Templegate’s horse racing tips: Sandown and Wincanton live on ITV – top betting preview for Saturday’s racing

SANDOWN

1.50

JOHNBB has had just two runs over fences but he looks a natural chaser and skipped right away from his rivals when winning over course and distance last month.

3

This is a slightly stronger races but there should be a lot more to come and the Tom Lacey yard has been sending out plenty of winners.

Darebin won this last year off just 2lb lower in the handicap. He won well at Kempton in November before chasing home Johnbb here last time. He is better off at the weights today and looks the main danger.

Delire D’Estruval looked rusty on his comeback in the mud at Ascot just before Christmas. He signed off last term with a battling win here and has lots of staying power.

He may find things happening a little quickly over this distance but can’t be ruled out. Locker Room Talk had plenty in hand when winning at Taunton last time but the opposition is a fair bit stronger today.

He gets on well with his amateur rider but needs more. Finnegan’s Garden is another having his sights raised and should come up a little short. American Tom has been struggling in selling hurdles so is hard to fancy.

2.25

HANG IN THERE was impressive when winning a Cheltenham Grade 2 last time where he enjoyed the testing ground. He picked up well despite the conditions to win with plenty left in the tank.

The opposition is stronger again here but he’s capable of further improvement. Fiddlerontheroof enjoyed himself over course and distance when winning easily last month.

That was a much smaller race than this but he travelled like a class act and clearly has more to offer. Son Of Camas takes a sharp hike in class after winning on his hurdling debut at Newbury 36 days ago.

He looked in need of the run so did well to get the job done. This much stronger company will let us know how good he is. Similar comments apply to Silver Hallmark and Calva D’Auge.

Both come here looking capable of improving on good runs against lesser rivals last time. The latter looks as though a slightly longer trip would be ideal but his stamina could be an asset if the ground gets any more testing.

Jeremys Flame went close in a Newbury Listed race last time over this trip. She needs a bit more for this company but could hit the frame.

3

3.00

VIEUX LION ROUGE has spent most of his career in hotter company than this and had traffic problems when midfield in the Becher Chase over the National fences last time.

He’s just 1lb higher than when winning one of these veterans’ races on comeback at Chepstow and he’s a solid each-way play.

King’s Odyssey got his act together to win nicely at Warwick last time out. He sees out this trip really well and has no issue with a little give in the ground.

Carole’s Destrier is hit and miss but he’d have every chance on a going day. He won a couple of decent races over this sort of trip last season and is fit from running in the void race here last month.

Dark Flame was second in that contest on the back of another runner-up effort around here. He has few miles on the clock and could be ahead of the handicapper.

Jepeck has been running over hurdles with success but is a decent chaser too and looks well weighted. He stays well and comes from an in-form yard.

Burtons Well is another who is hard to get on track and he’s better than he showed when down the field at Haydock latest. Horatio Hornblower is seeking a hat-trick of wins from a fair 4lb higher than his Donny success last month.

3.35

GUNNERY can shoot down his rivals. This is much tougher than the race he won at Doncaster last week but he got the job done so easily.

He comes back with just a 6lb penalty to contend with over a trip that suits. You would expect him to improve again.

Blu Cavalier is another who won on Town Moor last time and he’s effectively 1lb lower in the weights thanks to Ben Jones’ 5lb claim. He won’t mind the testing ground and can put in another solid effort.

Totterdown goes well here and landed his second win over course and distance in good style 55 days ago. He’s shot up 12lb for that so needs more but he could deliver again.

Smarty Wild was a fair fourth in a Listed contest here last time and has had a little nudge down the weights, which should help. He could easily hit the frame under Richard Johnson.

Eldorado Allen won a novice contest here on his UK debut before unseating at Aintree. He’s coming back from more than a year off so watch the betting for clues. Ainchea is another to watch coming back after 700 days. He was highly rated before his break by Team Tizzard.

