Horse racing tips: ‘He looks hard to beat on handicap debut’ – Templegate’s 7-2 NAP will relish tough conditions

TEMPLEGATE tackles one of the biggest Saturdays of the year confident of bashing the bookies.

There are Cheltenham Festival clues galore on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival – find our man’s picks for that here.

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SOLE SOLUTION (1.25 Sandown, nap)

He did well to rally when winning at Hereford last time after looking in trouble turning in. That sort of staying power will be a real asset in what should be pretty testing conditions. He makes his handicap debut off a fair mark and looks hard to beat.

MARBLE SANDS (2.50 Musselburgh, nb)

was a good second at Cheltenham last time in a strong contest and this looks an excellent winning chance. He sees out this trip strongly and goes on any ground. He has won here before and the handicapper has dropped him by 1lb.

ETALON (2.00 Sandown, treble)

He landed his last win over this course and distance and has fallen down the weights after some modest efforts this season. He likes soft ground and something like his best would deliver in this modest contest.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

SANDOWN

1.25

SOLE SOLUTION did well to rally when winning at Hereford last time after looking in trouble turning in.

That sort of staying power will be a real asset in what should be pretty testing conditions.

He makes his handicap debut off a fair mark and looks hard to beat.

De Kingpin was second past the post at Newbury on just his third hurdles spin in December.

That was over a slightly longer trip so he should get home and has more to come.

Just Lucky Sivola found three miles a bit far when a fair third at Ascot latest.

He had earlier scored over this trip at Hereford and looks on a fair weight for Cobden and Nicholls.

Kalif D’Airy has been knocking on the door and came home well when just denied at Fakenham last month.

He goes on soft ground and has fair place claims.

2.00

ETALON landed his last win over this course and distance and has fallen down the weights after some modest efforts this season.

He likes soft ground and something like his best would deliver in this modest contest.

Martator won five in a row before a couple of flat efforts as the handicapper may have caught up with him.

His best form has been in better ground that we’re likely to get here.

Solo is down the weights and was a solid fourth at Ascot latest.

He has winning form around here and, while he ideally wants a longer trip, this will be more of a slog than usual which will help.

Classic Maestro would like even more rain as heavy suits perfectly.

He has run well in each of his three chases and trainer Jennie Candlish puts a 5lb claimer up today which makes him competitive.

2.35

JANGO BAIE couldn’t have been any more impressive when winning on chase debut at Cheltenham last time.

He easily saw off a useful performer in Springwell Bay who lagged in himself next time out.

Nicky Henderson’s potential star saw out this trip strongly up the hill.

The ground will be slower here but it was bottomless when he won a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree last season so that won’t be an issue.

Kalif Du Berlais has put in a couple of exciting efforts of his own since a clumsy fall on chase debut at Carlisle.

He showed good battling spirit to get up at Newbury before leaving that form behind with a smooth Cheltenham success.

He’ll have to raise his game again but that’s entirely possible.

Handstands landed his second Grade 2 case in heavy ground at Ffos Las 21 days ago and won’t be a pushover. He stays well.

Mark Of Gold also took a Grade 2 last time, at Ascot, but that was not a strong contest.

3.07

RED DIRT ROAD ran a cracker to win from the front in good company at Aintree last time.

He wasn’t stopping at the end of 2m4f in testing ground and can make another bold bid at what could be tasty odds.

Henri The Second was impressive when winning over course and distance by 18 lengths last time.

He’s been shunted up 8lb but it could have been more and he’s proven in these conditions.

Deep Cave is a proper stayer who was on the premises at Windsor 13 days ago.

That was a decent race and he should give another good account.

Shoot First found the Long Walk Hurdle too much last time but earlier won a big handicap at Haydock over 3m.

Any market support for the Charles Byrnes runner would be telling.

3.42

O’CONNELL was impressive when scoring over 3m4f at Market Rasen last time on the back of an excellent victory in the mud at Carlisle.

We know he has plenty of staying power and should handle conditions. He looks ahead of the handicapper even after a 9lb rise.

In D’Or is in flying form and had four lengths in hand when scooting in at Ascot last time.

This would be the biggest win of his owner/rider’s career if he could pull it off and there’s every chance.

Gustavian went close at Aintree in good company on Boxing Day.

He copes well with soft ground and could get his own way out in front.

He’s high on the shortlist although he’s won only once in 20 chase starts.

Gelino Bello is another with place claims. He came back from a year off hurdles at Wincanton and should be much fitter for that run.

MUSSELBURGH

1.42

MAITRE EN SCIENCE has some fancy form in France and can strike on debut for Harry Derham.

He won a stronger race than this across the Channel when last seen and should have more to come.

Static has held his own in Grade 2 company and looks solid each-way. Decent ground suits and he’s reliable.

Nardaran is interesting for Paul Nicholls.

He was an expensive buy who looked in need of his yard debut when fourth at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.

He should come on for that in the first-time cheekpieces.

Hosaamm dug deep when winning at Wetherby last time.

That was just his second hurdles run so there should be more to come but this is stronger company.

Luker’s Tipple has a place shout after a good second at Cork latest.

2.17

OLD GREGORIAN is in excellent form and followed two wins with a close-up second at Kelso last time.

He’s creeping up the weights a little but Lucinda Russell wisely puts up 5lb claimer Alan Doyle today who has ridden him to victory already this season.

This trip suits on good ground and he’ll be right in the mix.

Afadil won this 12 months ago under Freddie Gingell and is back from a lower mark.

His form has been largely poor since that success but this will have been a target for a while and he is likely to show his true colours.

Maghlaak was a good third at Ayr earlier this month and the first-time cheekpieces may help him deliver more.

All The Glory has plenty of weight but landed a couple of handicaps nicely before finding an Ascot Grade 2 a bit much last time.

2.50

MARBLE SANDS was a good second at Cheltenham last time in a strong contest and this looks an excellent winning chance.

He sees out this trip strongly and goes on any ground. He has won here before and the handicapper has dropped him by 1lb.

The Kalooki Kid looks the main threat after his convincing success at Doncaster latest.

The ground will be a bit livelier today but he’s another with course form and a 7lb rise for his last victory gives him a chance.

Saint Segal got his act together when scooting in by 11 lengths at Newbury 45 days ago.

He jumped better there and has place claims from a career-high mark.

Minella Drama has his own ideas but he was impressive at Aintree on comeback and has been given a little break.

LEOPARDSTOWN

3.30

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS galloped all over most of these when winning the Savills here at Christmas and can repeat the feat.

He looked as good as ever last time, jumping well and pulling away from Fact To File after the last.

Willie Mullins’ superstar can complete the hat-trick of wins in this.

Fact To File looks the one to chase his stablemate home again.

He’s a genuine Grade 1 performer who has been beaten only by the reigning Gold Cup champion since his chase debut.

He looks more of a Ryanair type and is likely to be run out of it in the closing stages again.

I’m a big fan of Monty’s Star and think he has solid claims of making the frame at Cheltenham.

If that’s the case you would like to see a decent showing from him here and he can reward each-way support.

Templegate’s tips

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