TEMPLEGATE takes on day two of the Grand National Festival confident of bashing the bookies.
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JOYEUSE (1.45 Aintree, nap)
She can build on her excellent third in the County Hurdle over this longer trip. She hit the podium despite meeting trouble early in the straight. The cheekpieces seemed to help and they stay on. She can settle off the speed and come through late.
HEART WOOD (3.30 Aintree, nb)
He can prove his brilliant Ryanair win was no fluke. Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old powered clear by ten lengths in a career-best display. He travelled, jumped and quickened like a top-class performer that day. If he repeats that, the rest are playing for places. He ran well at this meeting last year and everything points to another big run.
MADARA (4.05 Aintree)
He was a brilliant winner of the Festival Plate at Cheltenham last time when he absolutely tanked along. His slick jumping really stood out too and he should be a natural over the Grand National fences. A 10lb rise gives him more to do but his style should be perfect for this track and there’s more to come from this talented seven-year-old.
Templegate’s verdicts
1.45
JOYEUSE can build on her excellent third in the County Hurdle over this longer trip.
She hit the podium despite meeting trouble early in the straight.
The cheekpieces seemed to help and they stay on. She can settle off the speed and come through late.
Last year’s third Favour And Fortune has obvious claims back at a track that suits.
He shaped as though retaining plenty of ability when sixth at Kempton on his return from a long break and should strip much fitter now.
Hot Fuss is another big player after his cracking second in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, where he made rapid headway and was only headed late.
He stays this trip and arrives in top nick.
French recruit Emid’io Pepe adds intrigue on his first start for Dan Skelton. He won a handicap at Pau in December and any support in the betting would look significant.
Jazzy Matty is another to note after going down by a nose in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham.
He runs off a much lower mark over hurdles, while Indeevar Bleu and Wellington Arch both come here fresh on the back of good wins.
2.20
REGENT’S STROLL can emulate his uncle Denman and improve for going beyond three miles.
He ran a really solid race in the Golden Miller at Cheltenham, finishing third after travelling and jumping well for a long way before staying on again late.
That was over 2m4f and moving up in distance at a track like Aintree can see him take another step forward.
Nicholls won this last yearwith Caldwell Potter and can repeat the feat for the same connections.
Salver brings strong Grade 1 staying form after his excellent Brown Advisory third.
He came from well back that day and finished strongly.
Those tactics may not be quite so easy to pull off at a speed track like Aintree but he’s a battler and won’t go down without a fight.
Wendigo is another with a big say. He was still going well when falling at the last in the Brown Advisory and had earlier won a Grade 2 at Newbury before shaping well in the Kauto Star at Kempton.
He looks very solid at this level.
Gold Dancer is respected after a big run in the Golden Miller, where he jumped boldly from the front and kept finding before being worn down late.
This longer trip is the big question but the way he kept on at Cheltenham offers hope.
Miami Magic has ability and beat Regent’s Stroll at Cheltenham in January.
He then threw in a poor effort at Sandown before an easy win at Newbury last time. He swerved the Festival and that freshness may help.
Doyen Quest could be dangerous if getting an easy lead and he’s another who is coming here fresher than most.
Jordans Cross is better than his latest run and has winning form around here. He needs to raise his game in this company.
2.55
SOBER GLORY may well have won the Supreme at Cheltenham last time had he not smashed into the final flight when clear.
Ben Jones’ mount had jumped well until that point and travelled like a top-class novice hurdler.
A barging match in the closing stages didn’t help him either.
His earlier Newbury wins, including a devastating 27-length success, showed just how dominant he can be when allowed to stride on.
He handles this ground well and looks open to plenty of improvement, which makes him the standout.
Baron Noir was six lengths behind the tip when fourth in the Supreme.
He fared best of those held up that day and shaped like one who will continue to progress.
Tom Bellamy is likely to have him a bit closer to the pace today and he looks good for the forecast spot.
Sinnatra is an interesting contender stepping back into Grade 1 company.
His fifth in the County Hurdle was a fair effort given he didn’t get the strong pace you usually face in that hot handicap.
The first-time hood may also help him settle and travel better under Dan Skelton.
La Conquiere has been consistent against her own sex and was second in the mares’ bumper at this meeting 12 months ago but this is a deeper race and she needs to bounce back from a below-par Cheltenham run.
Starting Fifteen should find conditions more suitable here after struggling on heavy ground last time.
Storming George arrives in form after a Newbury success but has more to prove at this level.
3.30
HEART WOOD can prove his brilliant Ryanair win was no fluke.
Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old powered clear by ten lengths in a career-best display.
He travelled, jumped and quickened like a top-class performer that day.
If he repeats that, the rest are playing for places. He ran well at this meeting last year and everything points to another big run.
Grey Dawning looks the main danger.
A dual Grade 1 winner, including the Betfair Chase, he shaped well for a long way in the Gold Cup before the trip found him out.
Back at this shorter distance, and now in first-time cheekpieces, he’s a big threat.
Gidleigh Park has strong Aintree form and arrives fresh, but his jumping needs to hold together after he made mistakes when pulled up at Ascot latest.
4.05
MADARA was a brilliant winner of the Festival Plate at Cheltenham last time when he absolutely tanked along.
His slick jumping really stood out too and he should be a natural over the Grand National fences.
A 10lb rise gives him more to do but his style should be perfect for this track and there’s more to come from this talented seven-year-old
Last year’s first and second are back with every chance. Gentleman De Mee and Lisnamult Lad have had quiet seasons with this race in mind. That means they come back from similar marks and look right in the hunt.
Gavin Cromwell’s raiders are always respect and his Will The Wise was a good second to Madara at Cheltenham and a repeat could see him in the frame.
Addragoole looks the pick of the huge prices for Cromwell too.
It would be nice to see former class act Il Est Francais rejuvenated by this different challenge too. He’s got the quality if enjoy the spruce.
4.40
ZEUS POWER was asked to make up a ridiculous amount of ground up the Cheltenham home straight in the Turners’ and did a brilliant job to finish a closing third.
He looks to be crying out for this trip and hopefully JJ Slevin won’t have him too far back this time.
Johnny’s Jury came with a late rattle to take the Albert Bartlett in a tight finish.
He clearly stays and a repeat of that would put him right in the mix again.
Mondoui’Boy ran a cracker in that race when up with the pace all the way and only fading in the final half-furlong.
He might prefer Aintree’s flat finish and it will definitely help him get home.
No Drama This End had a nightmare in the Turners’ when sent off a well-backed favourite.
Put a line through that and he has every chance judged on his Grade 1 Challow success at Newbury at Christmas.
Nicholls also runs Talk To The Man who is an improving novice but this is a big hike in grade.
5.15
HARRY LOWES can strike for Dan Skelton, who won this race 12 months ago with Tristan Durrell in the saddle.
He got no luck in running when fifth on handicap debut but bounced back nicely at Bangor last time and looks on a nice mark.
Rubber Ball didn’t fire in the Imperial Cup last time but was earlier impressive when winning at Newbury and can run a nice race off the front.
Sherminator was impressive on handicap debut at Exeter last time and has a lot more to come for Harry Fry.
Laafi looks a massive price given he’s shown promise on his past two runs at Kelso and Leopardstown. He has an each-way shout.
Skelton also runs The Mighty Celt who was an unlucky sixth in the Fred Winter at the Festival and could hit the frame.
Templegate’s tips
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