TEMPLEGATE tackles a hugely exciting – and informative – Saturday of racing confident of banging in some winners.
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FRENCH SHIP (3.30 Cheltenham, nap)
He was impressive in a hot race here last time. He cruised into that big-field contest, travelled like a machine and put it to bed without Ben Jones having to get serious. He has scored on soft ground before and an 8lb rise in the weights gives him wriggle room.
SUPREMELY WEST (2.55 Cheltenham, nb)
He shaped well in third on comeback here last time when staying on from a long way back under Harry Skelton. He came home stronger than anything that day, shaping as though today’s longer trip and properly testing ground will suit even better.
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CELESTIAL TUNE (4.00 Cheltenham, treble)
She was impressive when winning at Listowel last time. She travelled sweetly, handled soft ground with no fuss and had it won a long way from home. That built nicely on her big-field second at the Punchestown Festival. The booking of champ Sean Bowen is a plus.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
CHELTENHAM
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12.35
SECRET FORCE can score for Gavin Cromwell.
This son of Frankel romped home at Punchestown last time, showing serious gears.
He travelled like a natural on hurdling debut, jumped cleanly and put the race to bed in a few strides on ground similar to today.
The form looks rock solid with the runner-up a previous dual winner and he’s open to plenty more now tackling this stiffer test.
Precious Man makes his debut for the Skeltons and was last seen winning at Auteuil in May.
He stays well, handles soft and has lots of potential.
Parchment also demands respect after an authoritative French debut where he tanked along and finished the job tidily.
He shapes like he’ll relish an end-to-end gallop.
One Horse Town has won all three hurdles starts, albeit at a lower level.
He looks overpriced for in-form Harry Derham.
James Owen has two interesting runners in impressive Ludlow winner Kate O’Riley and hurdles newcomer Hallelujah U who has been placed in Group company on the Flat.
1.10
KELCE returned from a break with a stormer here last time, sticking on for fourth in a deep amateurs’ chase and shaping as though this longer slog will suit him even better.
He stays well, powers through testing ground and his attacking style should put plenty under pressure once they start feeling it up the hill.
He should come on for that comeback and will be right there again.
Jubilee Express is a major threat. He’s proven in the worst conditions and his Welsh National second last season reads strongly in this company.
He stays forever and can plough on relentlessly when others crack.
Sound And Fury copes well with testing ground and arrives off a determined win at Carlisle.
He finds plenty off the bridle and will keep going.
Shrewd Tony Martin’s Aurea Fortuna has been well backed.
He jumps well, travels strongly and could be way ahead of the handicapper.
Imperial Alex brings staying power too and won’t mind a proper slog.
Herakles Westwood was far from disgraced at the Punchestown Festival last time after finishing seventh in the National Hunt Chase here. He’s another who doesn’t mind it muddy.
1.45
JULY FLOWER blossomed on chase debut at Limerick.
She cruised through the race, pinged her fences and powered right away on heavy ground like a class act.
She stays further but has the gears for 2m and her slick jumping and that stamina should be a real asset.
Be Aware landed a confident Stratford success on debut over fences.
He travelled sweetly, found plenty late and should come on for the run.
Burdett Road was second in the Champion Hurdle so has class. He’s best watched on this chasing debut.
Brentford Hope is a Graded performer over timber but he’s coming to chasing late.
Stencil is only four and has a bright future but this is a tough chase debut.
2.20
WE’LL be Vin the money after the £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup.
VINCENZO did well as a novice chaser last season, finishing with a close second at Newbury on his first crack at this sort of trip.
Sam Thomas has a track record of getting them ready at home and this seven-year-old has gone well fresh before.
He jumps well and gives the impression there’s more to come.
Jagwar won the Festival Plate on the New Course last year and looks well up to this standard.
He’s a threat along with last year’s winner Il Ridoto who is only 1lb higher in the handicap.
Es Perfecto is undoubtedly the pick of the big odds.
2.55
SUPREMELY WEST is going in the right direction.
He shaped well in third on comeback here last time when staying on from a long way back under Harry Skelton.
He came home stronger than anything that day, shaping as though today’s longer trip and properly testing ground will suit even better.
