TEMPLEGATE takes on a very interesting Saturday of racing confident of firing in some winners.
Follow him in by clicking the odds below.
HELTENHAM (2.25 Newbury, nap)
Loves Newbury with four wins over this course and distance and he added to that tally when taking his second Greatwood Gold Cup last month. He’s also won this race twice and has a massive chance of striking again.
GETAWHISKY (3.00 Newbury, nb)
Looks to have been aimed at this big pot by the Skeltons and she arrives here very nicely handicapped on a mark of just 119. She didn’t have the hardest of races when fourth at Market Rasen last time after winning nicely at Windsor two runs back. This step up in trip should suit and we know the yard loves a target.
KHRISMA (2.10 Kelso, treble)
Was impressive when landing her second win in three runs at Market Rasen last time. She flashes her tail but that doesn’t stop her showing lots of pace. She has top weight here but looks much the classiest mare in the field with more to come for Nicky Henderson.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
NEWBURY
1.15
KOCKTAIL BLEU went close in a stronger contest than this at Kempton last time.
He’s been holding his own against better rivals and the only slight worry is he can jump to the right.
If Freddie Gordon can keep him in a straight line, he’ll be very hard to beat.
Gambino is an interesting hurdles newcomer for the Skeltons.
He was third in Constitution Hill’s debut on the level last time and should know his job.
Lisbane Park brings solid, consistent novice form and was only denied late on at Exeter last time.
He handles some cut and this sharp track should suit, though he may again find one too strong.
Cecilia Star is improving, already a winner here and likely to progress again.
There’s more to come but this is a deeper race and she’ll need another step forward. The rest have a lot to find.
Giddyupadingdong and Noble Don both pulled up on hurdling debuts and need a big turnaround.
1.50
GRAND VENDETTA can strike on handicap debut for Nicholls and Cobden.
He comes here after a smooth Taunton success where he travelled strongly and asserted late.
This sharper trip should suit just as well, he handles good to soft, and an opening mark of 120 looks lenient.
Storming George sets a solid standard and has mixed it in stronger novices, including the Dovecote at Kempton.
This step back into a handicap should make him competitive.
Templegate’s Tote Placepot tips
By STEVE MULLEN
THE Placepot is a bet where you select a horse to be placed in the FIRST SIX races of any meeting.
You can pick more than one horse in a race – you just multiply the number of selections in each race to calculate your stake.
So for staking it’s 1x2x2x2x2x2 which adds up to 32 lines.
You can stake what you want upwards from 5p a line which would cost a total of £1.60. 10p a line is £3.20 and so on.
Provided at least one in each race is placed, we get a payout!
Templegate’s Tote Placepot tips for Newbury
LEG 1 Kocktail Bleu
LEG 2 Grand Vendetta, Fresh Perspective
LEG 3 Heltenham, Prairie Wolf
LEG 4 Getawhisky, Charisma Cat
LEG 5 Diamond Street, Bailly’s Comet
LEG 6 Escapeandevade, Palacio
Fresh Perspective is interesting if forgiven his last Huntingdon run in Listed company, where he never really got into a rhythm.
He looked progressive before that and has had a wind op.
Thewoodcorner gets weight as a four-year-old and can improve on this handicap debut for Nicky Henderson.
Glancing Jack is on the upgrade after a convincing maiden win and could have more to offer now handicapping, while Kapitein Kool is consistent so could hit the frame again.
2.25
HELTENHAM loves Newbury with four wins over this course and distance and he added to that tally when taking his second Greatwood Gold Cup last month.
He’s also won this race twice and has a massive chance of striking again.
Prairie Wolf had two lengths in hand when winning here last time and a 3lb rise for that makes him a major player again.
Hercule Du Seuil wasn’t asked too many questions when fourth at Donny last time and is gradually coming down the handicap.
The betting will be the best guide to his chance today.
Knappers Hill was poor at Warwick latest but is a Grade 3 winner at best and warrants respect.
Twinjets has lost his way a bit but was in winning form here three runs ago and isn’t out of the each-way reckoning.
3.00
GETAWHISKY looks to have been aimed at this big pot by the Skeltons and she arrives here very nicely handicapped on a mark of just 119.
She didn’t have the hardest of races when fourth at Market Rasen last time after winning nicely at Windsor two runs back.
This step up in trip should suit and we know the yard loves a target.
Charisma Cat was just ahead of the tip at Rasen and is another who looks on a nice mark for this handicap bow.
Strong Run is proven over this distance and followed a Southwell win with a close Wincanton second last time.
Her opening mark of 116 gives her a chance, although softer ground would be ideal.
