TEMPLEGATE tackles a cracking Saturday of racing confident of unleashing hell on the bookies.
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CASTLE COVE (3.45 Doncaster, nap)
William Haggas can make a splash in the November Handicap. His mount will love the wet conditions on Town Moor as the curtain comes down on the Turf Flat season. We haven’t seen a lot of the four-year-old this campaign. He kicked off with victory in soft ground at Chester before fair efforts at Goodwood and Sandown. His latest run was probably his best as he was beaten less than two lengths in good company at Newbury last month. He was asked to make up far too much ground by Cieren Fallon there and hopefully today’s rider Jason Hart won’t make the same mistake. This stamina test is ideal on soft ground and his trainer is ending the season in form.
MONTASSIB (1.25 Doncaster, nb)
It should be a good day at Donny for Haggas as my nb also looks hard to beat. He’s a genuine Group 1 performer over this trip and soft ground is right up his street. He’s had just one run this season so is fresh. Conditions should be perfect.
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JUBILEE ALPHA (1.45 Wincanton, treble)
Did nothing but improve last season and signed off with a Listed victory at Cheltenham. She is best over this distance and has more than enough class to give weight away dropping to handicap level.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
WINCANTON
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1.10
NICKELFORCE keeps hitting the crossbar and this looks a good chance of landing a win.
He has been on the podium on his past seven runs including when beaten two lengths at Market Rasen last time. He’s off the same mark and should be right there.
Bourbali looked a little rusty on comeback at Kempton and should be sharper for it.
He likes this trip on quick ground and is proven in this grade.
Abingworth has had a couple of modest runs on the Flat since winning at Rasen in June.
He’s only 3lb higher and has won here before. He’ll be thereabouts under Harry Cobden.
Tapley is a regular winner over hurdles and has had just a couple of chase spins. She has a fitness edge which gives her a chance.
Lord Baddesley won a minor race by 18l last time but this is tougher.
1.45
JUBILEE ALPHA progressed nicely last season with three wins including a couple at Listed level.
She carts top weight on this handicap debut but there’s more improvement to come and this trip suits.
She’s won here before and Paul Nicholls won this race last year with a similar type.
Bethpage is a thorough stayer who has been given a fair 6lb rise for a comfortable win at Stratford last time out in May.
She likes quick ground and trainer Emma Lavelle is in excellent form.
Jena D’Oudairies is another Nicholls runner who could step forward this season.
She needs to jump better but has a nice low weight here that could take her into the frame.
Laravie was pulled up on comeback at Chepstow last month but that was in a Grade 2 and she should find life a bit easier here with that under her belt.
She stays well and it only six so should have more to offer for quality trainer James Bowen.
2.23
COBRA QUEEN has looked a nice prospect for Henry De Bromhead since going over fences and she had plenty in hand when winning at Tramore and Roscommon.
She is a strong stayer who looks capable of better.
Blueking D’Oroux was classy over hurdles but got turned over as a 2-9 shot on chase debut at Newton Abbot last month.
He’s clearly better than that but is a short price again here.
The others need a sharp step forward to figure.
Breaking Cover has been winning in lesser company despite making plenty of mistakes and will be under more pressure here.
Rightsotom was rusty at Cheltenham on comeback and needs to show a lot more here, while Settle Down Jill looked modest on her first run over fences at Fakenham latest and needs major improvement.
2.55
RUBAUD can land a hat-trick of wins in a race that’s Elite in name only this season.
He is very much a Grade 2 performer who is just short of the highest level but looks in a different class to today’s rivals.
He has taken the same route to Wincanton as for the past two seasons by winning a Listed contest at Kempton last time without breaking sweat.
We know this track and trip are fine and he’s won on good ground a couple of times.
It will be a massive upset if he doesn’t come out on top.
The race for the forecast spot is more interesting with Hamlet’s Night looking the most likely.
It’s still early days over hurdles but he won at Warwick before a neck second at Cheltenham last time.
That puts him ahead of Tax For Max who was held at Newton Abbot last month while Frere D’Armes has been out of sorts for a while now.
3.30
THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE is at his best early in the season as he showed when second on comeback in this race two years ago.
This doesn’t look the strongest renewal and his trainer Paul Nicholls has won it an impressive 11 times.
The tip has been given a wind op ahead of this comeback and he ran well a couple of times last season in hot company at Ascot before finding the Grand National too much and still showing the effects in the Bet365 Gold Cup.
He likes this trip and has had a little nudge down the weights to give him every chance.
The Bowen brothers team up with Art Of Diplomacy who has been hoovering up minor handicaps but took at tumble at Chepstow last time.
Wincanton takes a bit of jumping and he could still be ahead of the handicapper despite a total 26lb rise.
Gustavian was hit and miss last season but returns with trainer Anthony Honeyball in good form.
He stays but has a lot of heavy ground form and the ground will be a lot quicker today.
