Racing Tips – Templegate’s racing tips for all of ITV’s races on Saturday, April 29
Sandown and Haydock both come under the spotlight as Templegate tries to find a host of winners on a busy Saturday
SANDOWN
1.50
TAKE the HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
He was progressive on the Flat last summer for canny trainer Don Cantillon and has taken well to hurdling.
The blinkers were left off when he scorer at Huntingdon in October. They were back on when he beat older horses at the same track when returning from a break a couple of weeks ago.
He loves decent ground and looks to have a fine chance in a tricky contest.
Gregarious is another on a roll. Both his wins have come over course and distance but they have been on much softer ground. Today’s conditions are a concern.
Paul Nicholls’ Dolos was long odds-on when seeing off three rivals at Chepstow. His previous form gives him a shout.
Title rival Nicky Henderson relies on French import Call Me Lord. He shoulders top weight due to his wins in France but it’s hard to know where he stands with the handicapper.
2.25
MENORAH should make it a fab four in the Bet365 Oaksey Chase.
Philip Hobbs’ ace is the only horses to have won this race having been successful in each of the three previous years. He’s clearly been trained for this contest and his second to Irish Cavalier – with Cue Card behind him – in the Charlie Hall Chase in October shows he’s still got what it takes.
Josses Hill – representing trainers’ title leader Nicky Henderson – beat Tea For Two when landing Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase in December. He’s been found out at the top level since but is a player in this lesser class.
Paul Nicholls runs two. Vibrato Valtat is on a long losing run and he ran a shocker at Newbury last time.
Stablemate Art Mauresque should have run an awful lot better than he did at Cheltenham last time.
Traffic Fluide hinted at a return to form when third behind Fox Norton at Aintree three weeks ago. He still has stamina to prove at this trip but couldn’t be ruled out.
3.00
IT will take something Special to topple Altior.
Nicky Henderson’s ace is unbeaten in five hurdles races and five chases. He was strong at the finish in the Arkle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival and is a hugely exciting two-miler.
But he’s had a hard enough season and is taking on seasoned chasers on ground faster than he’s ever encountered.
That’s why I’m willing to chance SPECIAL TIARA. He beat Sprinter Sacre in this race two years ago and he was unlucky not to land the Tingle Creek over this track and trip last season.
His defeat of Fox Norton in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham is top form and he’s likely to ping off in front. Altior will have to be on his game to catch him.
San Benedeto was a bit fortunate to land the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree as stablemate Politologue stumbled and fell after jumping the last when in front. But he has his ground today and is still improving.
Vaniteux enjoyed the return to a handicap when scoring at Ayr last week. He also likes decent ground but he needs to prove he’s up to this level.
MOST READ
3.35
A good Young one should send jumps punters off on their summer holidays with congratulations ringing in their ears.
THE YOUNG MASTER won this race last year when touching off the 2015 hero Just A Par by a short-head.
He’s fallen in two of his four races since but they were both over the Grand National fences. His exit from Aintree’s big ‘un at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit means he didn’t have much of a race that day. An early Aintree fall didn’t stop Vicente landing last week’s Scottish National.
My fancy’s sixth in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham wasn’t a bad effort and he should be spot on today.
His trainer Neil Mulholland also runs Doing Fine and The Druids Nephew.
Doing Fine is well in at the weights having scored well at Cheltenham last week. This is a much tougher race but he’s clearly in good form.
The Druids Nephew hasn’t been at his best in two starts this season. He was fifth in this race 12 months ago and is nicely treated if he does return to form.
Top weight Theatre Guide has claims for Colin Tizzard and Whats Happening will love the return to this marathon distance.
Templegate's TV Tips
1.50 Sandown - Hollywood Road
2.05 Haydock - El Vip
2.25 Sandown - Menorah
2.40 Haydock - Zoravan
3.00 Sandown - Special Tiara
3.35 Sandown - The Young Master
HAYDOCK
2.05
EL VIP is an important punt in this hot handicap.
He ended last year with a smooth Leicester victory and he kicked off this season with a promising Bath effort.
Against race-fit rivals he moved well before running on to finish third behind Lincoln runner-up Oh This Is Us. He looked sure to improve for the run and should be hard to beat.
Early Morning won first time out last season and he’s still fairly treated. Harry Dunlop has fired in a couple of winners recently so he has plenty going for him.
War Glory was unlucky to get done by a nose on Lingfield’s valuable Good Friday. He’s never won on turf but has run several good races on it.
The fast ground is against classy Top Notch Tonto.
2.40
ZORAVAN should be in the right place at the right time.
He made all the running to beat a big field at Doncaster on his first turf start in April. There’s a decent chance he’ll get his own way out in front. This is a big jump in class but he is unexposed over today’s trip.
Oh This Is Us is in top form. He followed up his neck second in the Lincoln by holding on well to score at Bath. It’s hard to see how he won’t run well.
Afjaan has a decent record when returning from a break. But he often pulls hard and he will probably come into his own in fast-run races over a mile.
Fawaareq rattled up a hat-trick last summer. He’s been off since July and might just need this run to sharpen up.
Stamp Hill is one of my Flat horses to follow on pages two and three today. But, as I mention there, I’ll be waiting until he gets a bit of soft ground before backing him.
DONCASTER
4.50 Midnight Macchiato
5.25 Darkanna
6.00 Rubens Dream
6.35 Sam Missile
7.05 Mr Davies
7.35 Invermere
8.05 Lahore
HAYDOCK
1.30 Crazy Tornado
2.05 El Vip (nap)
2.40 Zoravan
3.15 Bristol Missile
3.45 Nancy Hart
4.20 Know Your Limit
4.55 Captain Courageous
RIPON
2.10 Faradays Spark
2.45 Dubai’s Secret
3.20 Pipers Note (treble)
3.55 Intense Tango
4.30 Fire Fighting
5.05 Daawy
5.40 Yorkshiredebut
LEICESTER
2.20 Tanasoq
2.55 Never Back Down
3.30 Percy’s Word
4.05 Home Of The Brave (nb)
4.40 Navarone
5.10 Mutarabby
5.45 Fast And Hot
SANDOWN
1.50 Hollywood Road
2.25 Menorah
3.00 Special Tiara
3.35 The Young Master
4.10 The New One
4.45 Shantou Village
5.20 Chelsea Flyer
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.50 Compas Scoobie
6.20 Temasek Star
6.50 Deep Challenger
7.20 Steaming
7.50 Gibbs Hill
8.20 Lord Murphy
8.50 Manchego