Templegate’s horse racing tips: Sandown and Wolverhampton live on ITV – Top betting preview for today’s TV racing
Sandown
1.50
I’M a Southern boy in the Matchbook EBF Final. SOUTHERN SAM might have been let into this handicap lightly.
His debut second behind subsequent Grade 2 winner Beakstown was a cracking starting point. It might have been a bit disappointing that he finished only third at Ascot on his next start but Aidan Coleman dropped his whip going to the second last when still in with a shout.
The track was never going to suit him at Fakenham last time out but he still ran well and I think everything is in place for a big run.
Before Midnight is the other one nicely weighted. He’s already had seven races and that experience will come in handy in a tough race like this.
One For Rosie tops the weights after showing a bit of class to win well at Warwick last month. He beat Arkle fancy Glen Forsa on his hurdles debut but it has to be a concern that his only defeat – when well beaten at odds-on – came on soft ground.
Russian Hawk is going to make a lovely chaser but I’m not sure he’s quite ready for this. He went down by a short-head to Dashel Drasher at Ascot last month and he’s going to have to jump an awful lot better than he did that day.
Champagne Well was disqualified after narrowly finished first over 3m on good ground at Ascot. The return to 2m4f on softer going should help his chances.
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2.25
DON’T be chicken – back MONSIEUR LECOQ in the Matchbook Imperial Cup.
He has impressed me this winter. The way he brushed aside fair novice Chambard in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las was good but his nine-length defeat of Our Merlin over today’s course-and-distance was better. He’s a couple of pounds out of the weights but I reckon that he will still prove well handicapped.
Call Me Lord was a bit unlucky to go down by a neck to Mr Antolini in this race 12 months ago. That was some effort by a young horse and he went on to beat smart Lil Rockerfeller on the final day of the season at Sandown. His only run this term came when well beaten in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle over 3m so it’s hard to know what to make of his chances off top weight.
Malaya has been a bit frustrating. She looked to have a bright future when winning at Ascot last March but things have not gone to plane this season. Her Ascot fourth behind stablemate Brio Conti was step in the right direction and the return to 2m gives her a chance.
Everything dropped nicely for Benny’s Bridge when successful at Cheltenham in January. The form isn’t at all bad but it’s far from ideal he’s carrying lbs more than the handicapper thinks he should due to the minimum weight limits.
First Flow will like the soft ground. He looked a cracking prospect when rattling off a hat-trick on heavy ground last season but he’s not run since he was pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the opening day of last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
3.00
BACK Silver to take gold in this mares’ bumper.
SILVER FOREVER looked really good when making most of the running to strike at Chepstow on her debut for Paul Nicholls. She probably did a bit too much when third in a Listed contest at Huntingdon and it was good to see her bounce back to see off Mystic Dreamer at Ascot last month.
The runner-up in entitled to improve for that first run when beaten just three-quarters of a length but she is 4lbs worse off. Nick Gifford’s hope has to be considered despite the weight difference although her inexperience for a race like this is not ideal.
Harry Fry has a strong hand. Noel Fehily rides Whitehotchillifili. She thrashed some fair rivals at Southwell before finding the concession of weight to smart prospect Yeavering Belle too much at Warwick. There’s no doubt she has claims but I wouldn’t read too much into the jockey bookings on Fry’s main pair.
Sean Bowen has ridden Misty Whisky in both her races and I liked the way the pair finished when successful at Ludlow. The soft ground is just what she wants and She looks a real danger.
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3.35
TAKE Ami to hit the target in this handicap chase.
AMI DESBOIS only went down by a neck over today’s track and trip last month. The winner Classic Ben was well treated that day and Cheltenham hope Give Me A Copper was back in fourth.
His two previous runs were both solid efforts. He finished third behind Grand National hope Ramses De Teillee at Chepstow on deep ground before running out of stamina at Haydock over Christmas.
