Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Exeter, Catterick, Musselburgh, Fakenham and Southwell – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV1’s racing on New Year’s Day
Cheltenham, Exeter, Catterick, Musselburgh, Fakenham and Southwell come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day.
COLIN’S SISTER should pay her own way in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (3.10) at Cheltenham.
In-form Fergal O’Brien’s mare takes on the boys on the heavy ground she loves.
Her Grade 2 Wetherby win in November shows she’s well up to this level.
1.25 CHELTENHAM: Where there’s a Will there’s a way.
WILLOUGHBY COURT won the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and he jumped nicely when seeing off Yanworth in a Newbury Grade 2 a month ago.
I can’t imagine the 5lbs Alan King’s hope gets this time will make much difference.
1.40 Musselburgh - Max Ward: 'Should improve a fair bit for his Ascot comeback. Will relish conditions'
2.00 Cheltenham - Splash Of Ginge: 'Conditions are perfect and he has every chance of bagging another big one'
2.15 Musselburgh - Silver Concorde: 'Couldn’t have done much more in winning both his starts since joining Keith Dalgleish'
2.35 Cheltenham - Arthur's Gift: 'His stamina will really come into play today and he's not done yet'
3.10 Cheltenham - Colin's Sister: 'Forget her last race, previously recorded some really decent form'
2.00 CHELTENHAM: The Christmas rain and snow has made the ground really wet so it’s time to make a Splash.
Tough SPLASH OF GINGE enjoyed his finest hour when causing a 25-1 shock in the BetVictor Gold Cup at today’s course in November.
The ground probably wasn’t testing enough in the Caspian Caviar Gold last time – he’ll have no worries on that score today.
Top Gamble is another who will love the conditions. He was predictably no match for Un De Sceaux but has slipped in the weights for this return to a handicap.
2.15 MUSSELBURGH: SILVER CONCORDE is ready for take-off.
He hasn’t had to be anywhere near the form of his Champion Bumper success at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival.
But he couldn’t have done much more in winning both his starts since joining Keith Dalgleish.
Dear Sir – fourth behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Poetic Rhythm at Chepstow – is not weighted out of it.
2.35 CHELTENHAM: Don’t look this Gift horse in the mouth.
1.40 Musselburgh - Max Ward: 'Should improve a fair bit for his Ascot comeback. Will relish conditions'
2.00 Cheltenham - Splash Of Ginge: 'Conditions are perfect and he has every chance of bagging another big one'
2.15 Musselburgh - Silver Concorde: 'Couldn’t have done much more in winning both his starts since joining Keith Dalgleish'
2.35 Cheltenham - Arthur's Gift: 'His stamina will really come into play today and he's not done yet'
3.10 Cheltenham - Colin's Sister: 'Forget her last race, previously recorded some really decent form'
COLIN’S SISTER rattled up four wins last season and she returned to action this term with a defeat of Wholestone in a Wetherby Grade 2.
That was a personal best and it would be unwise to be too harsh on her Newbury fourth behind shock winner Beer Goggles given the way that race was run.
I’m most worried about Old Guard. He’s been rejuvenated by a breathing operation but I’d rather side with Colin’s Sister’s greater stamina.
Last year’s winner Agrapart has his conditions again but he’ll do well to give weight away all round.
CATTERICK
12.25 Dieg Man
1.00 Nautical Twilight
1.35 Three Ways
2.10 Kalahari Queen
2.45 Ramonex (nb)
3.20 Red Danaher
CHELTENHAM
12.15 Ainchea
12.50 Southfield Theatre
1.25 Willoughby Court
2.00 Splash Of Ginge (nap)
2.35 Arthur’s Gift
3.10 Colin’s Sister
3.45 Volcano
EXETER
12.40 Show On The Road
1.15 Yalltari
1.50 Sizing Cusimano
2.25 You Say What
3.00 Report To Base
3.35 Lord Bryan
4.05 Summit Like Herbie
FAKENHAM
12.45 Vive Le Roi
1.20 Oakidoaki
1.55 Mariah’s Legend
2.30 Minella Gathering
3.05 Norse Light
3.40 Fresh New Dawn
MUSSELBURGH
12.30 Je Suis Charlie
1.05 Stamp Your Feet
1.40 Max Ward
2.15 Silver Concorde
2.50 Craig Star
3.25 Misfits
SOUTHWELL
12.05 Watching Spirits (treble)
12.35 By Royal Approval
1.10 Throckley
1.45 Kickboxer
2.20 Hammer Gun
2.55 Muqarred
3.30 Limerick Lord