Templegate’s horse racing tips: Cheltenham and Doncaster live on ITV – Top betting preview for today’s TV racing on January 26
Cheltenham and Doncaster come under the ITV spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day
Cheltenham
1.50
IT should pay to back SIRUH DU LAC.
He’s looked very good since switching to fences last season. His jumping has been brilliant in two wins this season and a 5lbs rise for his win at Exeter last month looks lenient.
The way he finishes off his races suggests Cheltenham will suit him and his Newbury success in November shows he handles decent ground.
Conditions might be more of a problem for Janika. Nicky Henderson’s hope rattled up a hat-trick on testing ground in France before joining the champion trainer.
His Ascot second behind Hell’s Kitchen was a fine effort and he does look useful. My only worry is whether he’ll be able to reproduce his best form on today’s quicker going.
The Kings Writ has been progressing nicely.
He would be unbeaten in his last three races if he hadn’t crashed out at the last when in total control at Chepstow in November.
Last month’s Exeter victory shows he wasn’t troubled by that fall but this is a major rise in class on ground faster than he has ever run on.
Activial has plenty of class. His Haydock win and close second behind Kildisart at Ascot just before Christmas gives him some good form in the book. Those were both graduation races and top weight in a handicap gives him a hefty task.
War Sound bombed out when fancied for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup in December. This track might not be ideal.
FESTIVAL CLUES Five horses to watch out for at Cheltenham Trials Day this weekend
2.25
JOIN the great Escape in the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase.
ELEGANT ESCAPE was a useful novice last year but he was always likely to do even better this season.
He had to play second fiddle to stablemate Sizing Tennessee in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury but Colin Tizzard’s stayer had his day when landing the Welsh National.
It was a pretty straightforward victory for my fancy at Chepstow considering he was shouldering 11t 8lbs.
Only Gold Cup winners Native River, Synchronised and Master Oats have carried that sort of burden to victory in the Welsh National in the last 25 years.
I’m expecting him to outstay Frodon.
Paul Nicholls’ ace seems to have been around for ever but he’s still only seven. He was giving upwards of a stone to all bar one of his rivals when capturing the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over 2m4f at Cheltenham last month.
The worry is the step up to 3m1f. He has run well over this sort of distance but it has to be a slight concern considering how good he is over shorter.
Valtor is interesting. He’s not your usual French import as he didn’t cross the channel until he was approaching his tenth birthday. The way he destroyed a decent at Ascot on his British debut showed he is ready to make up for lost time.
I’m not convinced he’s a Gold Cup horse and his owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have stronger claims with Terrefort.
He had Elegant Escape back in third when landing his second Grade 1 novices’ chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
I’m sure Elegant Escape wasn’t at his best that day and Terrefort has to bounce back from a poor return to action when miles behind his old rival at Sandown in November.
3.00
THE Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle should be served up on a Plate.
JARVEYS PLATE chased home top prospect Elixir De Nutz at this track in December and he really came into his own upped to 2m4f when returned here on New Year’s Day.
He stormed clear up the hill to confirm himself as a smart novice. That Listed win means he has to give 5lbs to the others but penalised runners have got a great record in this race.
I’m sure that’s because having plenty of experience is more important than the weight you carry and that tips the balance in his favour against Birchdale.
There’s no doubt the form of his hurdles debut win at Warwick is strong. Plenty of winners have come out of it but I though runner-up Clarendon Street was a little unlucky as he found all sorts of trouble.
That shouldn’t be held against him but coming into this race with just one hurdles race behind him is not ideal.
Nicky Henderson ran Rathhill – a horse with a similar profile – in the Tolworth a few weeks ago and he couldn’t handle the rise in grade.
Brewin’Upastorm was decent in bumpers and he was impressive in seeing off four next-time-out winners at Huntingdon. He was beaten far when fourth in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas and I’m sure he will have improved for that effort. He’s the danger.
IRON FORT Don't miss your pinstickers' guide to the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham
3.35
GO back to Black for the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle.
BLACK OP was the top British novice hurdler over 2m4f last season but things have not gone to plan over fences. His jumping in two chase efforts has prompted trainer Tom George to return him to hurdles.
That could be a blessing in disguise because I think the staying hurdle division is ripe for some new blood. And Black Op’s second behind Samcro in the Ballymore at last season’s Cheltenham Festival and his Aintree Grade 1 success the following month give him a great chance.
I can’t imagine the step up to 3m is going to be a problem and he could easily be among the favourites for the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle tonight.
The step up in distance could be more of a problem for Midnight Shadow. He moved like a proper horse when beating Wholestone over 2m4f at this rack on New Year’s Day. That was only his second run beyond 2m so he has big questions to answer about his stamina.