3

WINCANTON

2.05

SAINTEMILION came back to his best when a close second here on Boxing Day. That was an arguably stronger race than this and he has won before when turned out quickly.

Admiral’s Secret ran his best race for a long time when second at Taunton last month. He likes this trip and has run well here before.

The problem with him is he’s refused to race on two of his past five runs. If he goes off with the rest of the field he has every chance.

Molineaux has had some help from the handicapper and should find this easier than his assignment at Newbury last time. He takes a major drop in distance which could wake him up and he likes the track.

Flying Tiger is a fair hurdler but he was poor on both outings over fences way back in 2018. He’s on a long losing run but the Philip Hobbs yard is in good form.

Ar Mest won a couple over a hurdles this time last year but has lost his way since, including when unseating on his chasing debut at Fakenham. He needs to improve a lot but this is a pretty weak race.

2.40

ROOTLESS TREE looked a nice prospect when winning at Leicester last month on just his second run over hurdles. He was just hitting his stride at the end of the two-mile trip so this stiffer stamina test should suit.

Maypole Class loved the testing ground when battling home to strike at Lingfield. He is another who should find more for going up to this distance and a 7lb rise in the weights looks fair enough.

Nifty At Fifty enjoyed himself over this trip and track when clocking a personal best. He’s a quirky type but is clearly in good heart at the moment and could make his presence felt.

Horse Force One came back from more than two years off to finish a solid third at Exeter in October. He’s wisely had a little break since then and showed talent when winning a couple of bumpers before his layoff. The handicapper has been fair with his opening mark.

Finula ran better than a 50-1 shot when third at Ludlow last time out. He seemed to stay this trip well enough and could hit the frame if building on that.

Silver Kayf wasn’t asked too many questions when beaten at Newbury last time and is coming down the weights enough to give him a chance.

3.15

GALA BALL looked rustier than an old gate when beaten on his comeback at Newbury in late November. He lost a shoe on the way round that wouldn’t have helped either.

He progressed well over fences last season and signed off with a convincing win from just 2lb lower in the weights. He can get back on track here.

Valdez is 13 now but he’s in good heart as he showed when scoring at Hereford last time. This trip is right up his street and he goes on any ground. He has an extra 5lb to contend with today but that shouldn’t put the brakes on.

As De Mee held his own in the red-hot Becher Chase over the National fences at Aintree last time. It’s a while since he ran over this short a distance but he has won over it and can’t be ruled out.

Le Rocher was a fair second in a Listed hurdle in France last time and has bits and pieces of form over fences. He sees out this trip but hasn’t run for almost a year so may need this. Pingshou was beaten when falling late on at Ascot on comeback and needs to raise his game.

SANDOWN

12.15 Palladium

12.45 Indefatigable

1.20 Dashing Perk

1.50 Johnbb (nb)

2.25 HANG IN THERE (NAP)

3.00 Vieux Lion Rouge

3.35 Gunnery

WINCANTON

12.30 Sadma

1.05 Dino Boy

1.35 Hurricane Harvey

2.05 Saintemilion

2.40 Rootless Tree

3.15 Gala Ball

3.50 Arrivederci

LINGFIELD

11.40 Capriolette

12.10 Universal Gleam

12.40 Mazikeen (treble)

1.15 Dromara King

1.45 Pour La Victoire

2.15 Alicia Darcy

2.50 Battle Of Marathon

3.25 Finespun

NEWCASTLE

11.50 Alpha Carinae

12.25 Pinch Of Ginger

12.55 Prince Kayf

1.30 Capard King

2.00 Flash De Clerval

2.35 Albert’s Back

3.10 Celtic Flames

KEMPTON

4.10 You Don’t Own Me

4.40 Ask Siri

5.10 Maqboola

5.40 Notforalongtime

6.10 Brunel Charm

6.40 Rainbow Dreamer

7.10 Be Fair

7.40 Ember’s Glow