TEMPLEGATE tackles a cracking afternoon’s racing confident of banging in some winners before Christmas.
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CHIANTI CLASSICO (1.50 Cheltenham, nap)
He has enough class to give weight away after his barnstorming comeback win at Ascot last month. He showed his quality when taking the Ultima at this year’s Festival before holding his own in an Aintree Grade 1. His main asset is his brilliant jumping and trainer Kim Bailey has made a flying start to the season.
SHAN BLUE (2.25 Cheltenham, nb)
He put in a couple of good runs late on last season and was a promising fourth on comeback at Bangor last time. He travelled well for a long way in the testing ground and enjoys these likely better conditions too. He is hit and miss but this is his first crack at a veterans’ race and it could be the making of him from a falling mark.
DOYEN QUEST (3.35 Cheltenham, treble)
He managed to win here comfortably last time out despite crashing through the second-last flight. Harry Skelton barely had to squeeze him before he hit top gear in the final furlong to draw nicely away. The handicapper has been a trifle harsh with a 10lb rise but there’s more to come and we know he stays strongly.
CHELTENHAM
12.10
THAT’S NICE can make the most of the 7lb allowance she gets from the boys and looked a hot prospect when winning on debut at Warwick last month.
Nico De Boinville barely moved as she landed a cheeky win and she can build on that promising debut.
Country Mile ran well in a Haydock Grade 2 last month when a final-flight blunder proved costly. This better ground should suit the Skelton runner who has a lot more to come.
Wingmen went from the front to win on hurdles debut at Navan 27 days ago. He had lots left in the tank and is another with more to come.
Palacio nicked his debut from the front at Chepstow but this is much tougher.
12.40
CALDWELL POTTER paid back a small slice of his massive purchase price when winning impressively on chase debut at Carlisle 12 days ago.
He jumped well and should improve plenty for that comeback. He was Grade 1 standard over hurdles and looks hard to beat.
Jango Baie was also high-class over timber and was an unlucky second when last seen at Aintree. Nicky Henderson has been making positive noises about his schooling.
Springwell Bay didn’t get home over three miles here last time after winning a Listed contest at this trip. He sets the standard for the others to improve past.
Deafening Silence wasn’t asked too many questions on chase debut and needs to improve.
1.15
VALGRAND will be much happier back over this trip which saw him kick off the season with a Grade 2 win on the Old course.
He tanked home by 17 lengths there but was no match for potential superstar Potters Charm over 2m5f here last time.
He has top weight but his opening mark could be lenient and decent ground suits.
Willmount looked a hot prospect when winning on hurdles debut at Newbury last year before picking up an injury in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle.
He’s back from 349 days off so may need the run but he’s another who could be well ahead of the handicapper.
To Chase A Dream has done nothing wrong with back-to-back wins at Carlisle. He comes here with every chance under a penalty and the booking of Harry Cobden takes the eye.
Tintintin ran a cracker when fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle here last month. He is back from the same mark with solid place claims again.
Bo Zenith is an interesting Nicky Henderson runner after 610 days off. His last run was a short-head second in an Aintree Grade 1 so he’s worth watching even if he needs this return.
Mirabad lost his chance at Ascot last time when clattering the final flight and has place prospects.
1.50
CHIANTI CLASSICO has enough class to give weight away after his barnstorming comeback win at Ascot last month.
He showed his quality when taking the Ultima at this year’s Festival before holding his own in an Aintree Grade 1.
His main asset is his brilliant jumping and trainer Kim Bailey has made a flying start to the season.
King Turgeon was impressive when winning the Grand Sefton Chase over the National fences at Aintree early last month.
He would have liked last week’s Becher Chase to have beaten the weather but his comeback win at Chepstow shows his liking for conventional fences too. He’ll go close again.
Java Point had a couple of these behind him when second in an amateur riders’ contest here four weeks ago.
He was just nabbed up the hill but doesn’t lack for stamina. He has every chance of hitting the frame again.
The Newest One was fourth in that amateurs’ race after going from the front. He’s creeping up the weights but is consistent.
