Racing Tips – Templegate’s racing tips for all of ITV’s races on Saturday, March 4
Doncaster and Newbury both come under the spotlight as Templegate tries to find a host of winners on a busy Saturday
GET the latest tips ahead of a busy day of racing from across the country.
Top tipster Templegate guides you through the cards from Doncaster and Newbury on Saturday, March 4.
NEWBURY TIPS
2.05
AIM for the Top in the veterans’ contest.
HARRY TOPPER was smart enough to win the Charlie Hall and the Denman Chase a few years ago. He missed the best part of two years before this season and he’s slipped in the weights.
His staying-on fourth behind Grand National hope Perfect Candidate at Exeter last month was a pleasing effort. With Kim Bailey’ horses running well after a quiet spell he must have a chance.
Paul Nicholls’ Just A Par came within a short-head of retaining Sandown’s end-of-season Bet365 Gold Cup last year. He is much better on faster ground.
Stablemate Rocky Creek is more than capable of winning this but I just can’t trust him to bring his A-game to any race these days.
Goulanes missed nearly three years before he was pulled up in the Welsh National. He’s really weighted if anywhere near his best and Neil Mulholland is another trainer in great form
2.40
MAKE it a happy Birthday.
Promising novice GOLDEN BIRTHDAY pulled too hard on his handicap debut at Fontwell in January. His earlier Plumpton success on soft ground makes him nicely weighted and I’m sure he’s capable of even better with Harry Fry’s team in such good form.
Bloody Mary’s Cheltenham Festival third behind Champion Hurdle possible Limini in the mares’ novice hurdle last year is the best bit of form on offer. She’s not been seen since bout would have to have a chance if ready to go.
Melodic Rendezvous – a class act in his pomp – showed a bit more of the old sparkle behind Yanworth last time. It is worrying that he’s pulled up in his last two handicaps.
The soft ground is the worry for Sumkindofking, London Prize and Canton Prince.
3.15
MAKE yourself at home on the Grange.
OLDGRANGEWOOD is improving rapidly. He was brought down at Aintree in December and has since looked really good when twice winning well at Wetherby.
There’s no telling how far he could go but I would be astonished if he’s reached the limit of his ability.
Paul Nicholls has won this prize seven times in the last nine years. That’s an incredible record even by the champion trainer’s high standards.
His More Buck’s has already won three chases and he went off too fast when fourth behind Grand National hope Double Shuffler at Kempton over Christmas. His Cheltenham fall in January was not ideal and I expect him to run well today.
Stablemate Vibrato Valtat has become a bit tricky and he would need the blinkers to work in some style if he was to land this race.
O Maonlai likes this track. He was pulled up behind Bristol De Mai at Haydock last time but it does seem to be all or nothing with him.
Tornado In Milan and Vic De Touzaine would come into if the ground turned testing.
Templegate's TV Tips
- Doncaster 1.50: The Organist
- Newbury 2.05: Harry Topper
- Doncaster 2.25: Bright New Dawn
- Newbury 2.40: Golden Birthday
- Doncaster 3.00: Lastbutnotleast
- Newbury 3.15: Oldgrangewood
- Doncaster 3.35: Definitly Red
DONCASTER TIPS
1.50
I’M hoping to get a tune out of THE ORGANIST.
She looked so good when winning three hurdles races last season it prompted JP McManus to splash out £260,000. Things clearly haven’t gone to plan as she hasn’t taken to fences.
But she’s potentially well handicapped returned to hurdling and she won on this card last season when landing the Listed mares’ novice hurdle.
Arthurs Secret has become frustrating but he might be suited by today’s softer ground.
Whataknight wouldn’t want conditions to turn really testing and the same applies to Markov.
Point The Way was not disgraced last time and he tries cheekpieces for the first time.
2.25
LOOK on the Bright side.
BRIGHT NEW DAWN twice ran well at Sandown after joining Venetia Williams from Ireland. Last week’s effort at Chepstow was not quite as good but there’s no doubt he’s going to win at some point. This looks a good opportunity.
San Benedeto won well over two miles at Musselburgh last time. He’ll have no problem with today’s longer trip but the soft ground will be an issue.
Theatre Flame is in good form and he proved he can do it in this sort of grade when scoring at Newbury in January.
3.00
SAVE the best for Last.
Improving LASTBUTNOTLEAST is unbeaten after two starts over hurdles and she looks sure to like the step up to three miles.
She made all the running to see off Jonjo O’Neill’s Which One Is Which at Carlisle last month. The soft ground will be ideal and I’m confident she will complete a hat-trick of wins.
It’s hard to know what Taws achieved when chasing home top prospect Finian’s Oscar at Exeter last time. But she was a smart stayer on the Flat so the longer trip could help.
Happy Diva stays well. She has run well in Grade 2 contests on her last two starts and this looks easier.
3.35
TAKE this as Red.
DEFINITLY RED unseated in Gold Cup hope Bristol De Mai’s Haydock romp but he didn’t run badly before dumping his jockey on the deck.
His Wetherby defeat of Wakanda and Yala Enki on Boxing Day was a fine effort and he must have a great chance.
Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri won this race impressively 12 months ago. He ran a belter in the Becher Chase in December and this is sure to be a prep race for another return to Aintree.
Vivaldi Collonges hasn’t shown much this season but he would be most interesting on last year’s form.
The softening of the ground won’t help Sky Bet Chase runner-up Looking Well.
Other Selections...
DONCASTER TIPS
1.50 The Organist (nb)
2.25 Bright New Dawn
3.00 Lastbutnotleast
3.35 Definitly Red
4.10 Boagrius
4.45 Hartside
5.20 It’s Your Move
KELSO TIPS
2.15 Reivers Lad
2.50 Un Prophete
3.25 Chalonnial
4.00 Le Mercurey
4.35 Achill Road Boy
5.10 Sammy B
LINGFIELD TIPS
2.00 Fabulous Flyer
2.35 My Target
3.10 Miss Mirabeau
3.45 Encore D’Or
4.20 Second Thought
4.55 Tartan Bute
5.30 Karam Albaari
NEWBURY TIPS
1.30 Justification
2.05 Harry Topper
2.40 Golden Birthday
3.15 Oldgrangewood (treble)
3.50 Knightly Pleasure
4.25 Max Ward (nap)
5.00 Sgroppino
NEWCASTLE TIPS
5.45 Tricorn
6.15 Ki Ki
6.45 Bahango
7.15 Barwah
7.45 Ray’s The Money
8.15 Hollywood Harry
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