Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso and Wolverhampton – Templegate’s betting preview for Saturday, October 28
Cheltenham, Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso and Wolverhampton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day.
CHELTENHAM
2.00 - ITV4
COUNT on VICONTE DU NOYER.
He made stunning debut for Colin Tizzard when causing a shock at the November meeting at Cheltenham last season. His subsequent well-beaten efforts came in red-hot races like the Hennessy Gold Cup and the Welsh National but he ran a lot better when chasing home stablemate Sizing Granite at the Punchestown Festival in April.
There’s a case to expect him to be even better this season and he clearly goes well when fresh.
Singlefarmpayment has great potential. He was unlucky to be touched off by Un Temps Pour Tout at the Festival in March. I’m sure there’s decent races to be won with him but he does tend to get wound up before his races. First time out might not be the time to catch him.
Coologue is the opposite. He’s won this race on his return last season and he also won his comeback run the previous year.
Charlie Longsdon’s hope is back to the same handicap rating as when successful 12 months ago and is sure to primed for this.
2.35 - ITV4
GET Lucky in this tricky little contest.
Irish raider TWOBELUCKY took well to hurdle in the summer. His jumping looked good when winning at Roscommon and Bellewstown and it was no disgrace to finish second to unbeaten hurdler Le Richebourg at the Galway Festival. Decent ground clearly suits him well.
There could be a bit of a battle for lead. Twobelucky is happy racing up with the pace but so are Bedrock and Golden Jeffrey.
Bedrock bolted up from the front at Bangor last time having won by a wide margin at Warwick. His third behind Defi Du Seuil in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting shows he’s got plenty of class.
Golden Jeffrey won his last two hurdles starts and he went off way too fast on the Flat last time. Softer ground would have been better for him.
3.10 - ITV4
GO all-in on POKER SCHOOL.
He looked really good when winning twice in nine days around Christmas last winter. The second of those wins was a defeat of Listed winner Two Taffs at Kempton on Boxing Day when the good ground suited his hold-up style.
He’s done much of his racing over further but I’m convinced a fast-run two miles on decent ground is his ideal conditions. He will get that today.
Last year’s useful novice Le Prezien might find this on the sharp side with the ground drying out.
Front-runner Foxtail Hill is another who will appreciate the return to 2m4f later in the season.
Vaniteux was a classy chaser for Nicky Henderson last season. He has his first start since joining David Pipe and top weight will not be an easy burden to defy.
Sizing Platinum chased home top-class Fox Norton in this race 12 months ago. He returned to form when easily winning at Newton Abbot last time. If he’s turned the corner he will be dangerous but a 12lbs rise for winning on heavy ground makes life tricky.
MOST READ
3.45 - ITV4
THOMAS CAMPBELL should put the bookies in the soup.
He won a novices’ hurdle at this meeting last year and went on to run some sound races at the spring Festivals.
He was fifth in the conditional jockeys’ race at Cheltenham and then finished fourth behind stablemate Rather Be at Aintree. Both those races were over 2m4f and he should improve plenty of the step up to three miles.
Nicky Henderson’s team have yet to hit top gear but that’s sure to happen sooner rather than later.
Tempestatefloresco is the one I fear most. He’s won two of his last three hurdles starts yet is still rated 8lbs lower compared to his chase mark. That gives him strong claims.
Its’afreebee lost his way over fences but, if he came back to his third behind Yorkhill in the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival 18 months ago, he would extremely well handicapped.
Reliable old favourites The Tourard Man and Whataknight should run their races. Luccombe Down and Quarenta are others in with a shout in an open race.
Templegate's TV Tips
2.00 Cheltenham - Viconte Du Noyer: 'He clearly goes well fresh and he should be even better this season'
2.35 Cheltenham - Twobelucky: 'Has taken well to hurdling and good ground clearly suits'
3.10 Cheltenham - Poker School: 'I'm convinced a fast-run two miles on decent ground are his ideal conditions'
3.45 Cheltenham - Thomas Campbell: 'Has big-field handicap form and should improve for the step up to three miles'
CHELTENHAM
2.00 Viconte Du Noyer
2.35 Twobelucky
3.10 Poker School
3.45 Thomas Campbell
4.20 Alcala
4.55 Calett Mad
5.30 Herecomestheboom
DONCASTER
1.45 Sankari Royale
2.20 Al Hajar (nb)
2.55 Lawless Secret
3.25 Saxon Warrior (nap)
4.00 Boundsy
4.35 Jallota
5.10 Clef
KELSO
1.15 Echo Express
1.50 Some Reign
2.25 Give Me A Copper
3.00 Wakanda
3.35 Iskabeg Lane
4.05 Kilronan Castle
4.40 Buckled
5.15 Chapel Stile (treble)
NEWBURY
1.10 Expensive Liaison
1.40 Prestbury Park
2.15 Mountain Bell
2.50 Dream Today
3.20 Century Dream
3.55 Moonlight Bay
4.30 Highgarden
5.05 Walsingham Grange
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.45 Rapid Ranger
6.15 Miss Rosina
6.45 Cat Royale
7.15 Angel In The Snow
7.45 Emilia James
8.15 Midsummer Knight
8.45 Debonaire David
9.15 Graphite