TEMPLEGATE tackles the blockbuster Boxing Day action confident of landing a touch or two.
The big race, the King George, is off at 2.30pm live on ITV1… but be sure to check out the monster clash in the Christmas Hurdle 35 minutes before.
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Merry Christmas from all at Sun Racing – and good luck!
IL EST FRANCAIS (2.30 Kempton, nap)
Was brilliant when winning the Kauto Star here last Christmas. He flopped at Auteuil last time but has bounced back from a bad run to score before. He stays well, will love the decent ground and is a breathtaking jumper.
POTTERS CHARM (1.05 Aintree, nb)
Looked the real deal when winning a Cheltenham Grade 2 last time by an easy 11 lengths. He was up with the pace throughout and tanked along in the decent ground. He drops in trip here but showed plenty of speed and should have similar going. That was just his third spin over hurdles and he can improve for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
CRUZ CONTROL (1.35 Wetherby, treble)
Had a spin over hurdles last time to tune up for this target and looks the one to beat. He landed a couple of nice prizes last season at Newcastle and Aintree where he saw out this trip nicely. He was then a solid fourth at the Punchestown Festival when being hampered by a loose horse didn’t help. He’s fit from that run around Aintree and runs from just 4lb higher than his last win. He goes on any ground and has more to offer.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
KEMPTON
12.45
ASTA LA PASTA gave his rivals a little too much rope when a fast-finishing third at Newbury last time.
That was a good third effort over fences and built nicely on his convincing success at Carlisle. He will hopefully be closer to the pace today and make the most of his obvious stamina.
Fire Flyer made a good start over fences when second at Exeter on debut for Paul Nicholls. He jumped like a natural and the handicapper has left his mark alone.
El Rio jumped for fun when winning from the front at Sandown last month. He saw out this trip strongly and has more to come for Kim Bailey. He’s up 8lb in this stronger contest but has every chance of hitting the frame.
Range bounced back from a fall to score in style at Chepstow. Trainer Sam Thomas is in good form and he can’t be ignored despite an 8lb rise in the weights.
First Street is better over hurdles and has made mistakes when sent over fences by Nicky Henderson.
Leave Of Absence came back from two years off with a solid second here last month and can improve on that.
1.20
THE JUKEBOX MAN looked a class act when taking the Grade 2 John Francome on his chasing debut at Newbury last month.
We knew his quality from hurdling thanks to his neck second in the Albert Bartlett and he seems to have translated that to the bigger obstacles for Sun columnist Ben Pauling.
He should improve on that effort upped in distance and looks hard to beat under Ben Jones.
Masaccio chased him home in Berkshire and there’s no obvious reason why he will turn the form around with this trip not certain to suit.
Hyland is progressing nicely for Nicky Henderson and took a Listed contest from the front at Cheltenham last time. He is already proven over this three-mile trip and has more to offer.
There was a lot to like about the way White Rhino knuckled down to win a decent handicap at Haydock last time.
He’s a proper stayer who may find things happening a little quickly in these quicker conditions.
Welcome To Cartries travelled well for a long way on his chase debut at Sandown before tiring. This is a hotter contest.
1.55
CONSTITUTION HILL can show he’s still the main man on his first run since winning this race 12 months ago.
We know he’s had a catalogue of problems which has kept him off the track since but, at his best, he’s achieved far more than any of these.
Even allowing for the fact that he’s being trained to peak in March, he has proven his liking for this track by winning the past two renewals and decent ground brings out his best.
Lossiemouth is the coming challenger and she gets a more than handy 7lb allowance as a mare.
She beat Teahupoo nicely in the Hatton’s Grace even though that trip was short of her main challenger’s best and the ground was too quick.
She can build on that and today might be the day to take lower Constitution Hill. She is eight from eight over hurdles and is easily up to this standard.
But if they are both at their best, I favour the Nicky Henderson superstar to come out on top.
Burdett Road deserves a crack at this grade after his battling Greatwood Hurdle win last time.
He’s only four and can get the better of Lump Sum who was a solid eight lengths behind Sir Gino last time in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.
2.30
IL EST FRANCAIS was brilliant when winning the Kauto Star here last Christmas.
He flopped at Auteuil last time but has bounced back from a bad run to score before.
He stays well, will love the decent ground and is a breathtaking jumper.
He just gets the nod over Spillane’s Tower who beat Galopin Des Champs when second in the John Durkan last time. He would ideally like it a bit softer but has plenty of class.
Banbridge has been waiting for some good ground and has a Grade 2 win around here on his CV. He pushed Energumene all the way last time and will go close if seeing out this longer trip.