Paisley Park looked good when storming clear to beat West Approach and The Mighty Don in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle shortly before Christmas. Sam Spinner and Unowhatimeanharry both departed early on in that race so I’m not convinced the form is solid but the win completed a hat-trick for Paisley Park. If he continues to improve he could be a danger.
Last year’s winner Agrapart needs much softer ground. Wholestone – second 12 months ago - will like the return to 3m and is consistent. He should hit the frame again.
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Doncaster
2.05
THERE’S a disappointing turnout for the Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle.
This race has thrown up some decent horses like Barton, Neptune Collonges and, more recently, Barters Hill.
I’d be surprised if any of today’s four runners hit the heights of those old warriors but BAILARICO should continue his astonishing streak since joining Warren Greatrex.
After switching from Ireland he won all five races he ran in on the Flat.
The ‘one’ before his name on his hurdles debut is a bit misleading as it was a walkover but his Kempton defeat of Larkbarrow Lad two weeks ago was a nice effort. Today’s decent ground looks important to him and it looks likely that he’ll have the race set up for him.
I expect Commodore Berry will go from the front again after dominating a handicap over this course and distance over Christmas. I’m not sure that form is particularly strong but he has got a good attitude.
Useful Flat stayer Nadaitak is another course winner having struck over 2m4f in November. He was a bit free and jumped big when turned over at 2-9 over this track and trip last time. Things will have to go smoother for him to be a threat.
Truckers Lodge looked good when winning at Chepstow on heavy ground last month. That form hasn’t worked out well but there was nothing wrong with his handicap second over Christmas.
His trainer Paul Nicholls is often quiet at this time of year and just one winner from more than 20 runners in the last couple of weeks suggests that’s the case again this season.
2.40
LADY BUTTONS should have this sewn up.
She has been tremendous this season, winning twice over fences having made a successful hurdling return in a 2m Listed race at Wetherby on her return to action.
Irish Roe was only beaten a couple of lengths in that contest and is weighted to reverse the form. That doesn’t worry me too much as Lady Buttons – trained by in-form Phil Kirby – has thrived since then. I’d be surprised if she hadn’t improved a fair bit more than the 4lbs she has to give away.
Useful juvenile Chica Buena rattled up a four-timer before finishing a good second in a Musselburgh handicap.
She gets nearly a stone from my fancy and that makes her the main danger.
Indian Opera bolted up from the front in a Musselburgh novices’ hurdle. That was over 2m3f and she unlikely to be given as much rope in this better race.
Indefatigable won well at Uttoxeter before chasing home smart prospect Posh Trish at Taunton.
This is a big ask for one so inexperienced but she should do well in time.
3.15
WILD dogs couldn’t stop me from trying to make cash out of backing DINGO DOLLAR.
He won a novices’ chase over today’s course and distance last season when his jumping was very good.
It was no surprise trainer Alan King – who won this race twice with Ziga Boy in recent years – lined him up for a crack at Newbury’s Ladbrokes Trophy.
He rewarded him by running a cracker from the front before fading into third behind Sizing Tennessee and subsequent Welsh National winner Elegant Escape.
That’s smart form and today’s better ground will suit him even better.
I’m not worried that Go Conquer is likely to take him on up front.
My fancy doesn’t have to make the running and if they’re going too fast I’m sure experienced jockey Wayne Hutchinson will tuck him in behind.
Go Conquer was nailed close home by O O Seven over this track and trip last month.
That wasn’t anywhere near as competitive as today’s race and neither look particularly well weighted.
Calipto had the race set up for him when successful at Wincanton three weeks ago. I’m not sure he can repeat that effort upped to 3m for the first time.
Willie Boy is another stepping up in distance after a nice win at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He was shoved up 9lbs for that victory but he has scope to improve.
CHELTENHAM
12.40 Fakir D’Oudairies
1.15 Azzerti
1.50 Siruh Du Lac
2.25 Elegant Escape (treble)
3.00 Jarveys Plate
3.35 Black Op
4.10 Our Merlin
DONCASTER
12.55 Always Resolute
1.30 Dynamite Dollars
2.05 Bailarico
2.40 Lady Buttons (nb)
3.15 Dingo Dollar (nap)
3.50 Lord County
4.25 Nonesuch
HOTTEST IN HORSE RACING
UTTOXETER
1.05 Mansion
1.40 Betameche
2.15 Brandon Roc
2.50 Ballyandy
3.25 Black Tulip
4.00 Keep Moving
LINGFIELD
1.20 Lincoln Spirit
1.55 Haitian Spirit
2.30 Pushkin Museum
3.05 Fearsome
3.40 Isomer
4.15 Lethal Lover
CHELMSFORD
4.40 Titan Goddess
5.15 African Blessing
5.45 Vrai
6.15 Cry Wolf
6.45 It’s All A Joke
7.15 Cuillin
7.45 White Turf
8.15 Affluence