Horse racing tips: Templegate’s best bet will relish the test of stamina in Musselburgh’s big race

TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s action confident of building the bank with a few nice-priced winners.

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INIS OIRR (2.15 Musselburgh, nap)

He looks to be crying out for this test of stamina and was a good second on his last visit here in November. He was held up too far off the pace at Market Rasen last time and did well to run on into fifth when the leaders had flown. He will have more time to hit top gear here and has come nicely down the weights too.

BLACKJACK MAGIC (3.45 Sandown, nb)

He showed his liking for a proper slog when winning the Badger Beers at Wincanton in November. The handicapper didn’t go mad with a 6lb rise in the weights and he was running a big race again in the Ascot Silver Cup before a late error proved costly. A bit more rain would be ideal but he’s got form on decent ground too and trainer Anthony Honeyball is in fine form.

IN EXCELSIS DEO (2.00 Sandown, treble)

He has been brought along patiently by Harry Fry and his two runs at Cheltenham this season have been really promising. His jumping still looked a little novicey when a narrow second last time and hopefully his trainer has done some work on that. There’s no doubting his quality and he’s capable of winning off this mark.

DJELO (2.35 Sandown, Lucky 15)

He deserves a crack at this company after being knocked over jumping the first fence at Lingfield last time. He had earlier looked up to Grade 1 standard when winning with plenty in hand at Ascot in December. That was over this sort of trip and there should be improvement to come on decent ground that suits.

Templegate’s verdicts

SANDOWN

1.25

JINGKO BLUE has looked really promising on his two starts for Nicky Henderson and built on his excellent Warwick debut third when rallying to win on the line at Newbury last time. He needed every yard of a similar trip there and he should be capable of better than this grade now handicapping.

Onethreefivenotout is the obvious danger for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He has been running well over two miles and was beaten just a neck in fair company at Kempton last time. This longer distance should bring improvement and he gets weight from his main rival.

Classic Anthem saw out this trip well enough when second at Plumpton and won on his last visit here in December. He’s 8lb higher in the weights now but should be thereabouts. 

2.00

IN EXCELSIS DEO has been brought along patiently by Harry Fry and his two runs at Cheltenham this season have been really promising. His jumping still looked a little novicey when a narrow second last time and hopefully his trainer has done some work on that. There’s no doubting his quality and he’s capable of winning off this mark.

Saint Segal did well to finish second at Lingfield after some late mistakes knocked the stuffing out of him. He’ll have to improve on that score as Sandown takes more jumping than Leafy. He likes this trip and will go close if crossing his fences better.

Harper’s Brook is quirky and idled so badly in front at Ascot last time that he threw the race away. The uphill finish here will give him every chance to do that again. 

2.35

DJELO deserves a crack at this company after being knocked over jumping the first fence at Lingfield last time. He had earlier looked up to Grade 1 standard when winning with plenty in hand at Ascot in December. That was over this sort of trip and there should be improvement to come on decent ground that suits.

Hermes Allen is the big threat even if he was no match for French superstar Il Est Francais here in the Kauto Star on Boxing Day. He still beat the rest of them well enough despite the three miles looking a bit of a stretch. Dropping back in distance looks a wise move as he enjoyed this trip when hacking up on chase debut at Newbury.

Tactics will be interesting here as most of them like to front-run including Le Patron who has won both starts here with a bit up his sleeve. He landed a fair handicap in November before leaving that form well behind when taking the Grade 1 Henry VIII. That was over two miles but he has plenty of staying power. He escapes a penalty for that victory and will be right there.

Colonel Harry was second in that Henry VIII before improving to score at Wetherby. More rain would help his chances but he’s won here and can’t be ruled out.

3.10

ED KEEPER looks ideal for this test after another big run at Cheltenham last time. He was going like the winner in that hot contest before crashing through the final hurdle and losing vital momentum. He boxed on well up the run-in to be beaten less than two lengths and looks well ahead of the handicapper even after a 5lb rise.

West Balboa threw in a rare blip at Ascot last time when the Grade 1 Long Walk proved a bit much. She had earlier won three in a row, including good handicaps at Aintree and Kempton in big fields. She is climbing the weights but it’s still relatively early days and she could pull out more over a trip that should be ideal.

Harry Cobden is an interesting booking on Ambitious Fellow for Irish trainer Peter Fahey who has won plenty of nice pots in England. His last handicap win came in good company at Galway and this test should be ideal.

3.45

BLACKJACK MAGIC showed his liking for a proper slog when winning the Badger Beers at Wincanton in November. The handicapper didn’t go mad with a 6lb rise in the weights and he was running a big race again in the Ascot Silver Cup before a late error proved costly. A bit more rain would be ideal but he’s got form on decent ground too and trainer Anthony Honeyball is in fine form.

Kestrel Valley had 20 lengths in hand when winning at Ludlow last time and may take some pegging back from the front.

Dom Of Mary ground out a gutsy win in the Sussex National latest and should be competitive again despite a 9lb rise in the weights.

MUSSELBURGH

1.40

JACKPOT DE CHOISEL looked a natural when winning from the front on his chase debut over course and distance last month. He was paddling a bit come the line but should improve for that experiencer and a 5lb rise in the weights seems fair.

Trainer Paul Nicholls gave Monmiral a wind op before his poor comeback run at Cheltenham in Decemebr and reaches for the tongue-tie today as he drops markedly in class. Both of those should help him and he should be good enough but that losing run is really mounting up now.

General Officer ran a belter in second at Aintree on Boxing Day and has winning form around this much more stamina-sapping track. His staying power will be an asset and it would be no surprise to see him go close. 

2.15

INIS OIRR looks to be crying out for this test of stamina and was a good second on his last visit here in November. He was held up too far off the pace at Market Rasen last time and did well to run on into fifth when the leaders had flown. He will have more time to hit top gear here and has come nicely down the weights too.

Truckers Lodge loves nothing more than a slog and showed he can still mix it when winning at Sandown in December. He was then one of many who struggled in bottomless ground in the Welsh National and can show his true colours here.

Peaches And Cream loved this sort of extreme trip when landing his last win at the 2022 Punchestown Festival. This is the first time he’s gone this far since and it will suit him.

2.50

FIRST IMPRESSION ran a cracker when second on his return to hurdles at Doncaster last month. He was beaten half a length and the winner has franked the form since. A 3lb rise in the weights gives him every chance over a trip that suits ideally.

Ballygeary looked an awkward ride when second here last time and it’s no bad thing that champion jockey Brian Hughes takes over from a 3lb claimer. He stays further than this so will tackle the hill and looks a threat.

Benson does all his best work in Scotland and was in winning form here last time. He had a few of these behind him when trying front-running tactics for the first time with success. There’s no reason why he won’t be on the premises again. 

Templegate’s tips

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