TEMPLEGATE tackles day one of Cheltenham’s November Meeting confident of banging in a few winners.
Read on for his tips, check out his in-depth guide to all the TV action and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
THE GLANCING QUEEN (1.45 Cheltenham, nap)
She won a Listed contest on comeback last season before giving the high-class L’Homme Presse a race in the Dipper here on New Year’s Day.
She didn’t quite get home when midfield in the Festival Plate before winning easily on the New Course over this trip to end her season in April.
We know she goes well fresh and still looks ahead of the handicapper after a 5lb rise.
HUBRISKO (3.30 Cheltenham, nb)
He shaped well when third in a hot race at Tipperary last month and can score for Willie Mullins.
That built on a good novice win in a big field at Galway in September and this hike in distance looks a wise move.
MAGIC DANCER (2.55 Cheltenham, treble)
He won first-up last year and has every chance again. He is at home over this trip and signed off last season with an 11-length success at Ludlow.
His mark still looks fair and he was a winning hurdler here so the track should be fine.
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1.10
TRAINER Charlie Longsdon won this race two years ago and has solid claims with HECTOR JAVILEX.
He showed loads of promise with two novice wins this spring and looked in need of the run when fifth in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow on comeback last month.
He was far from disgraced at that lofty level and this is a fair drop in class over a trip that should suit.
Enki Flacke comes here in fine form having landed a hat-trick at Perth through the summer.
He has showed up well in some hot company in Ireland and will appreciate this step up in distance.
Alvaro has gone close a couple of times across the Irish Sea and has plenty of stamina to get up the hill.
Fine Casting has landed a couple of wins over two miles but shapes as though this sort of test will be ideal.
He returns with the Ben Pauling yard in decent nick.
Don’t Doubt Me was a gutsy winner at Gowran 42 days ago and should be competitive even off 16lb higher here.
Sweet Will scored at Fairyhouse just three days ago and is a contender under a 7lb penalty.
1.45
THE GLANCING QUEEN won a Listed contest on comeback last season before giving the high-class L’Homme Presse a race in the Dipper here on New Year’s Day.
She didn’t quite get home when midfield in the Festival Plate before winning easily on the New Course over this trip to end her season in April.
We know she goes well fresh and still looks ahead of the handicapper after a 5lb rise.
Amarillo Sky ran with credit in the Grand Annual at the Festival before a Grade 1 proved too much at Aintree.
This is much more his level and he’s down the weights.
Grey Diamond has his first taste of Cheltenham and is back below the mark that saw him go close at Ascot on comeback last season.
He is best over this trip and trainer Sam Thomas is in fine form.
Hasankey has run well here before and has the advantage of a good comeback second at Ayr so won’t lack for fitness.
He likes it heavy so more rain would boost his chances.
Gold Des Bois has been in fine form at lower levels and a 3lb rise for scoring at Kelso looks fair. This is tougher but he could have more to offer.
Malystic was a place behind him in Scotland when leaving his challenge too late and has an each-way shout.
2.20
HEREDITARY RULE made light work of a big-field hurdle at Downpatrick last time but has much stronger form over fences.
He has plenty of stamina and there should be more to come over these obstacles.
Pull Again Green is a winning hurdler at the track and showed lots of promise when making his chasing debut here three weeks ago.
He jumped well in the main and has the scope for lots of improvement with that under his belt.
Railway Hurricane is still to win over fences but went close again at Limerick last month.
The handicapper isn’t taking many chances with him but he could make the podium again.
Unanswered Prayers was fifth in the red-hot Chepstow Silver Trophy over hurdles on comeback but looks every inch a chaser in the making.
This isn’t the easiest track to make your debut at but he stays well and trainer Chris Gordon is in solid form. A market move would be telling.
Super Six made errors galore on his chase bow at Ffos Las and needs improvement at this level.
Honneur D’Ajonc kept decent company over the smaller obstacles but was very slow over his fences on his first try in this grade.
He’ll improve on that but might need an easier track.
2.55
MAGIC DANCER won first-up last year and has every chance again. He is at home over this trip and signed off last season with an 11-length success at Ludlow.
His mark still looks fair and he was a winning hurdler here so the track should be fine.
Ballyandy has been held back by his jumping over fences but shaped a lot better when third on comeback at Perth in September.
He’s another who likes it here and is well handicapped if he can get round without too many errors.
Native Robin won four of his six starts last season, including first time out.
This is tougher than those victories but he held his own in fair company at Kempton when last seen in March so isn’t discounted.
Kauto Riko didn’t win last season but was a fair fourth in the Cotswold Chase here in January.
He’s not shown his best since then but returning to Cheltenham is a plus.
Broken Quest looked in need of the run at Chepstow last month and has some decent form over this distance.
He needs to raise his game a little at this level but went close off this mark at Perth two starts ago.
3.30
HUBRISKO shaped well when third in a hot race at Tipperary last month and can score for Willie Mullins.
That built on a good novice win in a big field at Galway in September and this hike in distance looks a wise move.
Hermes Allen caught the eye when winning by half a furlong on his hurdling debut at Stratford four weeks ago.
He cost connections £350,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point and Paul Nicholls steps him sharply up in class here where he should take a big step forward.
Quid Pro Quo landed a couple of novice events this summer and was far from disgraced when fourth in the Persian War at Chepstow.
He should improve fitness-wise for that and looks a nice prospect for the Skeltons.
Music Drive was eighth in the Champion Bumper in March and came back her for a solid third over hurdles at last month’s meeting.
He needs to improve on that but this slightly longer trip should help.
Collectors Item is bred for this sort of trip so did well to score over two miles at Chepstow on his hurdling debut.
He looks capable of a lot better with that under his belt.
4.00
MASTER DANCER was impressive when winning by three lengths on his UK debut at Stratford last time.
He had useful form in France and did well to score easily despite nine months off the track.
His opening mark of 118 looks fair and there’s every chance he’ll improve for that experience.
Nicky Henderson’s Rackmacknee sauntered to a 33-length success at Fakenham when last seen in May and could show more now tackling handicaps.
This opposition is tougher but it’s just his fourth run over timber.
Philip Rothwell won this race last year and has another chance with Great Realisation.
He is fit from a Flat run at The Curragh but showed promise in a Ballinrobe hurdle in August and could well be ahead of the handicapper.
Mothill won on handicap debut at Chepstow last month and a 4lb rise is fair as he tackles this stronger company.
Alto Alto was just nailed near the line when second at Ascot two weeks ago.
He stays a little bit further than this which should help him get up the hill.
Hey Johnny won in a big field at Clonmel 15 days ago when enjoying the testing ground. He’ll need more from 17lb higher but is on the shortlist.
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