Indannya didn’t have a lot to beat at Wincanton 16 days ago but she did it nicely and she should be in the each-way mix.
Watamu won in a big field at Huntingdon before chasing home the tip at Rasen. Emma Lavelle’s mare is another with place prospects.
3.35
DIAMOND STREET went into many a notebook when winning by 10 lengths on debut at Doncaster in late January.
He’s related to St Leger winner Bob’s Return and showed plenty of zip without his rider having to get serious.
The Skeltons won this race 12 months ago and can retain it with this potential star.
Madam Speaker showed promise when second on debut at Wincanton last time and Nicky Henderson’s filly gets weight from the boys and as a four-year-old.
Lover Debois was a solid fourth on debut here before taking a major step forward to win at Kempton last time.
He showed a decent burst of pace there and looks dangerous.
Bailly’s Comet struck on debut at Wincanton before a close-up third in a Cheltenham Listed event on New Year’s Day.
A repeat of that would put him in the picture.
Keltype had 15 lengths in hand when winning at Chepstow latest and has place claims upped in class.
KELSO
1.00
WORLD OF FORTUNES went close in a Punchestown Grade 3 last month and moving up in trip here looks a wise move.
She has winning handicap form around this trip and should go close.
A drop of rain would bring Hollygrove Cha Cha right into this.
All her best form has come on soft or heavy ground like her Listeds success at Warwick last time.
She shapes as though this longer distance will suit and she’s only six so could well improve.
Listentoyourheart went off too quickly when hammered at Ascot latest and is better judged on her Windsor win on New Year’s Day.
She is another who stays 2m5f strongly so should have no problem getting home.
Star Walking got the job done nicely at Kempton when last seen at Christmas and Harry Fry’s horses have been in decent form so she’s high on the shortlist too.
1.30
SPEIRUIL clocked a big personal best when winning over a similar trip at Musselburgh last time.
He was ridden with a little more restraint than usual and powered away from his rivals late on.
The form of the race looks solid and a 6lb rise fair.
He’s improved a bundle since donning cheekpieces and can strike again.
Brookside La won a battle at Wetherby on Boxing Day before matching that when third in a big field at Haydock.
He’s had a little break since then and looks dangerous with improvement likely.
Rain would suit Eloi Du Puy who went through the mud for an Ayr success last month.
He’s won here too but the ground is a worry.
One with a stronger chance is Judicial Deference who has won both handicap runs.
He overcame interference when scoring here last time and has more to come on just his fifth hurdles run.
2.10
KHRISMA was impressive when landing her second win in three runs at Market Rasen last time.
She flashes her tail but that doesn’t stop her showing lots of pace.
She has top weight here but looks much the classiest mare in the field with more to come for Nicky Henderson.
He also runs Diamonds Galore who isn’t without a chance after three seconds in a row.
She would have won at Ludlow last time but for hitting the final flight.
Beauty In The Park has improved on her past two runs and won easily from the front at Taunton 46 days ago.
This is tougher but she gets a stone off the tip which should bring them closer together.
Our Peggy was just grabbed on the line at Wincanton latest and makes her handicap debut off what looks a fair mark.
First Candidate didn’t get the run of the race at Ludlow and has more to come on just her fourth run.
2.40
DIAMOND DEALER will blast off from the front and it will take a mighty effort to catch him despite the 12 stone on his back.
He won his first two spins over fences here and at Chepstow before finding four miles too much.
He was right back to form when beaten on the nod at Wetherby last time and he’ll be right there again.
Glen Road is a winning hurdler here and he jumped much better when second over fences at Sandown 14 days ago.
A repeat of that would take him very close.
Bridge Court jumped really nicely when winning easily at Musselburgh last month.
He’s up 8lb for that but that was just his fourth chase so there should be more to come.
Always A Reason’s winning run came to a halt at Newcastle but he showed ability at Catterick and Newcastle so could bounce back.
BANGOR
3.20
IN THE AGE has won at Catterick and gone close at Uttoxeter since finishing third here in November.
He likes decent ground and he has a nice low weight here.
Static came right back to his best when going from the front to strike at Haydock 16 days ago.
A 5lb rise makes this a bit tougher but he can run another decent race.
Knickerbockerglory is coming down the weights and his rider takes off another 7lb.
He’s getting on a bit now but has figured in stronger races than this.
Aurigny Mill had five lengths in hand at Taunton latest and a 3lb rise is fair for that. This longer trip stretches him a bit but he’s not out of it.
Norman Fletcher has been running in decent company with little success but may find things a little easier today under a 5lb claimer.
Templegate’s tips
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