He’ll go close from just 1lb higher.
Main danger Long Draw was a couple of lengths behind the tip last time without being asked serious questions either.
He travelled well to confirm he’s lost none of last season’s promise. This is the softest ground he’s faced though.
Gowel Road is a tough, seasoned stayer who acts in the mud and usually comes on for a run.
His course record makes him hard to ignore if the race turns into a slog.
Kikijo also demands respect after an eye-catching reappearance at Aintree, shaping as though this test and ground will suit him better.
3.30
FRENCH SHIP can steam to another Cheltenham victory.
He was impressive in a hot race here last time.
He cruised into that big-field contest, travelled like a machine and put it to bed without Ben Jones having to get serious.
He has scored on soft ground before and an 8lb rise in the weights gives him wriggle room.
The main threat is Royal Infantry, who was a promising third in the Chepstow Silver Trophy.
He finished with plenty left and stepping back up in trip with some cut underfoot looks ideal.
He has the gears to pounce late.
Jurancon also commands respect on reappearance. He was progressive all last season, travels smoothly and has the engine for this trip.
He’s had a wind op and been backed this week.
Kap Boy looked transformed at Perth when winning on handicap debut and has conditions to suit.
This is a much hotter race but he could easily deliver more.
Holloway Queen won a Haydock Listed race in the mud last season and has few miles on the clock, while Harry Cobden is an interesting booking for Last Rodeo who was unlucky here last time on handicap debut.
4.00
CELESTIAL TUNE strikes the right note.
She was impressive when winning at Listowel last time.
She travelled sweetly, handled soft ground with no fuss and had it won a long way from home.
That built nicely on her big-field second at the Punchestown Festival. The booking of champ Sean Bowen is a plus.
Chief threat Eremenko was stylish at Southwell, cruising into it and quickening clear with a touch of class.
She shapes like the extra demands of Cheltenham will bring more out of her.
Rock Sensation is another big player after her sharp step forward at Southwell.
Ben Pauling is in good form and there’s more to come.
Edith Pelham deserves a crack at this level after a short-head debut win at Aintree last month but will have to step forward.
Watch the betting for clues about Skelton newcomer Divine Diva.
She’s well bred and is pitched into good company first up.
WETHERBY
3.10
FRESH PERSPECTIVE is worth a close look.
Jamie Snowden’s hope made a taking hurdles debut at Fontwell, where he brushed off a long absence and pulled clear despite a few novicey jumps.
That run screamed improvement to come.
His bumper form already hinted at ability and he should be fine with the ground as long as it’s not bottomless.
Cuero is the obvious danger after bolting up at Newcastle, quickening right away in a style that suggested he has plenty more in the locker.
His French Flat ability shows he stays well enough for this test but this will be the slowest ground he’s faced.
Any step forward puts him firmly in the mix.
Lirone Du Seuil is another with plenty of upside, shaping well on debut in France and now joining the Skelton yard that excels with this type.
He should be sharper here and he’s proven in testing conditions.
Minstrel Knight is a useful Flat handicapper so watch the betting ahead of this hurdling debut.
Chattamento showed resolution to score at Exeter but this is a much hotter contest.
Newcomer Myrighthandman looks all about stamina but check the market.
3.43
CERENDIPITY can strike for local training team Joel Parkinson and the legendary Sue Smith.
He has a fitness edge after an excellent return at Stratford, where he travelled smoothly and kept on well for second over this trip.
That effort confirmed he retains all his ability.
He stays well, handles good to soft and his mark leaves him with room to play with based on last season’s better chase efforts.
Issam rates the main danger after progressing nicely over fences last term.
His Exeter win was strong form and he probably should have followed up at Sandown, finishing fast after giving the winner first run.
He stays this trip well and usually finds for pressure, so a bold showing is expected if he’s wound-up.
Heltenham also warrants respect after shaping better at Fontwell than the bare margin of a 12-length third suggests.
He finished off his race strongly and now drops into a slightly easier contest from the same mark, with conditions suitable.
Parisencore is another who could get involved if back to the level of his second here last winter.
Vintage Fizz was hampered at Aintree and better luck here could see him sneak into the argument.
Templegate’s tips
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