Horse racing tips: Kempton, Newcastle, Lingfield, Chepstow and Wolverhampton – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV4’s racing on Saturday, February 24
Kempton, Newcastle, Lingfield, Chepstow and Wolverhampton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day.
KEMPTON
1.50
PAUL NICHOLLS should complete a perfect ten victories in the Pendil Chase.
The ten-times champion trainer has dominated this race and his CYRNAME looks likely to keep the run going.
His all-the-way success in the Wayward Lad at today’s track might not have been the strongest Grade 2 but there was a lot to like about the way he did it.
He saw the trip out well when stepped up to 2m4f when beaten just a neck in the Scilly Isles Chase. That was a fine effort considering he got little peace up front and today’s race looks easier.
Cyrname’s three rivals are all returning from a break.
For Good Measure made a promising chase debut at Ludlow considering the two-mile trip would have been nowhere near long enough.
His best hurdles form was over three miles so it might be a similar story today.
The Unit has conditions in his favour. He looks the best forecast bet as Petrou is another unlikely to find this a stiff enough test.
2.25
THE Adonis Hurdle looks a good chance for REDICEAN to complete a hat-trick of course-and-distance wins.
He’s twice bolted up at this track since switching to the Flat. That level of form makes him the clear pick.
The ground was awful when Paul Nicholls’ Malaya was an odds-on runner-up at Aintree.
The form of his Wetherby Listed win is nothing special but he’s still a bigger threat than stablemate Grand Sancy.
French raider Beau Gosse is interesting. He was a Listed winner in September before coming up short in better races.
Giving weight away doesn’t help but his trainer Guillaume Macaire is no stranger to winning decent British prizes.
Latest Cheltenham Festival news
3.00
SHOAL BAY should net some cash in the Dovecote Hurdle.
He won a bumper and novice hurdle on decent ground before running well in a hot Cheltenham contest behind Western Ryder.
The steady pace of that contest would not have suited him at all and the form has worked out nicely.
Mont Des Avaloirs went off really quick when third behind Summerville Boy and Kalashnikov in the Tolworth at Sandown. If he sets a strong pace again that will suit Shoal Bay.
There are three fascinating Flat recruits due to line up for their first taste of hurdling.
Humphrey Bogart is the pick of them. He beat Carntop in the Lingfield Derby Trial a couple of years ago before finishing fifth at Epsom. Nicky Henderson is sure to have him well schooled.
Carntop struggled on the Flat last season but Scarlet Dragon is a tough performer with the potential to do well over hurdles.
3.35
I’M a Dee dream believer in the Betdaq Handicap Chase.
MASTER DEE has a tremendous record over fences. His 11 starts have yielded three wins, with five runner-up spots and three third places.
The drying ground is right up his street and he arrives a fresh horse having been off the track since a decent Aintree effort in November.
Acting Lass is unbeaten since switching to chasing. She’ll get a fast pace to aim at and the step up to three miles could easily keep her ahead of the handicapper.
Go Conquer is one of those likely to force the pace. His jumping is generally slick so if he does get to the front on his own terms he will have a big chance.
Theatre Guide – winner of this race in 2016 and third last year – should go well despite top weight. Ballykan and Theatre Territory are others with claims in a wide-open race.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 Kempton - Cyrname: 'Lot to like about his Wayward Lad success and form'
2.05 Lingfield - Gracious John: 'Repeat of earlier wins should be good enough'
2.25 Kempton - Redicean: 'Twice bolted up since switching from the Flat'
2.45 Newcastle - West Of The Edge: 'Trainer in form and this test looks right up his street'
3.00 Kempton - Shoal Bay: 'This race should work out better for him today'
3.15 Lingfield - Clear Skies: 'Mopped up on the all-weather at Dundalk and looks useful'
3.35 Kempton - Master Dee: 'Brilliantly consistent and set to be involved once again'
LINGFIELD
2.05
IT should pay to be Gracious in this Listed sprint.
