Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP is absolutely thrown in and will be a steering job for Rab Havlin

TEMPLEGATE tackles Thursday’s racing confident of banging in a few winners.

Back a horse at the best price by clicking their odds below – and book your ticket to our brilliant Cheltenham Festival preview night hosted by Matt Chapman.

Also check out Templegate’s brilliant latest ante-post piece, where he puts up a 14-1 chance with a ‘cracking’ record at Cheltenham.

COVER UP (6.00 Newcastle, nap)

The Gosdens’ four-year-old was a Windsor winner on turf this summer but has taken his form up a notch since switching to the all-weather. He kicked off with an eased-down victory over six furlongs at Lingfield in November before showing plenty of zip to strike again upped in class over course and distance earlier this month. He looks the type for the big prizes on the sand this spring and he looks well ahead of his handicap mark of 88. It will be disappointing if Rab Havlin can’t steer him to another success.

CLASSIC MAESTRO (2.15 Lingfield, nb)

Can chalk up a hat-trick of wins. He has struck up a good partnership with young rider Luke Scott who has been on board for victories at Uttoxeter and Newcastle, both with plenty left in the tank. He loves heavy ground so the testing conditions at Lingfield should be right up his street. Leafy is a good track for horses to make their chasing debut as the fences aren’t the most testing – and he could have more to come tackling the bigger obstacles for the first time.

STOLEN ENCOUNTER (3.05 Chelmsford, treble)

Has the benefit of Hollie Doyle in the saddle and she has an excellent record when riding for trainer Archie Watson. This son of Cracksman should really be heading here off a Wolverhampton win but he went down in a photo after being unlucky in running. Stepping up in trip will give him more time to hit top gear from a lowly handicap mark of 52.

LUPSET FLOSSY POP (3.35 Chelmsford, Lucky 15 bet)

Has been a close second on both starts since joining the Gary Brown yard. There was nothing wrong with her two spins around Kempton and the cheekpieces may just give her the little boost she needs with Doyle taking over on board.

Templegate’s tips

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