Grey Dawning has lots of class as he showed when winning the Turners at Cheltenham last season.
He had a really hard race when second in the Betfair at Haydock last time but trainer Dan Skelton says he’s bouncing.
L’Homme Presse looks the pick of the big prices with Venetia Williams in such fine form and Charlie Deutsch on board.
3.05
KIENTZHEIM is a relative of 2020 Champion Hurdler Epatante and has been bought by JP McManus from the same trainer who had that superstar when she was a youngster.
She won a couple of bumpers nicely across the Channel and can make a winning start for Nicky Henderson in the green and gold silks.
Nap Hand has decent on the Flat for Alan King and won nicely at Newbury over 1m2f in October. He should make up into a nice hurdler given time.
Beau Quali took a little step backwards for the Skelttons at Stratford last time after going close on yard debut at Chepstow.
They have given him a little break since and he should make his presence felt.
Rascallion was a solid second at Ludlow on his hurdles debut 31 days ago. This is much stronger company but he can take a step forward in the first-time hood.
Youdecide was allowed to come home in his own time at Newbury last time and could be interesting each-way if there’s any market support.
Jack Hyde is another to watch in the betting coming back from 695 days off.
3.40
DODDIETHEGREAT will be happy back over hurdles after a poor chase run last time and can score for the second time over this course and distance.
He has shown his best form on decent ground and is 3lb lower than when going close in last season’s Greatwood Hurdle.
His trainer Nicky Henderson has won two of the past four runnings of this and has every chance too with East India Express.
He landed a battling win on comeback at Ascot just six days ago returning from a long break. He loves this ground and will be a big threat off an unchanged mark if this isn’t coming too soon.
The other Seven Barrows runner In The Air is no forlorn hope either but this is tougher than his Taunton second last time.
King Of The Road just got the better of him in Somerset and has solid place claims in this better company.
Hermino AA was in winning form on comeback at Newbury last month. He would prefer three miles to bring his stamina into play but is respected.
Mahons Glory landed his last win in this race last season before understandably struggling in hotter races. He has been poor over fences and is likely to be happier back hurdling here.
Emailandy may have needed his comeback last time and should finish closer, while Samuel Spade and Supreme Gift have also been in good form and could make the placings in what looks a wide-open finale.
AINTREE
1.05
POTTERS CHARM looked the real deal when winning a Cheltenham Grade 2 last time by an easy 11 lengths.
He was up with the pace throughout and tanked along in the decent ground. He drops in trip here but showed plenty of speed and should have similar going.
That was just his third spin over hurdles and he can improve for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Country Mile was second in a Haydock Grade 2 before also scoring easily at Prestbury Park.
That was a lesser contest than this but he did it well and in a fair time. This is just his fourth hurdles spin too.
Roadlesstravelled beat him at Haydock and his front-running style is ideal for Aintree. He’ll go well again but will hopefully set this up nicely for the tip.
Celtic Dino hasn’t had to break sweat in winning both his hurdles runs so far. He cruised home at Ascot last time and has plenty of pace. His sights are raised here but trainer Sam Thomas is in excellent form.
Miami Magic and Junker D’Allier both have a lot more on their plate after lesser wins.
WETHERBY
1.35
CRUZ CONTROL had a spin over hurdles last time to tune up for this target and looks the one to beat.
He landed a couple of nice prizes last season at Newcastle and Aintree where he saw out this trip nicely.
He was then a solid fourth at the Punchestown Festival when being hampered by a loose horse didn’t help.
He’s fit from that run around Aintree and runs from just 4lb higher than his last win. He goes on any ground and has more to offer.
Good Boy Bobby won this three years ago and went close at Haydock last time. That was a hard race just 22 days ago but he’ll be a threat if over it.
Tahmuras was very rusty after nine months off at Haydock last time. He travelled well enough until fading quickly.
He will be fitter for that experience and looks a threat if seeing out this longer distance given his best has been over 2m4f so far.
Some Scope is only six and has the capacity to improve on his fourth at Newcastle last time.
Kinondu Kwetu will come into this if the rain holds off as he likes decent ground. He has dropped to just 1lb above his last win.
LEOPARDSTOWN
2.20
BETTER DAYS AHEAD can win this Gordon Elliott benefit.
He won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham over hurdles but has the scope to be a better chaser as he showed when winning on debut at Navan. He jumped well and can improve.
Croke Park already has a Grade 1 on his CV from Fairyhouse last time and should enjoy this longer trip.
He looks the main danger ahead of the third Elliott runner Stellar Story who jumped impressively for a newcomer when scoring at Punchestown on debut.
Buddy One doesn’t look up to this level over fences.
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