Saturday’s horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP & best bets for the live ITV racing at Ascot and Wetherby

WETHERBY

1.35

HES NO TROUBLE has had a wind op which is a major plus with runners of Kim Bailey’s. His best chase run came when winning well at Huntingdon three starts ago and he’s better than we saw under an amateur at Ludlow latest.

John Mather / The Sun

Guy was very impressive when winning on his chase debut 18 days ago. A 12lb rise in the weights may not be enough with more to come.

Thomas Todd signed off last season with a win and relishes this trip so could hit the frame at least.

Minella For Me went down in a tight finish at Warwick and may have needed that comeback and is another threat.

Dandolo Du Gite is back after 528 days but did win well when last seen so watch the betting.

2.10

Verdana Blue should be more than good enough to win this but that was the case at Kempton 13 days ago when she was beaten as an odds-on shot.

Maybe she was still feeling the effects of finishing third in the Ebor on the Flat and she would probably want the ground a bit quicker ideally. She may well get the job done but at the prices I’ll take her on with MRS HYDE.

Brian Ellison’s mare looked a decent prospect when winning a minor contest at Perth in August but left that form behind when taking a Listed contest in style at Kempton with plenty left in the tank. That was just her fourth spin over timber and there’s a lot more to come.

Midnights’ Gift has put in two good efforts since switching from the Flat with her second at Bangor over this trip looking decent. This is a hike in class but she’s only four so can improve.

Whitehotchillifili was a good sixth at the Cheltenham Festival last time. She would love more rain as heavy ground is ideal and would make her a major player.

2.45

NEXT DESTINATION hasn’t run for almost three years but Paul Nicholls wouldn’t throw him into a Grade 2 if he couldn’t do himself justice.

He was with Willie Mullins before his break and was third in the Ballymore at Cheltenham before taking a Punchestown Grade 1. That’s an impressive CV.  

Lisnagar Oscar was a shock 50-1 winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in March when testing ground suited. He is clearly blessed with enough stamina for this trip and rain would boost his chances.

It’s interesting to see Wholestone back over hurdles after showing promise as a chaser last year. He was fifth in the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle so has plenty of ability in this sphere.

Similar comments apply to Copperhead who took a heavy fall in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham. This may be a confidence booster but has decent hurdles form and could run into the frame.

Chapmanshype has been mopping up handicaps over shorter and has questions to answer at this level over today’s longer trip. Roksana has achieved more but she’s another who could lack for stamina when the taps are turned on.

3.20

Cyrname is the classiest horse in this contest but his best efforts have come over half a mile shorter at Ascot where he’s a proven Grade 1 performer.

He didn’t stay this far in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and he was feeling the effects of that when taking a heavy fall at his beloved Ascot in February. Paul Nicholls will have him spot on for today but, at the prices, there are a couple of big question marks.

Nigel Twiston-Davies loves this race and can repeat last year’s win with BALLYOPTIC. He had almost four lengths in hand 12 months ago when the testing ground suited well.

He finished his season with a bloodless success in a good Ascot handicap and was being readied for the Grand National before the pandemic hit.

Vinndication looks a danger if repeating the form of his fourth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival. He won the Sodexo at Ascot last season and it’s telling that he heads here today instead of defending that crown. He stays well and only needs to brush up his jumping a little to be top-class.

Sam Spinner has taken well to fences and has won twice around here. He has made mistakes so far but is gaining experience and has the engine for this trip.

La Bague Au Roi made a costly error on comeback at Perth but has held her own at Graded level and has place claims.

ASCOT

1.20

DR SANDERSON can put his chasing experience to good use for in-form Paul Nicholls. He came back from a break to win in style at Plumpton 12 days ago and can cope with this hotter company. This trip suits and he looks ahead of the handicapper even after a 7lb rise.

Falco Blitz was a gutsy winner over timber on his last run here and followed up with a decent fifth in a hot Kempton contest. Nicky Henderson pitches him into a tough race for his chase debut so he must be showing plenty at home.

Dorking Boy was just a length off the pace on his first spin over fences at Exeter and should improve from a fair mark.

1.55

CAPELAND clocked a personal best here last season when winning a similar contest to this by 12 lengths. That saw him chucked into the deep end of Grade 1 company before not going a yard in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. These are much calmer waters, he likes the track and juice in the ground suits.

Molineux looks overpriced judged on his solid second at Wincanton last time out in February. He’s off the same mark and should be thereabouts.

Ibleo is progressing nicely with two wins and a second from his three chase outings. He went close in a decent contest at Huntingdon latest and looks capable of better.

3.05

SEBASTOPOL has few miles on the clock and landed two good wins from just three runs last season. He showed real heart to fly home when landing the spoils at Musselburgh when last seen in February. He is very much best caught fresh and he can handle this step up in class.

Malaya is close to the mark that saw her win the red-hot Imperial Cup in 2019 and she was primed for a follow-up only for Sandown’s big race to be washed out. Her prep for that was a solid second here and she’ll be competitive.

Kid Commando was third in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time out in February and has a bright future on his third hurdles contest. He looks on a handy mark.

3.40

VALTOR may be 11 but this is just his eighth race since arriving from France more than two years ago. Both his UK wins have come at Ascot and he’s best fresh. He was second off this mark here in good company last time out in February and will be right there again.

Black Corton is another course specialist with every chance. He’s 2lb lower than last year’s third and has had a wind op ahead of this return.

Regal Encore has three wins here and was second in this 12 months ago. He’s another coming back after a breathing op which can only help. Heavy ground is ideal so more rain would help.

Walk In The Mill is a brilliant jumper as his Aintree Becher Chase win underlines. He sees out this trip well and has winning form here so can’t be ignored.

NEWMARKET

11.50 Urban Violet

12.20 Copper Queen

12.55 Side Shot

1.30 Latent Heat

2.05 Mystery Angel

2.40 Freyja

3.15 Qaysar

3.50 Masked Identity

ASCOT

12.15 Sometimes Always

12.47 Scene Not Heard

1.20 DR SANDERSON (NAP)

1.55 Capeland (nb)

2.32 Fearless

3.05 Sebastopol

3.40 Valtor

4.17 Arturus

WETHERBY

12.25 Cesar Et Rosalie

1.00 Brief Ambition

1.35 Hes No Trouble

2.10 Mrs Hyde

2.45 Next Destination

3.20 Ballyoptic (treble)

3.55 War Lord

AYR

12.32 Five Bar Brian

1.07 Cavalry Scout

1.42 Up Helly Aa King

2.17 Milvale

2.52 Flowery

3.27 McGowan’s Pass

4.02 Thunder In Milan

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.30 Dewey Road

5.00 Frow

5.30 Luscifer

6.00 Fivehundredmiles

6.30 Dark Devil

7.00 Beatbybeatbybeat

7.30 International Law

8.00 Law Of One

8.30 May The Sixth

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