TEMPLEGATE takes on Friday’s action confident of building the bank ahead of another huge weekend of action.
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FILANDERER (2.25 Newbury, nap)
Hughie Morrison’s nine-year-old has been in sensational form this year. He ended last season with a hat-trick and picked up where he left off at Ffos Las late last month, winning easily by 16 lengths. He is still on a tempting-looking mark and has very little weight on his back.
MARSHMAN (3.15 Southwell, nb)
Karl Burke’s talented sprinter has a sensational record on the all-weather. He hasn’t been seen since running a very creditable fifth in the Group 2 Duke Of York in May, but he goes well fresh for a yard who’ve enjoyed a fine season.
ACT OF INNOCENCE (12.15 Newbury, treble)
The five-year-old was a smart bumper horse for Paul Nicholls and has since been moved to Nicky Henderson. He is a highly-touted prospect for novice hurdles and his trainer has spoken glowingly about him in the lead up to his debut.
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NEWBURY
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1.50
KINGSTON PRIDE gets the nod in a fascinating race.
He looked to have the world at his feet early in his novice hurdling career for Nicky Henderson, but he had his issues and joined Olly Murphy over the summer.
He wasn’t foot perfect on his chasing debut at Perth, but he jumped well on the whole and retains plenty of potential in this sphere for a yard in red-hot form.
At the likely prices and with a run under his belt, he is narrowly preferred to Regent’s Stroll who was only just caught close home in a Grade 1 at Aintree in the spring.
Paul Nicholls reports he has schooled well at home, but he is entitled to come forward for his first run of the season.
The form of Wendigo’s second to Wade Out has received a boost, with that horse winning at Cheltenham earlier this month, and he is another serious contender.
No Questions Asked made a winning chase debut at Ascot and also commands respect in an open Grade 2.
2.25
FILANDERER might be a nine-year-old, but he has never been in better form.
He ended last season with three straight wins and recorded another wide-margin success at Ffos Las on his return, when he was left clear at the last with the race already in the bag.
He has been put up 10lb by the handicapper but still looks on a tempting mark for his shrewd trainer Hughie Morrison.
Twinjets looks the main danger after a career-best performance at Fontwell.
He was given a soft lead that day and will need to up his game again, but if he is allowed too much rope in front he could take some catching.
American Mike was a top bumper horse for Gordon Elliott earlier in his career, but he lost his way over fences last season.
He is worth a market check on his debut for Olly Murphy.
Heltenham goes well at this track and is on a good mark, so he is another to note having undergone a breathing operation since his run behind Twinjets.
3.00
STRONG LEADER looks rock-solid in the Long Distance Hurdle.
He has been a star for the Olly Murphy yard and returned with a game defeat of the re-opposing Take No Chances at Wetherby.
His trainer says he has improved for the run and he sets the standard, having won this race convincingly 12 months ago.
The aforementioned Take No Chances has lots of ability, but she had the fitness edge when failing to hold off Strong Leader at Wetherby.
Impose Toi looks a bigger threat, having won comfortably on his reappearance at Aintree in October.
Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old has lots of strong handicap form to his name and he receives 6lb from the selection, so he has to be taken seriously.
Former King George hero Hewick was well-beaten by Strong Leader and Co and Wetherby so it’s hard to see him reversing the form here.
3.35
BLUE CARPET won in a canter in an egg-and-spoon race at Wetherby last time.
He only had two rivals to beat but he had them cooked a long way from home.
His opening mark of 118 looks very tempting and he has only had a handful of starts, so there should be more to come.
Joe Tizzard has his string in excellent form at the moment so Diamond Ri is worth close consideration, for all this is his first run for 590 days.
He was a useful novice hurdler two seasons ago and could be well-handicapped.
J J Moon won going away at Newton Abbott last month and the booking of Harry Cobden catches the eye, though this is a tougher race.
I’m A Lumberjack ended last season with an emphatic win and he is open to further progress this year, but the Alan King yard is yet to really hit its straps.
SOUTHWELL
2.40
SHADER can continue his superb record on the all-weather.
The well-bred four-year-old is a perfect 3-3 on the sand for John and Thady Gosden, winning the Listed Floodlit Stakes at Kempton by a whopping nine lengths earlier this month.
He clearly loves this surface and is still unexposed after just five runs.
He gets weight from big rival Dubai Honour, who has been a globetrotting star for William Haggas.
He was only just touched off in a Group 2 in France last time, but this race is being used as a prep for his big target in Hong Kong next month.
Royal Playwright has been disappointing for Andrew Balding, having looked so promising as a two-year-old, but his trainer will be hoping he can rediscover his form over this slightly longer trip.
Palazzo Blu looks booked for fourth ahead of Universal Story.
3.15
MARSHMAN can bag another big pot for trainer Karl Burke.
The stable have had a sensational season and the five-year-old boasts an excellent record on the all-weather.
He hasn’t been seen since finishing fifth in the Group 2 Duke Of York in May, but he goes well fresh and sets a good standard.
Rogue Lightning is another who has a good record after the break and he has plenty of form in the book to suggest he can push the selection close.
Apollo One has been a great servant for the Charalambous stable, but he has had a busy season and isn’t a frequent winner.
Zoum Zoum’s losing run is racking up but he ran his best race in a while when second in the Wentworth Stakes last time out.
Royal Zabeel has a very good all-weather record and is a solid each-way proposition.
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