Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP is an Irish raider who’s been hammering British rivals for her awesome trainer

TEMPLEGATE tackles a monster Saturday of action confident of finding you a few winners.

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MALINA GIRL (3.00 Warwick, nap)

She is the obvious choice for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell who has been making hay with his British runners this season. This improving stayer hammered her rivals when winning a Premier Handicap at Cheltenham in November and was about to win another race only to fall at the tricky third-last fence there last time. She was almost going too well at the time and couldn’t get her legs out in time after jumping the fence. Her staying power is not in doubt thanks to her Ulster National win and she’ll get the bit of cut in the ground she needs here.

BANBRIDGE (2.07 Kempton, nb)

He has a good record when fresh so it’s no worry that he’s not seen a racecourse since his excellent Grade 1 win at Aintree in April. He was forced to miss the Festival due to testing ground and conditions should be ideal today. This is much his best distance and he is lightly raced for his age so could take another step forward for Joseph O’Brien.

KYNTARA (1.49 Warwick, treble)

He has really improved since joining trainer Mel Rowley for the start of this season, scoring easily at Lingfield before stepping up further for an Aintree success. He sees out this trip strongly on soft ground and looks capable of better still.

Lucky 15 bet

BROADWAY BOY (2.24 Warwick)

He can pass his stiffest test yet for team Twiston-Davies. He has been in fine form since going over fences with back-to-back wins in strong company at Cheltenham since chasing home Flooring Porter there in October. He jumps well and is a really strong stayer with more improvement to come.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

KEMPTON

1.30

CHIANTI CLASSICO has yet to put a foot wrong on his two chase runs with an easy debut win at Chepstow before another success at Ascot.

He made a few errors there but kept going and it’s a big plus to see Harry Cobden in the saddle today. He should have more to come and has proven his stamina for this trip.

Latitude has more experience over fences and ended his novice season with back-to-back wins.

He needed his return at Cheltenham in November before a much-improved effort at Ludlow last time. He keeps it simple from the front and could take a bit of pegging back.

Flegmatik was third in good company at Ascot last time and has excellent form over this trip and track. The handicapper has left his mark alone and he’s sure to be on the premises again.

Gustavian stays well but is inconsistent, while De Rasher Counter enjoyed running at veterans’ level last time but will find this tougher.

2.07

BANBRIDGE has a good record when fresh so it’s no worry that he’s not seen a raceourse since his excellent Grade 1 win at Aintree in April.

He was forced to miss the Festival due to testing ground and conditions should be ideal today.

This is much his best distance and he is lightly raced for his age so could take another step forward for Joseph O’Brien.

Pic D’Orhy looks the main threat for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

The title-chasing rider was on board when he landed Grade 1 honours at Aintree in April and when scoring nicely on return at Ascot in November.

He is proven over this trip and has every chance of winning this for the second year running.

Edwardstone tries this longer trip for the first time over fences. He wasn’t far off his best when chasing home Jonbon in the Tingle Creek last time but he’s likely to find at least one too good.

Notlongtillmay was a good second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time and ran well in the Turners at the Festival. He can’t be ignored but needs a bit more.

2.42

IMPOSE TOI just gets the nod over Sonigino in what looks a cracking Lanzarote.

The tip came to prominence when winning a hot novice contest at Cheltenham in November.

He then improved on that when beaten a neck by stablemate Luccia in the Betfair Trophy at Ascot last time.

He may well have won but for a late mistake and was closing right to the line. He has run over hurdles just six times and should be open to improvement over this longer trip.

Sonigino has to give him 9lb but still looks a big threat.

He was a good fourth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham before stepping up to 2m4f for a smooth success at Aintree last month.

It was heavy there but he goes in quicker conditions and will run his race.

Nemean Lion made one costly mistake in the Greatwood when travelling well and had to settle for fifth.

He is back from the same mark and won at testing Kelso so should enjoy this longer trip.

Irish Hill ran his best race for a good while when second at Newbury and looks on a fair mark.

King Alexander didn’t break sweat when scoring at Exeter and deserves this crack at a higher grade. He needs to improve but is capable of doing so.

