Horse racing tips: Templegate’s 5-1 NAP looks very well handicapped for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost

TEMPLEGATE tackles a huge Saturday of racing confident of finding you a few winners.

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RARE MIDDLETON (3.15 Ascot, nap)

He looks potentially very well handicapped from a mark of 117 which means he gets in here with very little weight. Trainer Paul Nicholls made positive noises about him after his win at Taunton on hurdles debut and he went well when third in the Adonis at Kempton after that. He ran better than fourth suggests at Fakenham to end the campaign. He won a charity race at Wincanton last week so should be fit and looks the one to beat.

BOOTHILL (2.05 Ascot, nb)

He can kick off his second season over fences with a win. He did well last term, winning well here on just his second chase run before taking Grade 2 honours at Kempton’s Christmas meeting. He then held his own a couple more times in that class. Harry Fry’s hope goes well fresh, handles soft ground plus he likes trip and track. There’s a lot to like from what still looks a very fair handicap mark.

BEAUPORT (3.45 Ascot, treble)

He loves it bottomless and should get his ideal conditions here. He goes well fresh too and kicked off last season with a game Listed win at Carlisle. He didn’t get his favoured ground for the rest of the campaign and starts off this season from what looks a very fair mark. More rain would only enhance his chance.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

ASCOT

1.30

PASSING WELL has been pitched straight into a handicap for his chase debut by trainer Jamie Snowden.

He was useful over hurdles last season, finishing fourth in the Challow, but was always going to be a chaser.

His best efforts came in soft ground so he should have conditions to suit and looks on a fair mark.

Are U Wise To That made a couple of mistakes on his chase debut at Warwick but still came out on top.

He will have learned from that and should be competitive despite a 7lb rise.

Gary Moore has a good record in this so his Hermino AA is respected. He won twice over hurdles last season hence him having to give weight away on chase debut.

Twinjets looks a chasing type and enjoys the mud so has an each-way shout.

2.05

BOOTHILL can kick off his second season over fences with a win.

He did well last term, winning well here on just his second chase run before taking Grade 2 honours at Kempton’s Christmas meeting. He then held his own a couple more times in that class.

Harry Fry’s hope goes well fresh, handles soft ground plus he likes trip and track. There’s a lot to like from what still looks a very fair handicap mark.

First Flow has a good Ascot record with two wins and finished last season with a solid second in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown.

He goes in the mud and Kim Bailey is in decent nick. Saint Segal enjoys this trip and testing conditions.

He’s crept up the weights but could have more to offer.

Red Rookie beat him when they met at Warwick and is best over this distance. His best form would take him close with Emma Lavelle’s horses in fine fettle.

Frere D’Armes goes well fresh so can’t be written off but is 7lb higher than his last win so will have to improve.

3.15

RARE MIDDLETON looks potentially very well handicapped from a mark of 117 which means he gets in here with very little weight.

Trainer Paul Nicholls made positive noises about him after his win at Taunton on hurdles debut and he went well when third in the Adonis at Kempton after that.

He ran better than fourth suggests at Fakenham to end the campaign. He won a charity race at Wincanton last week so should be fit and looks the one to beat.

Altobelli was last seen in Grade 1 company at Aintree in April after winning a Carlisle novice contest by 25 lengths.

His opening mark of 131 isn’t lenient but he could be a fair bit better than that.

Our Champ is up 11lb for a bloodless win at Cheltenham last week where he tanked along. He stays well so shouldn’t mind conditions and has the potential to improve again.

Swinton Hurdle second Teddy Blue unseated early in that race and can do better under today’s more experienced rider.

3.45

BEAUPORT loves it bottomless and should get his ideal conditions here.

He goes well fresh too and kicked off last season with a game Listed win at Carlisle.

He didn’t get his favoured ground for the rest of the campaign and starts off this season from what looks a very fair mark. More rain would only enhance his chance.

I love Monbeg Genius to bits and Jonjo O’Neill is aiming him at the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury early next month.

He was third in the Ultima at the Festival and is open to improvement but usually needs his first run to get going.

Eldorado Allen has three wins and a second from his past four seasonal comeback runs.

It’s 18 months since he got his head in front but he regularly places in good company and looks solid each-way.

Two For Gold likes it here as he showed when winning in April. He goes on heavy ground and is another for the shortlist.

WETHERBY

1.15

MOUNT TEMPEST was a hurdles winner here in soft ground and showed some promise when second to a potential star on his chase debut at Newton Abbot a month ago.

He jumped well enough and will improve for that experience. The Skeltons will hope he’s better than this level in time.

Last year’s winner Ladronne goes well fresh and has had a wind op. Soft ground suits and he can make the frame.

Cruz Control ran nicely for a long way before the lack of a run told at Ffos Las three weeks ago.

That was his first run over fences and he gives the impression this longer trip will be ideal. He is a live contender at a track he likes.

The Edgar Wallace is quirky but his best has come after a break and trainer Kim Bailey is in decent form.

1.50

YOU WEAR IT WELL can reverse Aintree form with Kateira.

The tip went to Liverpool after a hard race when winning the Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival and has stronger staying power over this trip in testing conditions.

Kateira is still a threat with relatively few miles on the clock and the Skeltons have won the past two runnings of this race. There won’t be a lot between them.

There are other threats too in Luccia who was a good fourth in the Dawn Run before running well at Aintree. She has gone in the soft before and can’t be written off.

Stainsby Girl loves the mud as she showed when winning at Newcastle last time out in March.

She has scored when fresh and could run into the places if one of the others is rusty.

Salsada has a Grade 2 second on her CV but needs more returning from a break in this company.

2.25

THYME HILL is wisely back over hurdles after not looking a natural chaser last year.

The Hobbs and White team have made a flying start to the campaign and this nine-year-old finished last season with a good hurdles run at Sandown where the trip was on the short side.

He goes well fresh and will relish this stamina test.

Dashel Drasher will love nothing more than this slog through the mud.

He was a revelation when second in last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before disappointing at Aintree.

He’ll go from the front but just may be picked off.

Botox Has will have to improve on his solid handicap form against the big two.

3.00

BRAVEMANSGAME can follow up last year’s win albeit at very skinny odds.

Trainer Paul Nicholls reports him in good order and he did well last season, just finding Galopin Des Champs too hot in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before another good run at Punchestown.

This will probably be the softest ground he’s tackled but he should cope.

Ahoy Senor was last in this race 12 months ago when looking like he’d never seen a fence before.

In-form Lucinda Russell says he’s jumping better than ever at home and he has a real engine. He can’t be relied on to get round though.

Gentleman’s Game was useful over hurdles and is proven in the mud. He’ll enjoy this longer trip and could fill the forecast spot.

3.30

ALBERT’S BACK has a good record here and was a gutsy winner in soft ground on his last visit in March.

He’s only 4lb higher in the weights and has gone well fresh so looks the one to beat.

Irish king Willie Mullins has sent over Alvaniy who was impressive at Galway before not staying 2m6f in the mud.

He sports a hood for the first time which could help as it’s still early days over hurdles.

Windtothelightnight ended last season with a close-up third in decent company at Cheltenham.

She is a proven stayer and a 3lb rise in the weights gives her a chance.

Rafferty’s Return is another who does well here and is well weighted on his best form. He’s won first-time-out before so is respected.

Foster’sisland was impressive when last seen at Bangor and would have a chance on that form but is up the weights so will need a bit more.

Decorated has had a wind op ahead of this comeback and has more to offer with few miles on the clock. This is his toughest assignment yet though.

Templegate’s tips

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