping test last time. There’s not much between him and the others.
2.25
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY won this last year and has a fine overall record at Sandown.
Dan Skelton will have had this race in mind for a long time and he’s off a lower mark than his close-up run in the Imperial Cup here in March. He goes well fresh and sets the clear standard.
Dance And Glance chased home potential star Alexei at Ascot last time when coming from a long way back.
Sandown’s hill should be ideal and he’s dangerous off a low weight.
Afadil is a tricky customer but his last visit here saw him just collared in the Imperial Cup.
A repeat of that would take him very close again.
Glynn Brae won nicely here last time but this looks a bit tougher.
Go Dante has won the past two Imperial Cups so must be better than his tailed-off comeback effort at Bangor last time, while Kateira drops from a solid run in an Ascot Grade 2 and has an each-way chance off top weight.
3.00
IL ETAIT TEMPS was fantastic when winning the Celebration Chase here in April.
He put Jonbon firmly in his place by five lengths and he didn’t put a foot wrong at his fences.
That was his only run last season and Willie Mullins brought him back for a saunter around Clonmel last month as he took a Grade 2 by 18 lengths.
He looks the pick of the two-milers on either side of the Irish Sea at the moment and can pick up valuable prizemoney for the double champion trainer.
L’Eau Du Sud looked to have improved past Jonbon when winning the Shloer at Cheltenham last month.
He is a lovely jumper who should thrive over the tricky Railway fences.
He likes some cut in the ground and can fill the forecast spot.
Jonbon could easily bounce back and win this for the third year running and may have needed that Shloer run and the cheekpieces may help.
3.35
O’CONNELL really can’t go far enough so this real test of stamina should be right up his street.
He won a hot contest here in February before an excellent second in the marathon Eider at Newcastle.
He may well have needed his first run in eight months at Carlisle last time where he kept on well into third over 3m2f.
He goes on any ground and will be doing his best work at the finish.
More rain would be ideal for Tanganyika who is another with a bottomless pit of stamina.
He was beaten just a length by Mr Vango in the Midlands National and he ran a solid comeback race at Cheltenham 20 days ago.
We are all waiting for Venetia Williams’ yard to spring into its usual pre-Christmas life and today could be the day.
Provided the rain stays away you have to take Ask Brewster very seriously.
He has won three in a row at Chepstow including his comeback last time.
He has no issues with the trip and Harry Cobden is an eyecatching booking for Evan Williams.
Rivers Corner could be the pick of the big prices after a solid effort at Exeter last time.
Templegate’s tips
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