Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Doncaster, Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV4’s racing on Saturday, December 16
Cheltenham, Doncaster, Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day.
CHELTENHAM
1.55
THERE’S a Star turn in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup.
STARCHITECT failed by just a neck to reel in Splash Of Ginge in the BetVictor Gold Cup at this track last month. He was a little unfortunate that he got in tight to the second-last fence and stumbled on landing at the final obstacle.
David Pipe’s ace was cutting the winner down in the closing stages and I fancy him to get revenge today.
That’s not to say Splash Of Ginge hasn’t got a chance of doing the double. He would love to see the ground turn even more testing.
Le Prezien was back in third. He’s got plenty of ability but I’m not sure about his stomach for a fight.
Clan Des Obeaux could easily defy top weight. His half-length second to Whisper looks good form now even if it came in a two-runner race and he won most impressively at Haydock last time.
King’s Odyssey would have to enter calculations with the ground likely to be testing.
2.30
THERE’S a Secret passage to profit.
EQUUS SECRETUS did well to beat more experienced rivals on his debut for Ben Pauling at Huntingdon last month.
He improved for the step up to today’s distance when winning at Southwell a couple of weeks later. The runner-up Another Stowaway had run top prospect On The Blind Side close on his previous start so that form looks really good.
Despite there being only five runners this is a hot little contest.
Global Stage had some decent form last season and he had little trouble breaking his duck at Ayr in October. I’m expecting him to give my fancy the most to do.
Kilbricken Storm was a little lucky to win at Wincanton last time as Mont Des Avaloirs crashed out when still in the lead at the last.
But that one struck at Aintree last week and there’s no doubt Kilbricken Storm has plenty of ability. His pedigree suggests he’ll be suited by today’s step up from two miles.
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3.05
THE NEW ONE can make Nigel Twiston-Davies an International man of history.
The Cotswolds trainer has already won this race four times – three of them with The New One.
I fancy him to make it a record fourth victory in the race at a course he loves.
And The New One seems as good as ever. He landed the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October before finishing fourth behind Elgin under a monster weight in the Greatwood Hurdle.
Conditions should be perfect for him today and he will not be easy to pass.
Old Guard was a place in front of him in the Greatwood at this track last month. But The New One is 12lbs better off today.
I’m more worried about Melon. He came close to landing some juicy bets when runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. It’s hard to know how strong that form is but he has to be respected after a smooth comeback win at Down Royal.
My Tent Or Yours – runner-up to The New One 12 months ago – is incredibly frustrating. He’s been second in three Champion Hurdles but hasn’t won for nearly four years.
3.40
MOM’s the word in this mares’ hurdle.
Unexposed MOMELLA looks incredibly well weighted for her handicap debut. She won well on her debut at Newton Abbot and she beat two subsequent winners on her return at Fakenham in October.
Her second to top novice On The Blind Side at Cheltenham last month topped the lot – especially as she got into a battle with Poetic Rhythm early in the straight.
Lamanver Odyssey beat a decent field at Wincanton last month. She likes testing ground and still looks fairly treated.
Dual course winner Brillare Momento has to be respected but she seems to have shown her hand to the handicapper.
Molly Childers and Oscar Rose are others in with a shout but I think it will take a good ‘un to beat Momella.
MOST READ
DONCASTER
2.10
I’M all over the Hill.
KEEPER HILL was a fair way up my list of horses to follow this winter and I’m expecting him to develop into a smart chaser.
He was a good novice hurdler last season and made a winning chase debut – albeit against one rival.
Last month’s Plumpton defeat was solely down to being outpaced by a useful rival in Benatar so the step up in distance on decent ground should be ideal.
Rocklander won by a couple of country miles on his chase debut at Ludlow. That race fell apart but there’s no doubt he has the potential to be better over fences than he was over hurdles.
Ladbrokes Trophy fourth Braqueur D’Or has plenty of experience and he will expose any weakness in the less-exposed runners.
