Horse racing tips: Templegate's NAP has Oisin Murphy on board and will relish a drop in trip

The Irish Sun

24 April 2023

Horse racing tips: Templegate's NAP has Oisin Murphy on board and will relish a drop in trip

TEMPLEGATE tackles Tuesday's racing confident of finding more than his fair share of winners.

Read on for our man's tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.

DIG TWO (1.50 Epsom, nap)

He needed his debut run for new trainer Ollie Sangster when third at Kempton 15 days ago. This drop in trip can be the making of him under Oisin Murphy.

BURNISH (4.25 Yarmouth, nb)

He is crying out for this stiffer stamina test and is fit from a couple of all-weather spins. He can show more for William Haggas.

VITRALITE (2.05 Yarmouth, treble)

He scorched home on his first run for connections at Chelmsford. He looks well ahead of the handicapper.

Templegate's Punchestown verdicts

3.40

SHECOULDBEANYTHING was an excellent sixth in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham last time, finishing just five lengths off the pace.

It was a good step forward from her second here in February and she can give last year’s winner Gordon Elliott another win in this race.

All of the Willie Mullins trio have to improve with Nikini down the field in the Dawn Run and Saylavee struggling in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham.

Night And Day is the one with scope to improve despite her green display when pulled up at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

She may not have enjoyed the longer trip there after an easy win over two miles at Clonmel.

Ladybank has few miles on the clock and made a few novicey errors in the Dawn Run. She won well here before that and is capable of better.

4.15

FACILE VEGA was beaten by a good horse in Marine Nationale when a still-excellent second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last time.

That form has been franked more times than the post office since and the Willie Mullins runner can land her fourth Grade 1 success.

Some give in the ground suits and the others need a major step forward.

Other Closutton runners pose the only real threat. I have a lot of time for Il Etait Temps who never seemed to be travelling that sweetly in the Supreme.

He came home well enough to grab fifth and looks booked for the forecast spot here.

Diverge was a couple of places ahead of him in the Supreme and came up the hill strongly. There won’t be a lot between them here.

Found A Fifty tanked along for a long way in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree before going out like a light. The fact he’s back so quickly implies there was no major problem and he’s one to watch.

4.50

TEKAO was almost knocked off his feet in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and he’s better judged on his excellent Grade 1 third at Leopardstown in February.

He runs off a 5lb lower mark here over a trip that suits well so he should be right in the mix.

Fellow JP McManus runner One Last Tango looks potentially well handicapped after a solid second at Fairyhouse. He has scored over this trip and track before.

The famous green and gold silks are also carried by Brazil who won last year’s Fred Winter. He is only 5lb higher in the handicap and is fit from a fair spin on the Flat at Leopardstown.

Merlin Giant had loads up his sleeve when winning at Fairyhouse from 13lb lower. He comes here a fresh horse having been off since that December success. His best efforts have come in bottomless ground so more rain would help.

Bialystok is an interesting handicap debutant for Willie Mullins after a game success at Naas last time. His opening mark looks fair enough.

5.25

ENERGUMENE ran as well as ever when retaining his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham last month.

He jumped better than when beaten there in January and looked on a different level. After winning that race 12 months ago he came here and destroyed his rivals and it’s likely to be an action replay today.

Gentleman De Mee missed Cheltenham after winning the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in February. That was a smooth success but is still a long way short of what his stablemate has achieved. It is likely to be good enough for second here though.

Another Willie Mullins runner Blue Lord looked destined for the top when giving Captain Guinness an 11-length beating at Christmas. He has been below that form twice now, particularly so when well beaten in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. He has questions to answer now.

Magic Daze planted herself at the start in the Mrs Paddy Power last time and looks short of this level anyway. Chacun Pour Soi won this two years ago but is 11 now and should struggle.

6.00

SPECULATRIX can maintain Gordon Elliott’s excellent record in this race.

She was a relatively expensive buy and made a good start when scoring here on debut in February. She should come on for that experience and gets a handy fillies’ allowance here.

The yard has Jamie Codd riding Tactical Affair and he’s worth a close look on debut along with stablemate Western Fold who is bred to want more of a stamina test.

Predators Gold looks the pick of the Willie Mullins runners. He cost 100,000 euros and is related to plenty of winners around this trip. He is sure to know his job on debut.

Aruntothequeen is bred to be above average so watch for a betting move on the Jessica Harrington hopeful.

6.35

JOURNEY WITH ME took his form up a notch when winning a Grade 3 novice contest at Naas last month.

He was always in command and shaped as though moving up from the 2m4f trip would bring more improvement for the Henry De Bromhead runner.

It was good to see Sir Gerhard run well in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 16 days ago. The quick turnaround is a slight concern but moving up to three miles is even more so.

He didn’t stay in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and that’s a worry again despite his obvious talent.

Appreciate It was third in that Fairyhouse contest so is another back on the track quickly. He is another who needs to prove his stamina for this distance.

Classic Getaway won well on chase debut at Gowran and this longer trip should be ideal. This is a hot contest but there’s more to come and it would be no surprise to see him go close.

Feronily is lightly raced and showed some promise on his chase debut in good company at Cork. There’s more to come and he stays well.

7.10

ENDA Bolger has won this six times since 2011 and has another big chance with DE NORDENER.

He has winning form in the pointing field and looked really green when fifth in this race 12 months ago. He has been with the Banks King for another year and should know his job better.

Defending champ Vital Island has won a couple of point-to-points since his solid fifth over the Cheltenham cross-country course in November. We know this test is ideal and he won’t be far away.

Jet Fighter comes here on the back of a points win and hasn’t been with Peter Maher for long. He’s only six so could have more to offer.

Three By Two has been passed around various trainers and has his first Rules run for new connections after a solid points third last time. She has an each-way shout.

7.45

DOLLAR NOLIMIT caught the eye when beaten less than a length on debut here in February.

She picked up really well despite looking a little green and can learn from the experience.

Willie Mullins won this last year and fires just one dart in Ninth Loch. He is related to plenty of Flat winners and is likely to go close on debut.

Jamie Codd takes the ride on Rainbow Lily for Gordon Elliott and is needs a look in the betting. She is related to bumper winners.

The yard also saddles Reliance Kid who is from a good family and is bred for this sort of distance.

They also have Ankud who created a good impression when second on debut at Naas before a more modest run at Gowran latest. He can put his experience to use.

Another who has seen the track before is Master Otis. He wasn’t beaten far here on debut and was a decent second at Thurles last time.

Templegate's tips