Horse racing tips: ‘She’s a proper stayer on a nice weight’ – Templegate’s 17-2 NAP can claim Grand National Trial

TEMPLEGATE tackles another massive Saturday of action packed with Cheltenham Festival clues.

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APPLE AWAY (3.15 Haydock, nap)

Lucinda Russell’s mare looks a proper stayer who has been running well in Listed company. She has a really nice racing weight and was staying on at the end of three miles at Newbury last time.

PIC D’ORHY (3.37 Ascot, nb)

He must wish every race was run at Ascot because he’s hunting a fifth win at the King’s course. He has won on his past three visits and had almost six lengths in hand when taking this race 12 months ago. Only a prime Shishkin stopped him from winning this in 2023 and this ground with a little cut is right up his street.

VICTTORINO (3.00 Ascot, treble)

Venetia Williams’ hopeful has a good record over this course and distance with three wins from four attempts. The most recent of those successes came last time out when he jumped much better than usually and stayed on strongly. That built nicely on his Coral Hennessy third at Newbury and the handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

ASCOT

1.15

BLUE HOP took a leap forward stepping up to three miles at Doncaster last time.

He got the better of 16 rivals with something left in the tank and a 6lb rise in the weights looks fair enough.

He has few miles on the clock for his age and could easily improve again.

Hardy Fella enjoyed himself at Market Rasen last time, coming home strongly to score by more than five lengths.

This is a hotter contest but the booking of Harry Cobden takes the eye.

Jilaijone had 21 lengths in hand when scooting in at Uttoxeter and today’s rider takes off 5lb of the 8lb rise he’s copped for that smooth success.

Bective Abbey has been off for 10 months since a promising novice win at Warwick.

That was over 2m3f and he shapes as though this longer distance will be ideal.

Bertie B didn’t fire at Kelso last time but was on a great run before with a win at Plumpton in December.

He’s another with a claiming rider taking off valuable weight to bring him close to his last winning mark.

1.50

JINGKO BLUE got the better of Lowry’s Bar when they met at Windsor last month and can confirm the form despite giving his rival 5lb this time.

Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old has won both his spins over fences and there should be a fair bit more to come.

Lowry’s Bar clattered the third-last at Windsor and it would have been interesting had he not done that.

He earlier scored at Chepstow and Exeter and won’t be a pushover although the tip has more potential.

Peaky Boy has been making hay at Cheltenham where he landed a hat-trick of wins over hurdles and fences.

He left Nicky Henderson for Jonjo O’Neill after a solid third at Prestbury Park last time and can’t be dismissed.

The Changing Man went close in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster over this trip but he’s yet to win over fences.

2.25

CLASSIC KING has been raised a fair 5lb despite an impressive success at Doncaster last month.

He tanked along there and jockey Rex Dingle barely had to move. That was over this trip and a repeat would take him close.

Joyeux Machin caught the eye with a good third in a big field at Wetherby last time.

He is dangerous off this mark if backing that up for the Skeltons, which is far from certain with Cheltenham around the corner.
Altobelli was impressive when scoring over this course and distance last time.

A 5lb rise is fair for Harry Fry’s hope who could take another step forward.

Jour D’Evasion went from the front to score in a small field at Hereford latest.

Those tactics will be harder to pull off here.

Patriotik went close at Aintree last time and sees out this trip well. He’s sneaking up the weights but has place claims again.

3.00

VICTTORINO has a good record over this course and distance with three wins from four attempts.

The most recent of those successes came last time out when he jumped much better than usually and stayed on strongly.

That built nicely on his Coral Hennessy third at Newbury and the handicapper has been fair with a 3lb rise.

Hasthing has been enjoying himself at Windsor with back-to-back wins at the new jumps track.

He was always going within himself over 2m6f latest and should have no issue with this slightly longer distance.

This is just his fourth race over fences so there should be more to come.

Threeunderthrufive took this race 12 months ago and has run just twice since.

He returned from eight months off to chase home Victtorino here latest and can close the gap to less than the nine lengths it was last time.

Wiseguy got his act together returning to chases when winning at Newbury last time.

He’s been given a little break since then which is a plus as he goes well fresh.

Snipe is consistent and put in another decent effort at Doncaster last month.

3.37

PIC D’ORHY must wish every race was run at Ascot because he’s hunting a fifth win at the King’s course.

He has won on his past three visits and had almost six lengths in hand when taking this race 12 months ago.

Only a prime Shishkin stopped him from winning this in 2023 and this ground with a little cut is right up his street.

There’s some decent opposition about with L’Homme Presse heading here on the back of a Cotswold Chase victory at Cheltenham.

He was a well beaten second in this 12 months ago and a longer trip would be more to his liking.

That comment also applies to Corbetts Cross.

His last success was the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and he came up short in the King George at Kempton last time.

Heavy ground brings out his best and he may not run unless there’s rain.

The others have a gap to bridge with Le Patron a Grade 1 winner over 2m as a novice but he was poor last time.

HAYDOCK

2.05

THE FLIER BEGLEY was a comfortable winner over Nocte Volatus at Market Rasen last month and a 4lb pull in the weights is unlikely to turn that around.

The tip was a close-up second over this course and distance two starts ago and gets on well with today’s rider.

Nocte Volatus could be the main danger again given his liking for this trip.

He rarely runs a bad race and should be right there again.

The Edgar Wallace was put in his place by both The Flier Begley and Nocte Volatus last time and needs a major step up for the in-form Kim Bailey yard.

Whistleinthedark was a decent second at Warwick last time when front-running suited. He takes on stiffer rivals today.

Eaton Collina has shown his best in deeper ground but has dropped to his last winning mark.

Any rain would boost his chances otherwise he has plenty on his plate.

2.40

NEMEAN LION is running as well as ever this season and was impressive when scoring at Windsor last time out.

He got the better of a useful rival in Salver there and looks well up to this level.

It’s late in his career to be trying a longer trip but he’ll be hard to stop if handling it.

Botox Has took this 12 months ago and ran his best race when third in the Cleeve Hurdle last time.

He is proven over the three miles and looks a danger for the Moores.

Beauport was beaten just over a length in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot in late December.

He was in front jumping the last and was just collared late on.

There’s a chance he’ll get a soft lead again which makes him dangerous.

Sounds Russian relished the drop to Listed level when scooting in at Perth last time.

That was a decent run and he stays well but this is stiffer opposition.

He’s back from 10 months off so is entitled to need this run.

Indiana Dream has been chasing and this is his hurdles debut and first run for Jonjo O’Neill since leaving Willie Mullins.

He’s useful over the bigger obstacles so watch the betting.

Templegate’s tips

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