GRACIOUS JOHN has won three times from four races over today’s course and distance.
Nothing went right over six furlongs last time and he wasn’t at his best over Newcastle’s straight course on his previous start.
David Evans’ speedster is much better judged on handicap wins at Wolverhampton and Lingfield just before Christmas. A repeat of those efforts should be good enough.
Encore D’Or has the class to go close but he didn’t show much in two recent runs in Dubai.
Orvar made a winning debut for Paul Midgley at Wolverhampton two weeks ago. A wide draw might not be ideal but the likely strong pace should help him.
Karjini has plenty to find at the weights but he’s on a roll, unexposed and improving. That makes him a contender.
3.15
AIDAN O’BRIEN is more used to winning Derbies in June than February.
But his CLEAR SKIES – running in the colours of top jumps owner JP McManus – looks the one to be on in the Betway Winter Derby.
She has mopped up at Dundalk this winter with five wins from her last six races.
The only defeat came over two miles and she bolted up by more than five lengths over 1m2f last month. That was the performance of a quality mare.
Khalidi is the one I fear most. He was runner-up in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot when trained by John Gosden.
The trip might be on the short side but he certainly has the class on his debut for Clive Cox.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Autocratic won the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last summer. That form didn’t work out great and the widest draw is no help.
Stablemate Convey won this race 12 months ago but this year’s race looks much deeper.
NEWCASTLE
2.45
GO West in the Betfred Eider.
WEST OF THE EDGE has won three of his five chase starts since joining Richard Newland last season.
He shapes as if a dour test of stamina would suit him these days and his trainer has really hit form recently.
Vinnie Lewis is progressing well. He thrived for the step up to 3m4f at Plumpton last month and he is still improving.
Chase The Spud got up close home to land last year’s Midlands National. It’s not worth holding his Welsh National flop against him but top weight is never ideal in this sort of slog.
Back To The Thatch bolted up at Chepstow last month. He has plenty of potential as a stayer but this is a massive test for a six-year-old.
Milansbar has shot up 9lbs for an impressive victory in Warwick’s Classic Chase. His chance hinges on the blinkers working as well a second time.
Hainan looks the best of Sue Smith’s two runners, while Millicent Silver could take a hand if in the mood.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 Kempton - Cyrname: 'Lot to like about his Wayward Lad success and form'
2.05 Lingfield - Gracious John: 'Repeat of earlier wins should be good enough'
2.25 Kempton - Redicean: 'Twice bolted up since switching from the Flat'
2.45 Newcastle - West Of The Edge: 'Trainer in form and this test looks right up his street'
3.00 Kempton - Shoal Bay: 'This race should work out better for him today'
3.15 Lingfield - Clear Skies: 'Mopped up on the all-weather at Dundalk and looks useful'
3.35 Kempton - Master Dee: 'Brilliantly consistent and set to be involved once again'
CHEPSTOW
1.55 Mount Rushmoore
2.30 Flintham
3.05 Super Sid
3.40 Book Of Gold (nb)
4.15 Tornado In Milan4.50 Little Jimmy
5.20 Densfirth
KEMPTON
1.15 Master Dancer
1.50 Cyrname
2.25 Redicean
3.00 Shoal Bay
3.35 Master Dee
4.10 Enjoy Responsibly (treble)
4.45 Pym
LINGFIELD
1.30 Sociologist
2.05 Gracious John (nap)
2.40 Grandfather Tom
3.15 Clear Skies
3.50 Chevallier
4.25 Fearsome
5.00 Ban Shoof
NEWCASTLE
1.35 Chateau Marmont
2.10 Kelka
2.45 West Of The Edge
3.20 Off The Hook
3.55 Cool Mix
4.30 Clan Legend
5.05 Cadeyrn
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.45 Napping
6.15 Varsovian
6.45 Iconic Belle
7.15 Branscombe
7.45 Travelcard
8.15 Derek Duval
8.45 World Of Good
9.15 Mossy’s Lodge