Horse racing tips: Sandown, Chepstow, Wincanton, Kempton and Lingfield – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV4’s racing on Saturday, January 6
Sandown, Chepstow, Wincanton, Kempton and Lingfield come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day
SANDOWN
1.50
SPEREDEK can win on his chasing return after running a couple of crackers over hurdles. He won well at Exeter before finishing second in good company at Ascot last time out. His form over the bigger obstacles is equally impressive with a hat-trick of wins, including one over course and distance. He’s creeping up the weights but is still improving and the testing ground won’t be a worry.
Gino Trail is looking for his third chasing success on the bounce and he got the job done well at Cheltenham last time out. He went from the front there and kept digging out more when needed. He has won with cut in the ground and looks the main danger.
Overtown Express came off the rails when taking a nasty fall in a two-runner race at Exeter latest. That was on the back of an impressive handicap victory at Newbury that saw him climb the weights. He’s got form in this ground but has a bit to prove after his tumble. Rock On Rocky has been hit with a 7lb rise that gives him a stiff task today.
2.25
West is best in the Tolworth Hurdle. WESTERN RYDER is one of hurdling’s rising stars and he showed his class with a gutsy win at Cheltenham last time out. He travelled like a quality performer there before putting the race to bed with a strong finish up the hill. He had already shown his liking for testing ground when running away with a competitive looking novice event in bottomless conditions at Chepstow. He was a top-class bumper performer and looks worthy of winning a Grade 1.
Kalashnikov will try his best to shoot him down as he goes for a hat-trick of hurdles wins. After taking his bumper nicely at Wetherby he went back there in November to cruise home on his debut over timber. He proved that was no fluke when scoring by 10 lengths at Doncaster last time where he jumped like a natural. This is a fair hike in class but he looks ready for it.
Sussex Ranger has lots of potential but is also entered in Chepstow’s 1.35. If he turns up here he would be a threat after winning easily over course and distance last time.
MOST READ
3.00
It’s a Gas in the veterans’ final. GAS LINE BOY was hugely impressive when winning the Grand Sefton Chase over the big fences at Aintree last time. He was canny enough there to keep going after being knocked sideways by a faller four out. That was on bottomless ground so these conditions should be right up his street. A 6lb rise in the weights for that victory gives him every chance of following up.
Benbens used all his staying power to win the London National here on his latest run and will be competitive again despite the drop in trip. He battled right to the line there and is another who will relish the conditions.
Houblon Des Obeaux usually runs well in races like this and wasn’t disgraced in that London National marathon. He won well on his last crack over course and distance and loves the mud.
Cloudy Too showed signs of finding his old form when third at Haydock last time out. He tends to do things in his own time but should be boxing on at the finish.
Pete The Feat is another who loves it around here and is up just 3lb for a convincing win last time. He’s 14 now but can be trusted to run his race.
3.35
Lord can rule in this open handicap. CALL ME LORD blew away the cobwebs with a solid third at Huntingdon last time. He might have finished a lot closer too had he not been hampered jumping the third from home. Either way, he was coming back from a break and will be fitter now. He finished last season with a smooth victory over course and distance as he showed great finishing speed after being forced to wait for a gap. There should be a lot more to come from Nicky Henderson’s hope.
Our Merlin has been mopping up smaller prizes by massive margins and is a threat on this step up in grade. He could have pulled a bus and still won at Taunton last time as he landed his third victory in 10 days. The handicapper spotted that and has booted him a whopping 37lb up the weights since that first win — that’s even more than I put on over Christmas. Despite that he should be thereabouts again.
Clayton enjoyed the soft ground when battling to a short-head win at Lingfield last time. The handicapper has been lenient and he’s another who could improve enough to figure here.
Templegate's TV Tips
Chepstow 1.35 - We Have A Dream: 'Has been marked down as a leading Triumph Hurdle contender after cruising to victory at Doncaster'
Sandown 1.50 - Speredek: 'He's still improving and can win on his chasing return after cracking hurdles efforts'
Chepstow 2.05 - Vintage Clouds: 'The bottomless ground will be ideal and he is still improving as a stayer'
Sandown 2.25 - Western Ryder: 'Top class bumper performer can show his class over hurdles'
Wincanton 2.40 - Antartica De Thaix: 'Looks hard to beat after her comeback second at Market Rasen'
Sandown 3.00 - Gas Line Boy: 'Impressive Grand Sefton winner can defy 6lb rise on ground that suits'
Wincanton 3.15 - Le Boizelo: 'Loves the mud and the extra distance should help'
Sandown 3.35 - Call Me Lord: 'Should strip fitter than reappearance run'
Wincanton 3.45 - Edvardo: 'Ran a cracker at Exeter last time after a 10 month break'
CHEPSTOW
1.35
Dream on in this Grade 1. WE HAVE A DREAM was marked down as a leading Triumph Hurdle contender after cruising to victory at Doncaster last time out. He tanked around Town Moor before zooming away from his rivals two flights from home. That built on an encouraging UK debut where he won by 10 lengths at Warwick without breaking sweat. Despite those easy successes, he gives the impression there’s a lot more to come and he can prove it on this step up in class.
