Today’s FREE horse racing tips: Sandown, Haydock, Leicester, Ripon, Doncaster and Wolverhampton – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV’s racing this Saturday, April 28
Sandown, Haydock, Leicester, Ripon, Doncaster and Wolverhampton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day
SANDOWN
1.50
IT might be the last day of the jumps season but let’s keep the SHOW ON THE ROAD.
He’s been really consistent this term despite his trainer Philip Hobbs being out of form for much of the winter.
The winners have been banging in recently and my fancy added to the decent end to the season when winning on heavy ground at Exeter three weeks ago.
His bumper win came on decent ground so today’s conditions shouldn’t be a problem. The demands of this big-field handicap should be ideal.
Act Of Valour looks a smart novice. He beat useful Pacific De Baunce and Oistrakh Le Noir at Fakenham last time when the better going helped.
Paul Nicholls also runs Mont Des Avaloirs. He came up short in graded races before easily winning an uncompetitive four-runner races at Market Rasen. Others looked better handicapped.
Ballymoy won by a wide margin at Bangor having won an Uttoxeter novice race in February. He’s a lovely prospect.
Burrows Edge and Highway One O One are others with obvious claims.
2.25
AIM for the Top in the Bet365 Oaksey Chase.
TOP NOTCH has been freshened up since a disappointing fourth behind top-class Waiting Patiently at Ascot in February.
His eight-length defeat of Double Shuffle in November makes him the clear pick and last season’s Scilly Isle Chase success shows he has no problem with today’s track.
Tom George’s Double Shuffle went on to put in a clear personal best when runner-up behind Might Bite in the King George.
He failed to reproduce that form behind the same horse at Aintree and has a little to prove.
Sadler’s Risk – making his debut for the same stable – would be a player if the change of scenery has returned him to his best form.
Paul Nicholls’ Art Mauresque gave Double Shuffle 10lbs and a beating early last season.
A fair bit has flowed under the bridge since then and he wouldn’t want to see much of that water fall on Sandown. Stablemate Alcala is another best on genuinely good ground.
I was tempted to chance O O Seven now conditions have dried out a bit. He hates testing going and I’m sure he has a decent prize in him at some point.
3.00
THE Bet365 Celebration Chase should be little more than a lap of honour for ALTIOR.
He extended his unbeaten run since starting over hurdles to 13 victories with a seven-length success in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
That doesn’t tell the whole story as he appeared to hate the ground. Nicky Henderson’s superstar looked in trouble throughout most of the race but his class kicked in up the final climb.
I love the way he’s so strong in the finish and with the ground more in his favour today it’s hard to see him being troubled.
God’s Own was third in the Champion Chase. The ground was totally against him and he looks the forecast bet if conditions dry out enough.
Special Tiara – winner of this race three years ago and runner-up to Altior 12 months ago – is his main rival for that spot.
The dreadful ground was surely to blame when pulling up at Cheltenham after setting a strong pace.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 Sandown - Show On The Road: 'Been consistent and this race should suit him'
2.05 Haydock - Mijack: 'Looks to have improved since last season and likes this ground'
2.25 Sandown - Top Notch: 'Had a break since his last run and his form is solid'
2.45 Leicester - Emmaus: 'Won both starts over this course and distance'
3.00 Sandown - Altior: 'Should be like a lap of honour for him'
3.35 Sandown - Step Back: 'Looks in need of this marathon trip'
3.35
TAKE a STEP BACK for the Bet365 Gold Cup.
I’ve been impressed with Mark Bradstock’s hope since he switched to fences this season.
His second behind top prospect Thomas Patrick at Chepstow on his return in April has worked out really well.
He looked in need of today’s marathon trip when third over 3m at this track two weeks later before bolting up at Fakenham.
His inexperience – he’s only had five races – is the only worry but his jumping is good and he’s obviously unexposed.
Rock The Kasbah is the other one I’m keen on. He came from too far back when a close sixth in this race 12 months ago.
His Chepstow win in October came on his comeback before he pulled up in desperate ground at Haydock when Philip Hobbs was struggling for winners. He’s in much better for now.
Blaklion was brought down at the first in the Grand National. He’s the class act in the field but it’s not easy to carry such a big weight in a race of this nature.
I’m more worried about Cheltenham Festival winner Missed Approach, Bigbadjohn and tricky Sugar Baron.
LEICESTER
2.45
EMMAUS should bury his rivals in the King Richard III Stakes.
His two wins from three starts both came over today’s course and distance. He won on his debut and hit the target again on his only race of last season.
That shows he goes very well when returning from a break so he should be somewhere near his peak for this Listed contest.
Useful sprinter Kimberella proved he stays this far when winning at Thirsk last weekend. This is a fair bit tougher.
Donjuan Triumphant won twice at Haydock last season. He’s not been at his best on the all-weather this year but he is better on turf.
Lahore is likely to be up to this level. He won only third behind Jallota at Redcar on his final race of last season but he has scope for plenty of improvement.
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HAYDOCK
2.05
IT’S time to Jack up your punting.
MJJACK loves soft ground and he’s won twice from four visits to this track.
He looks to have improved since last season. His defeat of Love Dreams – who won at Chelmsford on Thursday – was a fine effort.
The pair pulled well clear of the third-placed horse and I can’t see it being long before he is back in Listed races.
Lualiwa also won last time out on soft ground. He made most of the running for an easy Musselburgh success and he generally holds his form well.
Calder Prince’s six-length victory last month came on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. He likes Haydock but an 11lbs rise in a tougher race will make life tricky.
Roger Fell has his team in decent form. His Burnt Sugar is another in with a shout with last week’s return to action likely to sharpen him up.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 Sandown - Show On The Road: 'Been consistent and this race should suit him'
2.05 Haydock - Mijack: 'Looks to have improved since last season and likes this ground'
2.25 Sandown - Top Notch: 'Had a break since his last run and his form is solid'
2.45 Leicester - Emmaus: 'Won both starts over this course and distance'
3.00 Sandown - Altior: 'Should be like a lap of honour for him'
3.35 Sandown - Step Back: 'Looks in need of this marathon trip'
DONCASTER
5.10 Jumira Prince
5.45 Steely Spirit
6.15 Ornamental
6.45 Andok
7.15 Casima
7.45 Lady In Question
8.15 Haylah
HAYDOCK
1.30 Proschema
2.05 Mjjack
2.40 Contrive
3.15 Hanseatic
3.45 Knighted
4.15 High Acclaim
4.50 Stonific
LEICESTER
1.40 Bahamian Dollar
2.15 Finoah
2.45 Emmaus
3.20 Adams Park
3.55 Maypole
4.30 Podemos
5.00 Belisa
RIPON
1.45 Broken Spear
2.20 Seduce Me
2.55 Al Qahwa
3.30 Moonrise Landing (treble)
4.00 Brandon Castle
4.35 Salazar
5.05 Billy Dylan
SANDOWN
1.50 Show On The Road
2.25 Top Notch (nb)
3.00 Altior
3.35 Step Back (nap)
4.05 Old Guard
4.40 War Sound
5.15 Lough Derg Spirit
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.25 Juan Horsepower
6.00 Kerre
6.30 Raakid
7.00 White Desert
7.30 Hamada
8.00 Kawasir
8.30 Big Amigo