The yard also runs Credo who usually runs well but in a lesser grade than this.
Soul Icon was last seen running a fair race in the Topham at Aintree and has to prove his stamina for this longer trip.
Scarface is another to have had a wind op before this comeback and he’s another with decent form around 2m4f.
His best has come on testing ground which has to be a concern.
Tommie Beau will keep going but is likely to be too slow although he is coming down the weights.
AINTREE
12.55
IMPOSE TOI has a big weight but he can make his class tell.
He was a good second in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham before going close in hot company at the Grand National meeting.
He could have more to offer over this longer trip.
Chasing Fire showed good pace to win at Perth on comeback and Olly Murphy’s good form shows no signs of slowing down. He looks the biggest threat.
The Lord Maid finished last season with a good win at Ayr and is proven over this distance.
He has a bit more to do off this higher mark but is on the shortlist.
Katate Dori is a classy chaser who is probably having a pipe-opener over hurdles, as is Kyntara who has some good form in this sphere.
2.05
HIGHLANDS LEGACY looked a natural when winning on chase debut at Worcester 17 days ago.
He showed lots of pace in the closing stages and that should be an asset at a speed track like Aintree.
A 6lb rise keeps him ahead of the handicapper and some cut in the ground suits.
Mambonumberfive was pitched into Grade 1 company at the Grand National meeting here after a top-class novice win at Kempton.
He was bought from France with chasing in mind and should be well schooled before this debut over fences.
He looks a threat for Ben Pauling.
Javert Allen did well on the whole over fences last season. He won his first two chases before another good run at Chepstow.
He made a bad mistake at Newbury when last seen in March so may be best watched on comeback.
Ryan’s Rocket did well around 2m over fences last season before unseating at Market Rasen when upped in trip.
Dropping to this distance should help.
Dunstall Rambler had 18 lengths in hand on comeback at Worcester and can figure in this stronger company over a trip that’s right up his street.
2.40
OUR POWER can surge to victory in the Grand Sefton for excellent target trainer Sam Thomas.
He ran boldly for a long way in the 2023 Grand National, proving his class and ability to handle these fences before the marathon trip took its toll.
This shorter distance and soft ground bring out the best in him, and he is on what looks a workable mark with Dylan Johnston taking off 5lb.
His record in big handicaps is excellent and this test looks made to measure.
Johnnywho looks the main threat.
He ended last season on a real high, running big races in both the Kim Muir and Irish National, shaping as though there’s improvement to come.
He’s effective on soft and stays well.
First time over these fences, but he’s the type to take to them.
Last year’s winner King Turgeon will go hard in front again and has an obvious chance of a repeat.
He thrives over these unique fences and handles soft ground.
White Rhino showed promise over fences last season and has place claims, while last year’s second Vintage Fizz should be on the premises again.
DONCASTER
1.25
MONTASSIB found the ground too quick when a respectable midfield in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot last time.
His best efforts have come on soft including over this course and distance.
He’ll be a skinny price but is hard to beat.
Apollo One went close in the Portland here at the Leger meeting and went down on the nod in an Ascot Group 3 last month.
He’s another who likes some cut and should be right on the premises.
Spycatcher had four lengths in hand when winning a French Group 3 12 days ago and has won over trip and track.
Soft ground is ideal and he’s a big threat with Karl Burke still in flying form.
Art Power didn’t like quick ground latest after winning a Curragh Group 3 in testing conditions.
He has to give weight away but should be competitive.
Balmoral Lady was second in this race 12 months ago. She’s been hit and miss since but trainer Ed Walker is in decent form now.
3.10
LOUGHVILLE clocked a big personal best when winning over this trip in soft ground at Nottingham last time.
A repeat of that would take her close at what looks a big price.
Elwateen goes up in trip after a fast-finishing fourth over a mile at Newmarket.
She was fourth in the 1,000 Guineas so has enough class to figure.
Danielle has been running in stronger races than this including at Ascot last time. She should be competitive over this shorter trip.
Anna Swan was pipped in a Yarmouth Listed race latest and has few miles on the clock. She likes some cut and won’t be far away.
3.45
CASTLE COVE looks tailor-made for this test.
He was a promising handicapper last season with a soft-ground win at Chester but we didn’t see him until late September this year when he went close in good company at Newbury.
He was given a poor ride there and had to make up too much ground in the closing stages.
It was a good effort to finish two lengths off the pace and Jason Hart takes over here knowing he’s on a guaranteed stayer.
Hopewell Rock has been brought along quietly and has shown promise in narrow defeats at Doncaster and Leicester.
He likes soft and looks on a fair weight.
Lord Melbourne won this last year and has only raced once since, when scoring at Epsom in late September.
He loves it soft and has an obvious chance again for Ralph Beckett.
Grey Cuban could be the pick of the big prices after a good third here latest.
Templegate’s tips
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