Templegate's TV Tips
Cheltenham 1.55 - Starchitect: 'Can get revenge on BetVictor Gold Cup winner Splash Of Ginge'
Doncaster 2.10 - Keeper Hill: 'I expect him to a good novice chaser and this step up in trip should suit'
Cheltenham 2.30 - Equus Secretus: 'Improved for the step up in trip at Southwell and that form looks good'
Doncaster 2.45 - Act Of Valour: 'He has plenty of ability and I liked the way he jumped on his hurdles debut'
Cheltenham 3.05 - The New One: 'Conditions should suit him in bid to make history'
Doncaster 3.20 - Virgilio: 'Struggled on unhelpfully soft ground last time but he should be up to winning this based on his novice form'
Cheltenham 3.40 - Momella: 'Unexposed and looks incredibly well weighted for her handicap debut'
2.45
ACT OF VALOUR should be worthy of a medal in the Summit Juvenile Hurdle.
I liked the way he jumped when winning on his hurdles debut at Newcastle two weeks ago and his Flat form – when trained in Ireland – shows he has plenty of ability.
The tricky part is the penalty he’s picked up for that success. It means he has to give 3lbs to easy Warwick winner We Have A Dream. The form of his debut win has worked out really well and I’m expecting him to push Act Of Valour is what promises to be a cracking head-to-head.
City Dreamer deserves his place in the field after chasing home Malaya at Wetherby. His brace of wins in September came on good ground so conditions will suit Alan King’s hope but I just don’t see him in the same class as Act Of Valour and We Have A Dream.
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3.20
CONDITIONS should be ideal for VIRGILIO.
He won well on good ground at Aintree in May but found the ground far too soft when returned to Liverpool for his comeback run.
His novice form behind the likes of Clan Des Obeaux and Royal Vacation suggests he should be up to winning a race like this.
Ballybolley has to shoulder top weight. His defeat of Guitar Pete at Market Rasen in September looks decent form and there was nothing wrong with his third in the same Aintree contest Virgilio ran in last time.
He’s not had many chances of three miles but old age might just have stretched his stamina out.
Kilcrea Vale is interesting stepped up in distance and Sego Success – fourth in this race last year – does like this track.
CHELTENHAM
12.10 Apple’s Shakira
12.45 Movewiththetimes
1.20 Bun Doran
1.55 Starchitect
2.30 Equus Secretus (nb)
3.05 The New One
3.40 Momella (nap)
DONCASTER
12.00 Castafiore
12.30 Countister
1.05 Poker School
1.40 Amour De Nuit
2.10 Keeper Hill (treble)
2.45 Act Of Valour
3.20 Virgilio
Templegate's TV Tips
Cheltenham 1.55 - Starchitect: 'Can get revenge on BetVictor Gold Cup winner Splash Of Ginge'
Doncaster 2.10 - Keeper Hill: 'I expect him to a good novice chaser and this step up in trip should suit'
Cheltenham 2.30 - Equus Secretus: 'Improved for the step up in trip at Southwell and that form looks good'
Doncaster 2.45 - Act Of Valour: 'He has plenty of ability and I liked the way he jumped on his hurdles debut'
Cheltenham 3.05 - The New One: 'Conditions should suit him in bid to make history'
Doncaster 3.20 - Virgilio: 'Struggled on unhelpfully soft ground last time but he should be up to winning this based on his novice form'
Cheltenham 3.40 - Momella: 'Unexposed and looks incredibly well weighted for her handicap debut'
HEREFORD
12.20 Sonoftheking
12.55 Vision Des Flos
1.30 Achille
2.05 Ozzie The Oscar
2.40 Rayvin Black
3.15 Quiz Master
3.45 Topofthecotswolds
NEWCASTLE
12.40 British Art
1.15 Watersmeet
1.50 Star Story
2.25 Western Way
3.00 Galilee Chapel
3.35 Without Parole
4.05 Brittanic
4.35 Something Lucky
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.45 Los Camachos
6.15 Miss Uppity
6.45 Pulsating
7.15 Coronation Day
7.45 Belabour
8.15 Rainbow Rebel
8.45 Call Out Loud
9.15 Peace Terms