TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s racing confident of banging in a winner or two.
Scroll down for all his selections.
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STUZZIKINI (2.50 Chepstow, nap)
He looked a National type when winning the Troytown for Gordon Elliott at Navan last time. He wasn’t stopping at the end of three miles there and shapes like a real stayer. It’s relatively early days and he can improve past his handicap mark.
BOOTHILL (2.30 Kempton, nb)
He fell in this race 12 months ago and ran his best race since when second to Jonbon in the Shloer at Cheltenham last time. He pushed that class act to within two lengths and will appreciate these conditions. A repeat of that effort would be good enough.
DR TJ ECKLEBURG (3.25 Chepstow, treble)
He seemed to have plenty left in the tank when winning at Haydock last time and a 7lb rise in the weights won’t put the brakes on.
Templegate’s verdicts
CHEPSTOW
1.05
NOCTE VOLATUS has a cracking record at Chepstow and saw off a big field over this trip here in October.
He then ran another decent race at Ascot when staying on strongly in the closing stages. He’s back from the same handicap mark with every chance again.
Lowry’s Bar got the best of a battle when landing his first chase victory at Exeter 21 days ago. He’d ideally like it softer but is improving and looks a major threat.
Le Milos has dropped to 5lb below his last winning mark but he hasn’t been seeing out his races for a little while. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back for the Skeltons.
Venetia Williams may not quite be in the form of a couple of weeks ago but her Georges Saint is still a threat.
He didn’t fire at Ludlow last time after a couple of decent wins over this trip. He could still be ahead of the handicapper.
Fidelio Vallis was pulled up after a year off at Newbury last time and showed he was better than that when scoring at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.
1.40
NIETZSCHE HAS boasts some fancy form in France where he was beaten just over a length in an Auteuil Grade 1 last month.
He has plenty of pace for this trip and likes cut in the ground. He should be capable of better.
Opec had eight lengths in hand when winning a Newbury Listed contest last month.
She had the race won a long way out and gets the valuable mares’ allowance which only boosts her chances. This is hotter company but she should be up to it.
Static has moved to Olly Murphy from France and was a distant third in a Cheltenham Grade 2 latest.
He’ll need to raise his game but this is just his third run for current connections.
Hot Fuss was a fair handicapper on the level and landed his first hurdles victory at Sandown earlier this month. This is a much hotter contest but he could hit the frame under Harry Cobden.
Melon clocked a fair time when scoring on hurdles debut at Donny just 14 days ago. He’ll have to take another step up in this company.
2.10
DANS LE VENT has tumbled to almost a stone below his last winning hurdles mark and showed some promise at Haydock last month.
He has plenty of stamina for this trip and looks a big price to make the placings at least for Welsh trainer Evan Williams.
Woodie Flash seems to have improved for being held up on his past two runs, with a win at Ffos Las followed by a close second in decent company at Lingfield last time.
A 5lb rise for that looks fair over his favourite distance.
Madaket finished a place behind Woodie Flash latest and he’s 3lb better off at the weights today.
Phantomofthepoints could do with more rain as he loved the mud when going close at Haydock last month. He is a thorough stayer who will go from the front and could hold on for a place.
Bill Baxter enjoyed coming back to hurdles when second at Uttoxeter latest and has an each-way chance from this reduced mark.
Tune In A Box landed a big pot at Punchestown in April and ran his best race since when a close-up fourth at Cheltenham latest. He has a chance over an ideal trip.
2.50
STUZZIKINI looked a National type when winning the Troytown for Gordon Elliott at Navan last time.
He wasn’t stopped at the end of three miles there and shapes like a real stayer. It’s relatively early days and he can improve past his handicap mark.
Elliott has another good chance with Where It All Began under Sean Bowen. He was far from disgraced when eighth in the Irish National and comes here fresh.
Galia Des Liteaux has been laid out for this and ran a decent race in the Coral Cup at Newbury last time. He would ideally like the ground a bit softer but should be right there.
Iron Bridge was a distant third in this 12 months ago but is 6lb lower in the handicap today so has every chance of matching that effort.
Monbeg Genius was a good second at Haydock on comeback and has run well around here before. He will enjoy this test of stamina.
Fontaine Collonges has a big weight but he was impressive when beating Monbeg Genius at Haydock latest.
He’s up 8lb but should be competitive although softer ground would be ideal for the Venetia Williams runner.
Sam Thomas pair 2021 winner Iwilldoit and Jubilee Express both have place claims but would also like more rain.
KEMPTON
1.20
LARCHMONT LASS found 2m4f on the sharp side when a still-decent third at Sandown last time out.
She was much happier tackling a stiffer stamina test at Wetherby scoring on comeback and she looks capable of better for Nicholls and Cobden.
Fortuna Ligna looks an each-way price and was far from disgraced at Ascot latest. She can make mistakes but has a decent engine.
Pawpuri was understandably rusty on his her first hurdles outing for almost a year here last month. She went well for a long way and just got tired in the closing stages.