Sussex Ranger deserves to be here after two convincing wins in minor company. He went from the front at Sandown last time and jumped well in recording a 14-length walloping of his rivals. The ground was testing there so he should have no issues with today’s conditions. If this is off, he’d have every chance in the Tolworth at Sandown which is his second preference.
Famous Milly was useful on the Flat but already looks a better hurdler. She was second in good company at Punchestown on her debut before annihilating them at Aintree last time. She picked up beautifully in the heavy ground there and is no forlorn hope.
2.05
Reach for the Clouds in the Welsh National. VINTAGE CLOUDS has been warming up for this race with good efforts at Aintree and Haydock this season. He won like a quality performer around the Mildmay course in October where he saw out the extended 3m with plenty of petrol left in the tank. He should be nice and sharp after being dropped in distance for a solid second in good company at Haydock last time out. This bottomless ground will be ideal and he is still improving as a stayer.
Beware The Bear did really well to win a Listed chase at Newcastle last time when his saddle slipped. He might have been on and off the bridle through the race but he came good when it mattered and looks to have massive reserves of stamina.
Wild West Wind has a touch of class about him and he landed his third win in four runs here last time out. He jumps really well and loves to splash through the mud so he should be in his element today.
Mysteree gallops on for an eternity as he proved when winning the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle last time out. He’s been booted up the weights for that but will love the conditions and should hit the frame at least.
WINCANTON
2.40
Antartica can freeze them out. ANTARTICA DE THAIX looks hard to beat after her comeback second in a Listed chase at Market Rasen last time. She had been off for seven months before that excellent effort came over a trip that stretches her stamina. Paul Nicholls drops her back to her favourite distance today and she won by 22 lengths on her last visit to Wincanton.
Play The Ace would be a big threat if coming here on the back of four chase wins but his first preference is Chepstow.
Kayf Adventure saves his best for testing ground and was disappointing in better conditions at Towcester latest. He’s had a little help from the handicapper and that could make him competitive.
O Maonlai was pulled up at Newbury latest but was coming back from eight months off and may have needed it. He’s down the weights and should be happier dropping in distance today too.
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3.15
Back the Boiz. LE BOIZELO loves the mud and took a step forward from his chasing debut with a close-up second at Exeter last time out. He kept going in the testing conditions there and this slightly longer distance should be a help. He was useful over hurdles and looks well enough handicapped now he’s tackling the bigger obstacles.
Bill And Barn dead-heated over hurdles at Chepstow latest and has plenty of size and scope for chasing. It’s interesting that Paul Nicholls drops him into a handicap for his debut at this game.
Walt is another just learning his way and he has shown promise on two chase spins. He handled the sticky ground when third at Chepstow and stays further than this, which could be an asset.
Silverhow took a tumble at the first fence on his debut over fences at Plumpton last time. That’s a shame because he was the pick of these over hurdles and goes well in these conditions. If he hasn’t lost confidence after that spill he could make his presence felt.
MOST READ
3.45
Ed for the payout window. EDVARDO came back from a 10-month break to run a cracker at Exeter last time out. He was beaten less than a length there on his UK debut for a new yard and went through the heavy going with no problems. The form of that race looks solid enough with the winner having struck again since. The move across the Irish Sea seems to have rekindled his spark and this race won’t take a lot of winning.
Lagavara showed good heart to get up on the line at Leicester last time after being headed in the closing stages. She relishes this distance and is off a similar mark thanks to her rider’s claim. Daytime Ahead came off second best in that race but it was still a good effort and she should be in the shake-up again.
LINGFIELD
12.05 Dream Mount
12.40 Craving
1.15 Presumido
1.45 Towerlands Park
2.20 Arcanada
2.55 Galloway Hills
3.30 Assanilka
SANDOWN
12.15 Mister Chow
12.45 Dusky Legend
1.20 Perfect Pirate
1.50 Speredek
2.25 Western Ryder (nb)
3.00 Gas Line Boy
3.35 Call Me Lord
CHEPSTOW
12.30 Jammin Masters
1.00 Pure Vision
1.35 We Have A Dream
2.05 VINTAGE CLOUDS (NAP)
2.45 Shantou Bob
3.20 Play The Ace
3.55 Gwalia
WINCANTON
1.05 D’Arcy’s Sound
1.40 Cucklington
2.10 Criq Rock
2.40 Antartica De Thaix
3.15 Le Boizelo
3.45 Edvardo (treble)
KEMPTON
5.45 Short Head
6.15 Promising
6.45 Living Leader
7.15 Golden Image
7.45 Dance Teacher
8.15 Lord George
8.45 Musical Theatre
9.15 Tyrsal