Hermino AA wasn’t disgraced at Cheltenham last time and is one of the better outsiders along with Quinta Do Mar who will like this longer trip and is fit from a comeback run.

WARWICK

1.49

KYNTARA has really improved since joining trainer Mel Rowley for the start of this season, scoring easily at Lingfield before stepping up further for an Aintree success.

He sees out this trip strongly on soft ground and looks capable of better still.

Gordon Elliott sends over Mel Monroe who has been running well in Graded and Listed contests in Ireland. She takes a fair hike in trip here and will be a big danger if her stamina holds out.

Martha Brae had something left in the tank when scoring over this trip at Kempton last time. A 5lb rise in the weights looks fair and she likes it soft.

Shallow River was a solid second here latest. He needs to improve to win but could run into the places in conditions that suit.

2.24

BROADWAY BOY can pass his stiffest test yet for team Twiston-Davies.

He has been in fine form since going over fences with back-to-back wins in strong company at Cheltenham since chasing home Flooring Porter there in October.

He jumps well and is a really strong stayer with more improvement to come.

The Skeltons won this last year and has strong claims again with Grey Dawning. He would have won at Cheltenham last time but for clouting the second-last fence.

He was beaten over this trip on debut in November but has improved since and should have enough staying power.

Apple Away looked classy when winning easily at Leicester last month.

She jumped beautifully and was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles so has plenty of quality. There’s more to come and she’s a live contender.

The Changing Man is open to improvement and got close to the useful Stay Away Fay on debut.

3.00

MALINA GIRL is the obvious choice for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell who has been making hay with his British runners this season.

This improving stayer hammered her rivals when winning a Premier Handicap at Cheltenham in November and was about to win another race only to fall at the tricky third-last fence there last time.

She was almost going too well at the time and couldn’t get her legs out in time after jumping the fence.

Her staying power is not in doubt thanks to her Ulster National win and she’ll get the bit of cut in the ground she needs here.

This test will be ideal for City Chief who was behind the tip at Cheltenham.

His jumping is getting better and he just keeps grinding away. He is capable of running into the frame at decent odds.

Beauport might have won the London National last time had rider Jordan Nailor not had him so far back in the field.

He came home strongly for a narrow second and has proven to connections now that he stays. Hopefully they’ll keep him closer to the pace.

Fontaine Collonges was impressive at Wetherby on Boxing Day and has won here before. He’s another for the shortlist.

3.35

LORD DU MESNIL looks solid in a wide-open renewal of this veterans’ final.

He loves nothing more than a slog and it should be testing enough for him here. He has had a little nudge down the weights and can go close.

Ramses De Teillee was second in this 12 months ago and David Pipe will have done a lot of work with him ahead of this first run in nine months.

He’s 4lb lower in the handicap and can give it a good go.

Good Boy Bobby was impressive when winning last time and a 4lb rise looks fair. It’s interesting that Nigel Twiston-Davies puts cheekpieces on him today.

Two For Gold has to give weight away but is classy and has lots of stamina.

Cepage comes from Venetia Williams and won easily at Cheltenham latest. His form isn’t quite so strong over this longer trip but he’s respected.

Thomas Darby enjoyed the mud when winning here and has a solid each-way shout.

WETHERBY

1.10

COLONEL HARRY went close to landing Grade 1 honours at Sandown last month and should be far too good for his remaining rivals.

He gave his main rival too much of a head start last time and came with a rattling finish only for the line to come too soon.

Hopefully that was a lesson learned by trainer Jamie Snowden who will ask Gavin Sheehan to be closer to the pace as he was when winning easily at Chepstow on chase debut.

There should be a lot more to come from this seven-year-old.

Trelawne kicked off his chase career with a bloodless success at Carlisle in November before another solid effort when third in good company at Cheltenham.

This trip suits but he’ll have to find more to win this.

The King Of Ryhope didn’t enjoy the mud at Ffos Las after winning at Chepstow and could take a step forward, while Chasing Fire unseated at the first last time and this looks tougher.

Templegate’s tips

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