This longer trip should be fine and she’s a threat.
West Balboa is in danger of becoming disappointing and she has more talent than she’s been showing lately.
She is capable of better than we saw at Doncaster last time and her rider takes off a valuable 7lb.
Della Casa Lunga was a solid second in Listed company here latest and has had a wind op since. She needs to find her very best.
1.55
This should be an absolute cracker and chase debutant SIR GINO can just get the better of Ballyburn.
Nicky Henderson has been waxing lyrical about Sir Gino’s schooling at home and he showed himself in peak form when winning the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth over hurdles at Newcastle last month.
His best form has all been over this distance and he’s got a course win on his CV which is a major plus.
The decent ground just tips things in his favour as Ballyburn has only run with plenty of give underfoot.
Willie Mullins’ hope will be a tough nut to crack though and he looked a natural when winning his chase debut at Punchestown last time by 13 lengths.
He won a Grade 1 over hurdles at this trip but he shapes as though a longer distance would be perfect.
If would be a surprise if Rubaud can figure on his chase debut although he was more than decent over timber too.
He took Listed honours over course and distance in October but this is tougher.
2.30
BOOTHILL fell in this race 12 months ago and ran his best race since when second to Jonbon in the Shloer at Cheltenham last time.
He pushed that class act to within two lengths and will appreciate these conditions. A repeat of that effort would be good enough.
Martator showed no signs of ending his winning run when bolting up by 11 lengths at Ascot last month.
That was his fifth success in a row for Venetia Williams and he’s right at home over this distance on decent ground.
The handicapper has piled another 11lb on his back but that may not be enough to put the brakes on.
Edwardstone was behind the tip in the Shloer before falling in the Tingle Creek last time.
He was still going well when hitting the deck four out but may struggle to give weight away all round.
Sans Bruit was no match for Martator when they met at Ascot last month and there’s no obvious reason why he’ll turn that form around.
3.08
FRERO BANBOU was impressive when winning at Newcastle last time and a 7lb rise isn’t a worry as he’s won off this mark before.
We have seen all season how good jockey Charlie Deutsch is on staying chasers and he can land another nice prize for Venetia Williams.
Weveallbeencaught will be much happier down at this level after being pulled up at Cheltenham last month.
His last run in this grade saw him finish a close second and he looks solid each-way.
Dreaming Blue makes the odd mistake but he got everything right when winning over a bit further at Ludlow last time. A 3lb rise in the weights is more than fair.
Highstakesplayer was a battling winner over course and distance in April and returned with a good second at Ascot before a flatter effort at Newbury latest. He has his sights lowered here.
Golden Son is another who has shown his best at this specialists’ track and will be a lot fitter after his rusty comeback at Newbury last time out.
WETHERBY
11.50 Let’s Go Joe
Right back to his best when scoring at Doncaster last time.
12.25 Maghlaak
Decent on the Flat and been knocking on the door as a hurdler.
1.00 Campaign Trail
Expensive buy made a winning start at Doncaster latest.
1.35 Dare To Shout
Keeps running well and went close again at Kelso last time.
2.15 Cruden
Made a winning hurdling start at Cork and has moved yards since.
2.45 Pay The Piper
Has run well on his past two visits to this track.
3.20 Blue Bellamy
Good in points and went close at Market Rasen latest.
CHEPSTOW
12.00 Julius Des Pictons
Game winner last time and few miles on the clock.
12.30 King William Rufus
Landed deserved win at Ascot and back under penalty.
1.05 Lowry’s Bar
Good win over fences at Exeter and has more to come.
1.40 Nietzsche Has
Consistent and went close in French Grade 1 last time.
2.10 Dans Le Vent
Looks ready for this step back up to his best distance.
2.50 Stuzzikini (nap)
Improving stayer who was in good form at Navan last time.
3.25 Dr TJ Eckleburg (treble)
Won well at Haydock latest and form has been franked.
KEMPTON
12.45 Nardaran
Flat winner who can make winning start for Paul Nicholls.
1.20 Larchmont Lass
Can strike again returned to her favoured three miles.
1.55 Sir Gino
Class over hurdles and schooling reports have been good.
2.30 Boothill (nb)
Has winning form here and good run behind Jonbon latest.
3.08 Frero Banbou
Loved testing trip when scoring at Newcastle last time out.
3.38 Willmount
Can get his career back on track for Nicky Henderson.
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.00 Havana Sky
Just keeps winning and this is another excellent chance.
4.30 Enacting
Promise on both runs so far with more to come.
5.00 Best Rate
Finished strongly into fifth at Lingfield last time out.
5.30 Merchant
Improved from debut when second at Newcastle last time.
6.00 Currumbin
Good start for this yard when winning at Southwell latest.
6.30 One Night Stand
Has shown best form over this course and distance.
7.00 Come On John
Keeps running well and another good run last time out.
7.30 Master Of Combat
Can land a fifth win here from a fair handicap mark.
8.00 Forever Proud
Good second over course and distance last time out.
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