The drop in grade should do the trick for Graeme McPherson’s strong stayer. He tends to hold his form well.
The Bay Birch bounced back to form to land a mares’ handicap at Warwick. This is a much deeper race and she’ll need a personal best to notch up another win.
Favorito Buck’s would be a player on his best form but all of his wins in Britain have come on good ground.
Kansas City Chief was let down by his jumping over today’s course and distance last month. I’m not sure he wants to go this way around. The same remark applies to Bob Mahler as well.
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Wolverhampton
2.05
I’VE found the right Zway to go in the sunacing.co.uk Lincoln Trial.
ZWAYYAN was successful on his first run on the all-weather at Chelmsford last summer. He went on to chase home Silver Quartz at Ascot before finding hot handicaps beyond him in the autumn. This is his sort of trip and he still fairly weighted.
Victory Bond in interesting with useful apprentice Cieren Fallon – son of Kieren – in the saddle. He won the big 1m2f race at Lingfield on Good Friday and this trip is a bit on the sharp side for him. This is likely to set him up for the defence of his Easter crown.
I’m not sure Pactolus achieved all that much when third in the Winter Derby last time. His earlier four wins from five starts makes him a player but he’s high enough in the weights now.
His trainer Stuart Williams also runs Pinnata. He’s at the other end of the weights and he clearly bumped into a useful one when third behind Keyser Soze at Newcastle last time. The handicapper might have caught up with him.
Masham Star is really tough. He won an Italian Group 3 when last seen in November and he is effective on this all-weather surface. Like many of Mark Johnston’s handicappers he thrives on racing and most of his wins have come when turned out quickly. He might just need this run.
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3.15
IT’S worth making a note of DOCUMENTING in the sunracing.co.uk Lady Wulfruna Stakes.
He’s won twice at this track from four visits and he had excuses for his two defeats. The way he strolled seven lengths clear of subsequent winner Sha La La La Lee over today’s course and distance was most impressive.
The step up to this Listed class means another personal best is need but he’s only had 10 races. I’m confident he’s up to the job.
Island Of Life is another to come through the ranks in style. She completed a hat-trick of wins over this track and trip in January and she is improving all the time.
Keystroke hit the target on his debut for Stuart Williams at Kempton with a nice performance at the weights. That was over 6f and, while he’s won over much further, sprinting might just be his thing these days.
Oh This Is Us drops in trip having beaten Apex King in a 1m handicap at Lingfield. That shouldn’t be a problem and he’s got a good record on the all-weather.
Templegate's TV Tips
- 1.50 Sandown - Southern Sam
- 2.05 Wolverhampton - Zwayyan
- 2.25 Sandown - Monsieur Lecoq
- 3.00 Sandown - Silver Forever
- 3.15 Wolverhampton - Documenting
- 3.35 Sandown - Ami Desbois NAP
SANDOWN
1.20 Le Milos (treble)
1.50 Southern Sam
2.25 Monsieur Lecoq
3.00 Silver Forever
3.35 Ami Desbois (nap)
4.10 Enola Gay
4.45 The Kings Writ
WOLVERHAMPTON
1.30 Captain Lars
2.05 Zwayyan
2.40 Harbour Breeze
3.15 Documenting
3.50 Nubough
4.25 Alsvinder
HEREFORD
1.40 Top Decision
2.15 Newtown Boy
2.50 Kings Monarch
3.25 Good And Hardy
4.00 Northern Beau
4.35 Go Long
5.10 Chinensis
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AYR
2.10 Carry On Arcadio
2.45 Emma Beag
3.20 Saint Leo (nb)
3.55 Derriana Spirit
4.30 Buster Valentine
5.05 No No Mac
5.35 Milvale
KEMPTON
5.30 Wotamadam
6.00 Nahham
6.30 Singing Sheriff
7.00 Nylon Speed
7.30 Sanaadh
8.00 Roman River
8.30 Glory Of Paris