Horse racing tips: Ascot, Taunton, Haydock, Lingfield and Chelmsford – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV4’s racing on Saturday, January 20

ASCOT

1.50

PROLIFIC winner LA BAGUE AU ROI should add another notch to her stable door.

She’s only been beaten twice in eight hurdles starts. Those defeats came at the big spring Festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree last season and she’s won a brace of Listed races this term.

Her Kempton victory in November showed she both stays three miles and doesn’t have to make the running.

That last point is important as main danger Midnight Tune has won from the front on her last two starts. She’s still fairly weighted and trainer Anthony Honeyball could hardly be in better form.

Dusky Legend has claims returning to hurdles after a spell chasing. She was runner-up to La Bague Au Roi at Newbury last season and is favoured by today’s weights.

It’s just a big worry her three wins have come when a short-priced favourite and she’s been second in 10 of her 16 races.

2.25

MAKE sure you Mind how you go.

I’m convinced Irish raider CROSSED MY MIND is well weighted.

He ran well in a hot handicap at last season Punchestown Festival and he moved like a good horse when third to A Hare Breath at Sandown last month.

My fancy got a little outpaced in the closing stages that day so I think the step up in distance should help.

I’ve been impressed with Jonjo O’Neill – son of the trainer – and the 7lbs he takes off looks a steal.

Jenkins finally came good when wearing blinkers for the first time at Kempton last week. His jumping was still not perfect and he won’t get his own way out in front today.

Le Breuil is one of those unlikely to give him any peace up front. His Aintree second to Black Ivory might have looked a bit disappointing but the winner went in again at Warwick last weekend.

3

3.00

TAKE a Flyer.

There’s no doubt SHANTOU FLYER is far from consistent. But he’s faced some stiff tasks over the years and ran a much better race at Cheltenham last time.

He was runner-up to Cue Card in the Ascot Chase last season and went on to run in the Grand National.

This season he’s twice bumped into Gold Cup hope Bristol de Mai so it was good to see him go close when raced in a more sensible grade last time.

Acting Lass could easily be just too well weighted. He’s won both his starts over fences but this is his toughest task to date.

Guitar Pete won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month. He was handed it on a plate when Starchitect suffered a dreadful injury when clear two from home.

I’m not sure how strong that race was but he has to be respected.

Templegate's TV tips

1.50 Ascot - La Bague Au Roi: 'Talented mare and stays this trip well'

2.05 Haydock - First Flow: 'Mightily impressive last time and will be hard to pass'

2.25 Ascot - Crossed My Mind: 'Well weighted and this trip should help'

2.40 Haydock - The New One: 'Not flashy but gets the job done and can do again'

3.00 Ascot - Shantou Flyer: 'Faced some tough tasks in his career and this is easier'

3.15 Haydock - The Dutchman: 'Chased home a smart sort earlier this season and latest run is forgiven'

3.35 Ascot - Un De Sceaux: 'Hard to see this classy performer troubled'

3.35

IT’S hard to think UN DE SCEAUX will be on the rocks in the Royal Salute Whisky Clarence House Chase.

He looks likely to win this race for the third year and add to his seven Grade 1 victories.

His win in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season shows he stays 2m4f but he’s probably better over today’s shorter trip. It’s hard to see him having too much trouble today.

Promising novice Brain Power has been well backed but I can’t see it.

He’s come up well short in four attempts at the top level and he was well beaten when unseating his rider at Sandown last time.

I prefer San Benedeto for the forecast bet. The ground might not be ideal but it was soft when he chased home smart stablemate Politologue in Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup in November.

Things haven’t gone his way in hot races since but he will like the decent pace today.

3

HAYDOCK

2.05

GO with the Flow.

FIRST FLOW has thrived on testing ground since going over hurdles.

He galloped on relentlessly from the front when winning by 20 lengths at Newbury over Christmas having earlier struck at Lingfield.

If he gets into a decent rhythm out in front he will be hard to pass.

Lostintranslation looks the big danger. He showed good form before winning a decent little Newbury contest on soft ground.

McGowan’s Pass needs to step up on his Ayr win just before Christmas but he does like heavy ground and that should not be unestimated.

Lisdoonvarna Lad won nicely on his hurdles debut but this is likely to be a war and I’m not sure that’s what he wants.

3

2.40

THE NEW ONE should bag this Champion Hurdle Trial for the fourth time.

He always makes hard work of it but he gets the job done and that’s all that matters.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ ace looks likely to make his seventh appearance at the Cheltenham Festival next month in the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle.

That might suggest he could be vulnerable to anything with a bit of pace but that won’t be the case in today’s conditions.

Giving 6lbs away to the rest of the field gives his rivals a sniff. Clyne got within a length of The New One 12 months ago and could fill the runner-up spot again.

He was tried over fences last time and he handles heavy ground well.

Ch’Tibello was fourth behind My Tent Or Yours and The New One at Cheltenham last month on his return to action.

He won over today’s course and distance on similar going early last season so he couldn’t be totally ruled out.

Templegate's TV tips

1.50 Ascot - La Bague Au Roi: 'Talented mare and stays this trip well'

2.05 Haydock - First Flow: 'Mightily impressive last time and will be hard to pass'

2.25 Ascot - Crossed My Mind: 'Well weighted and this trip should help'

2.40 Haydock - The New One: 'Not flashy but gets the job done and can do again'

3.00 Ascot - Shantou Flyer: 'Faced some tough tasks in his career and this is easier'

3.15 Haydock - The Dutchman: 'Chased home a smart sort earlier this season and latest run is forgiven'

3.35 Ascot - Un De Sceaux: 'Hard to see this classy performer troubled'

3.15

GO Dutch in the Peter Marsh Chase.

THE DUTCHMAN was a promising novice chaser when trained by Sandy Thomson last season.

He made a fine debut for Colin Tizzard when chasing home Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle favourite Sam Spinner at today’s track in dreadful ground.

His subsequent Cheltenham effort was not as good but I don’t really think that course is ideal for him.

Rock The Kasbah has a race like this in him. He has a particular liking for Chepstow and his win there in October hasn’t really worked out all that well.

Walk In The Mill has been progressing nicely. He won at Ascot in November but came up short when third there behind Gold Present just before Christmas.

I’m not sure he wants such a severe test.

Tintern Theatre is closely matched with Walk In The Mill on his Kempton success last month. He shapes like a strong stayer and looks one of the bigger threats.

Yala Enki and Hainan are others to keep an eye on but Knockawrawley really wants further.

ASCOT

12.40 Oistrakh Le Noir

1.15 Drumcliff

1.50 La Bague Au Roi

2.25 Crossed My Mind (nap)

3.00 Shantou Flyer

3.35 Un De Sceaux

4.05 Santini (treble)

CHELMSFORD

6.15 Fast Act

6.45 Short Head

7.15 Beautiful Memory

7.45 Spinning Melody

8.15 Dor’s Law

8.45 Authentic Art

 HAYDOCK

12.55 Joke Dancer

1.30 Testify

2.05 First Flow

2.40 The New One

3.15 The Dutchman (nb)

3.45 Ubaltique

4.15 The Hollow Ginge

LINGFIELD

12.20 Pearl Spectre

12.50 Motown Mick

1.25 Attain

2.00 Relevant

2.35 Lawless Secret

3.10 American Gigolo

3.40 Cosmic Love

4.10 Yorkee Mo Sabee

 TAUNTON

1.05 Dan McGrue

1.40 Vocaliser

2.15 Irving

2.50 Captain Buck’s

3.25 Brainstorm

3.55 Space Oddity