TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s racing confident of keeping the good times rolling from Cheltenham.
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IRON BRIDGE (3.00 Uttoxeter, nap)
He will be hard to cross in the Midlands National. He was second to Nassalam in the Welsh National – albeit it a long way back – before running another cracker to place over 3m4f at Haydock last time. He was only getting going there and this extra trip in his beloved heavy ground should be ideal.
WHITE RHINO (2.25 Uttoxeter, nb)
He just failed to get into the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and can gain compensation here. He has good soft ground form from a win and second in hot company at Cheltenham before Christmas and he looks to be crying out for this trip. He warmed up nicely at Huntingdon last time and can go close.
ISSAR D’AIRY (1.35 Kempton, treble)
He has taken his form to a new level since going over fences. He kicked off with a saunter around Newbury before going back to the Berkshire track to get up right on the line. He will enjoy this slightly longer distance and he has form on good and slow ground.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
UTTOXETER
1.50
ONE EYE ON VEGAS can hit the jackpot. He comes here in fine form having won in testing ground at Leicester and Hereford last time out.
He sees out this trip strongly, which you’ll need to do in these conditions, and has more to come.
Jagwar enjoyed the mud when battling to victory at Carlisle last time after being headed.
He looks on a fair mark and it’s still early days over hurdles for him.
Canty Bay is another who enjoyed testing conditions and had 12 lengths in hand when scoring at Ludlow 24 days ago.
He has gone up 7lb for that but it was convincing and he’s another one in the mix.
Monviel comes from in-form Harry Derham and will find this easier than the hot race he was midfield in at Ascot last time.
The cheekpieces go on which could bring some improvement.
Santos Blue found the ground too quick in that same race after winning on heavy at Wetherby earlier.
He has plenty of stamina and is another with an each-way shout.
2.25
WHITE RHINO just failed to get into the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and can gain compensation here.
He has good soft ground form from a win and second in hot company at Cheltenham before Christmas and he looks to be crying out for this trip.
He warmed up nicely at Huntingdon last time and can go close.
Striking A Pose looks a big price for a horse who won easily in the mud at Exeter last time. A 6lb rise for that is fair and he’s a proven stayer.
Seefin is on the upgrade and had six lengths in hand when scoring at Warwick last time.
He saw out this trip and more there and has won around this tricky track before too.
He still looks on a fair handicap mark despite his latest rise.
Lord Snootie has had the form of his close second to Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock franked at the Cheltenham Festival this week.
He didn’t get the best of luck there and will be strong at the finish.
Supremely West is consistent and enjoyed moving up to this trip when second at Chepstow last month.
It was bottomless there so he’ll have no problem with these conditions.
3.00
IRON BRIDGE will be hard to cross in the Midlands National.
He was second to Nassalam in the Welsh National – albeit it a long way back – before running another cracker to place over 3m4f at Haydock last time.
He was only getting going there and this extra trip in his beloved heavy ground should be ideal.
My Silver Lining actually finished a place ahead of him on Merseyside and will be right on the premises again despite her mark creeping up.
Willie Mullins fields Mr Incredible who hasn’t run since unseating in last year’s Grand National.
He has a Kim Muir third on his CV and will enjoy the testing ground.
Inis Oirr relished a marathon when winning the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh last month.
He was 21 lengths clear at the end of 4m but has paid the price with a 13lb rise. That may not be enough to stop him though.
Guetapan Collonges was fourth in this 12 months ago and was a solid third in the Warwick Classic in January.
This stretches his stamina but he likes the track and could place again.
Truckers Lodge won this four years ago and has been sixth, seventh and eighth in the last three.
He’ll run his race again and could sneak into the frame despite his mark looking a bit high.
Autonomous Cloud goes well here and was sent off favourite before pulling up in the Welsh National. He could bounce back.
3.35
VAL DANCER fought back to win at Catterick after being headed and that fighting spirit will be a plus in what will be a real slog.
He has scored at Leicester and Wetherby this season too and loves plenty of give in the ground.
The handicapper hasn’t clobbered him and trainer Mel Rowley is in fine form.
Gavin Cromwell has been hoovering up prizes on this side of the Irish Sea and has a big chance with Evies Vladimir.
He has good form over 2m4f including then third in good company at Naas last month. He shapes like he’ll stay this far and is a big danger.
Marsh Wren never runs a bad race and will have a massive chance if seeing out this longer trip.
She landed Listed honours at Thurles last time from the front and wasn’t stopping at the line.
Fortunefavorsdbold didn’t have a lot to beat at Lingfield last time but did it with lots left in the tank.
She was still full of running at the end of three miles in bottomless ground so she should appreciate this test.
The Changing Man has been pitched into Grade 2s a couple of times this season by Joe Tizzard.
While that proved too much he has solid handicap form over this trip and could hit the frame.
KEMPTON
1.35
ISSAR D’AIRY has taken his form to a new level since going over fences.
He kicked off with a saunter around Newbury before going back to the Berkshire track to get up right on the line.
He will enjoy this slightly longer distance and he has form on good and slow ground.
There’s more to come and he can land the hat-trick for Favourirte columnist Gary Moore.
Beau Balko has run some good races in defeat and got his act together when landing his first chase win at Musselburgh last month.
A 4lb rise for that seems fair and he looks the main danger for Nicholls and Cobden.
Soul Icon takes a drop in class here after running in a couple of Grade 3s here.
He found the Pendil too much last month and dropping into a handicap looks a wise move.
This trip should suit more too as will the better ground.
Persian Time lost a shoe before pulling up at Cheltenham and has been given a little break since.
He won well at Ascot the last time he tackled this trip but will need his best.
Western Zephyr has been hammered on his past two runs and is best watched for now.
2.10
TITAN DISCOVERY has not put a foot wrong since going handicapping with a battling win at Ascot before two excellent runs at Sandown.
He had almost four lengths in hand there last time and he wasn’t stopping at the end of 2m4f.
He goes on any ground and can take another step forward.
Welsh Charger is looking for a hat-trick after smooth successes at Market Rasen and Musselburgh latest.
He managed to take the second-last with him and still score in Scotland so there’s room for improvement. He’s up 9lb but is a real contender.
Irish Hill has Harry Cobden back on board after a solid fifth in a big field at Ascot last month.
He’s had a little nudge down the weights and is at home over this distance.
Good Luck Charm was a good fourth in the tough Lanzarote Hurdle here in January and ran well again at Sandown last time when filling the same spot.
He has more than enough stamina for this trip and will try to lead them home from the front.
He could easily hold on for a place or even better.
Nico De Boinville could do with a change of luck and isn’t out of this on Kateira.
He was second in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April but has been below that on his past two runs. He drops into a handicap here which could help.
2.45
OUTLAW PETER has been knocking on the door with a good second here on Boxing Day followed by a solid placed effort at Musselburgh last time.
He is at home on decent ground and the handicapper has left his mark alone.
This trip suits and it’s still early days over fences so there should be more to come.
Flegmatik has three wins and a smattering of places at this trick which is a major plus.
He scored here in January before running to a similar level when fourth last time.
He’s creeping up the weights but that track form catches the eye.
Found On is an excellent jumper who was in winning form at Market Rasen two runs ago.
She was disappointing in a Listed contest back there last time and we haven’t seen her since November.
Her best form would give her a chance if she can find it.
Millers Bank has spent much of his career being beaten in Grade 1s and is back in a handicap for the first time in almost two years.
He’s had a wind op but looks a little high in the weights on recent form.
Do Your Job would prefer softer ground and was below par at Ascot last time.
War Lord has been top-class on his day but has been struggling for while so is best left.
Templegate’s tips
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