Ballygrifincottage took a heavy tumble here last time and is not guaranteed to get up the hill.
2.25
SHAN BLUE put in a couple of good runs late on last season and was a promising fourth on comeback at Bangor last time.
He travelled well for a long way in the testing ground and enjoys these likely better conditions too.
He is hit and miss but this is his first crack at a veterans’ race and it could be the making of him from a falling mark.
Dashel Drasher hasn’t won over fences since the 2021 Ascot Chase but he ran well at Grade 2 level on comeback and will be fitter for the experience.
His battling qualities are well known and his last handicap win came off this mark.
Shakem Up’Arry goes well fresh and won the Festival Plate on his last trip to Cheltenham. He’s a fair 6lb higher today and looks dangerous.
Eldorado Allen wasn’t disgraced on comeback at Warwick. He still has plenty of weight but has run well here before and could hit the frame for in-form trainer Joe Tizzard.
3.00
MISTER COFFEY gets one last chance from me to get off the mark over fences.
He returned from nine months off to run a big race on this cross-country course last time. He finished like a train into second but the winner had flown.
Now Nico De Boinville knows he stays, he can try to have the Nicky Henderson chaser a bit nearer to the pace and he’s come nicely down the weights.
Delta Work has a good record here and is the obvious threat. He was rusty on return at Down Royal last month and will show his true colours.
With Rob James taking off 7lb, he’s not even carrying top weight.
Stumptown has been in flying form over the Punchestown cross-country course and has plenty of staying power.
Arizona Cardinal needed his comeback at Chepstow and will like the track. He can run well if his stamina holds, while Iceo Madrik comes from France with every chance of a cross-country hat-trick from way down the weights.
3.35
DOYEN QUEST managed to win here comfortably last time out despite crashing through the second-last flight.
Harry Skelton barely had to squeeze him before he hit top gear in the final furlong to draw nicely away.
The handicapper has been a trifle harsh with a 10lb rise but there’s more to come and we know he stays strongly.
Gowel Road was second to the tip last time and has every chance of making the frame again.
He’s 8lb better off at the weights but he will struggle to turn the form around.
Long Draw has been knocking on the door and made it four seconds in a row when beaten two lengths here last month.
In-form trainer Olly Murphy steps him up in distance today which may bring improvement. He’s only five so there should be more to come.
Might I got his act together when winning at Bangor on comeback last month. Soft ground is his favourite so more rain would help his chances.
It’s interesting to see Nicky Henderson send Bhaloo back over hurdles after his chase debut win at Ascot.
His sole handicap run in this sphere saw him finish a decent second at Warwick in May and he could be very well handicapped for each-way players.
High Game Royal was just collared on the line after leading for a long way at Lingfield last time and looks capable of making the frame if improving for his in-form training team.
BANGOR
2.05
SKUNA BAY showed nice promise when third on debut at Carlisle last month.
He wasn’t asked too many questions by Brian Hughes before coming home with something left in the tank.
He should improve plenty for that experience and is bred for stamina.
Kevin’s Pride was beaten just a neck on his hurdling debut at Carlisle. He powered on up the hill at the Cumbrian track and should have no problems getting home in these testing conditions.
Theatre Tom was a fairly distant third here on debut but showed some promise and has place claims.
Edmond comes from the Venetia Williams winner factory.
She won a bumper way back in May 2023 and needed the run on her first outing since at Ffos Las last month. There’s more to come from her.
2.40
THANKSFORTHEHELP is entered in Cheltenham’s lucky last too but this is his first preference and he’s good enough to win it.
He was a good fourth at Prestbury Park last month when he saw out the three-mile trip strongly.
David Pipe’s hopeful has come right down the weights and anything close to his best would be good enough.
Plaisir Des Flos is a regular winner who ran a cracker when third after being hampered at Cheltenham four weeks ago.
This is his first crack at three miles and he’ll go close if lasting home.
Schalke ran his best race for a long time when third over course and distance on comeback. He likes it heavy and can hit the frame again.
Strackan and Mahland both won last time and will enjoy these conditions.
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