TEMPLEGATE tackles one of the best days of racing all year confident of making it a Christmas to remember with a load of winners.
The big race is the King George from Kempton live on ITV1 at 2.30pm.
He runs through all the runners on a stacked Friday below.
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GAELIC WARRIOR (2.30 Kempton, nap)
He’s an outstanding chaser who has won three big races in a row, including the Grade 1 Bowl and the John Durkan on comeback ahead of Fact To File. He has the pace for 2m but the proven stamina for this longer trip. He goes on any ground and has the benefit of Paul Townend in the saddle. Jumped and travelled strongly again last time and looks at the peak of his powers. Clearly the one to beat.
WENDIGO (1.20 Kempton, nb)
He looked to be crying out for this longer trip when finishing strongly to take the Grade 2 John Francome at Newbury last time. That was just his second run over fences and he jumped nicely. His best hurdles form was over three miles and he should take a fair step up for Jamie Snowden.
MARBLE SANDS (1.35 Wetherby, treble)
He was impressive when winning at Cheltenham on his chase comeback last month. He stayed on really strongly up the hill when challenged and jumped well. His rider’s claim takes care of most of the 5lb weight rise for that good effort and he likes a stamina test like this with some cut in the ground.
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Templegate’s TV verdicts
KEMPTON
12.45
SECRET DES DIEUX kicked off his chase career with a smooth win at Fakenham and improved when a close second in hotter company at Newbury last time.
He finished strongly over two miles there and this longer trip can unlock more improvement.
Noble Park has looked a nice prospect in winning both his chase outings for Nicky Henderson.
He had a distance to spare at Lingfield last time but he didn’t have a lot to beat. This is tougher but there’s a lot more to come.
U Cant Be Serious is another coming here unbeaten in chases after a couple of narrow victories at Exeter.
He goes from the front for in-form Joe Tizzard and is proven at a similar trip. This is tougher but he can’t be ignored.
Barlovento would probably have beaten U Cant Be Serious last time but for hanging badly on the run-in and losing a couple of lengths.
That was his chase debut and he should have learned from that experience and do better.
Jasmine Bliss is a solid novice hurdler but this isn’t the easiest race for your first crack at chasing and similar comments apply to Epic West who should relish this longer distance.
1.20
WENDIGO looked to be crying out for this longer trip when finishing strongly to take the Grade 2 John Francome at Newbury last time.
That was just his second run over fences and he jumped nicely.
His best hurdles form was over three miles and he should take a fair step up for Jamie Snowden.
Willie Mullins sends Kitzbuhel over on the back of a solid chase debut success at Punchestown last month.
He jumped well and got home fine over 2m4f.
The worry is he didn’t seem to stay this far when hurdling so has his stamina to prove.
Salver was placed in the Triumph Hurdle and improved a bundle from his chase debut when taking a Grade 2 over fences at Sandown earlier this month.
He stayed the three miles well at that testing venue so will have no issues getting home here.
He may just find one a bit quick for him but he’s got a bright future over the bigger obstacles.
Blueking D’Oroux was a good winner over 2m4f at Wincanton last month but he’s another who didn’t get this far when hurdling.
Crest Of Fortune was held by Wendigo last time and has plenty to prove after that although trainer Anthony Honeyball is in decent nick.
1.55
SIR GINO can keep up trainer Nicky Henderson’s amazing record in this race.
The Seven Barrows handler has won it 11 times since 2010 thanks to the likes of Binocular, Buveur D’Air, Epatante and Constitution Hill who has taken the past three runnings.
He’s not here but Sir Gino is a more than capable supersub.
He won two Grade 1s over timber before his blistering debut chase win at this meeting 12 months ago.
A leg infection kept him out out of last season and chasing was clearly the plan this time.
But he wouldn’t be the first horse to return to hurdling and hit the heights.
We know trip and track suit and Henderson says he’s got him fit enough to do the business.
Golden Ace keeps turning up and winning big races – cashing in on The New Lion and Constitution Hill falling in the Fighting Fifth as she did when State Man took a late tumbled in the Champion Hurdle.
She gets the 5lb mares’ allowance and will run her usual honest race.
If anything is amiss with Sir Gino, Jeremy Scott’s dependable star will pick up the pieces again.
Celtic Dino was a good second in the Ascot Hurdle last time over 2m3f but has enough pace to figure back in trip.
He looks just short of this standard but can grab third.
Rubaud is the best of the rags after winning a Listed contest here before battling for a Grade 2 at Wincanton.
He has won over fences here but needs more in hurdling company.
2.30
GAELIC WARRIOR can win what looks a brilliant King George.
He was outstanding when edging out Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown last month and can confirm that form.
Last year’s winner Banbridge is a big price to make the frame given he should get his favoured decent ground.
Jango Baie is the best home hope for Nicky Henderson.
He’s improving fast over fences and was an impressive Grade 2 winner at Ascot last time.
He’s scored at the highest level as a novice and should have more to come.
Il Est Francais was just nabbed when second in this last year.
His form has gone south but he could bounce back at a track where he was a Grade 1 novice winner.
AINTREE
1.05
MYDADDYPADDY can cement his place at the head of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting by taking this Grade 1 prize.
He first caught the eye when winning a Huntingdon bumper last March before scoring on hurdles debut at Carlisle on comeback.
He stepped up on that form when winning like a good un at Haydock earlier this month.
He didn’t have a lot to beat there but travelled smoothly and won the race in a decent time.
This isn’t the deepest top-level race you’ll see and it will be disappointing if he’s not good enough.
Idaho Sun was an excellent sixth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper and has translated that talent to hurdling.
He struck on debut at Fontwell before ploughing through the mud for an 11-length success at Bangor last time.
It will be soft here but he could do with more rain to blunt his main rival.
Diamond Hunter was a good Grade 2 winner at Haydock last time and trainer Chris Gordon is in decent form.
He needs more to beat the favourite but is in the argument for second.
Starmount jumped very nicely when winning on debut at Wetherby last time and is another in the each-way picture if all eight line up.
WETHERBY
1.35
MARBLE SANDS was impressive when winning at Cheltenham on his chase comeback last month.
He stayed on really strongly up the hill when challenged and jumped well.
His rider’s claim takes care of most of the 5lb weight rise for that good effort and he likes a stamina test like this with some cut in the ground.
Konfusion had 15 lengths in hand when winning over this trip at Newcastle last time.
That was a good bounce back from unseating at Haydock after he scored over this course and distance on comeback.
He’s a whopping 21lb higher in the handicap now but is improving fast and should be right there.
Our Power hasn’t won for a couple of years but he’ll enjoy this test.
He was third in the Scottish National off a 3lb higher mark and he’s another with a claimer taking off some handy weight.
Knappers Hill was entitled to need the run at Haydock after two years off and he was a Grade 2 winner before that break.
He has plenty of weight but his best form would put him in the picture.
Butch was tailed off on comeback latest and hasn’t matched his solid hurdles form over fences yet.
He needs the step up to three miles to bring major improvement.
Templegate’s tips
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