TEMPLEGATE takes on day two of Cheltenham Festival 2024 confident of bashing the bookies once again.
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LANGER DAN (2.50 Cheltenham, nap)
He has an excellent Cheltenham record and can go close to following up his win in this race 12 months ago. By some miracle, trainer Dan Skelton has got him back to the same handicap mark of 141 as that victory and we can cross out his form earlier this season as this has been his only target. He has only finished out of the frame once in a Festival handicap and that was when he was brought down and he’ll be right there again.
SAINT ROI (4.50 Cheltenham, nb)
He has spent most of his time running well in Grade 1 company but can give Willie Mullins his first ever handicap chase win at the Festival. He was good enough to finish third in the Arkle last season and went on to hit the post behind Banbridge in the red-hot Manifesto at Aintree.
He has long had this race as his target and showed promise on his handicap debut at Fairyhouse in January where he was fourth despite being hampered. He had a quiet prep run at Leopardstown last time and will be fully revved up for this. He goes on any ground and his sheer class can take him close.
FACT TO FILE (2.10 Cheltenham, treble)
He gave a sound beating to the useful Gaelic Warrior at the Dublin Racing Festival last time and should improve for this longer distance. He showed his liking for the track when a narrow second in the Champion Bumper last season and connections swerved hurdling and sent him straight over fences. He’s a proven Grade 1 performer who goes on any ground and has a lot more to come.
Templegate’s race-by-race guide
1.30
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BALLYBURN looks the strongest member of the Willie Mullins team for the Festival and can show why here.
He had already gone well in a couple of minor events before blowing his rivals away to win the Grade 1 Brave Inca at Leopardstown last month.
It was a useful performer in Slade Steel that he gave a seven-length beating to when showing lots of pace.
That was over two miles but he stayed further when scoring at Christmas and connections are adamant this will be his best trip.
Something will need to make huge improvement to topple him.
Predators Gold has been a good second in two Grade 1s since his debut win at Punchestown in November.
He still looked green when coming from off the pace at Leopardstown last month but saw out the trip well.
That bodes well for the hill and he has good claims to the forecast spot.
It could be a Mullins 1-2-3 with Ile Atlantique after he was just pipped over 2m4f in a Naas Grade 1 latest.
He likes to go from the front and should keep boxing on with some cut in the ground ideal.
He’s likely to find a couple go past him but can hold on for a podium spot.
Handstands looked a nice type when winning a Huntingdon Listed race.
The ground was testing there as it was at Newcastle so more rain would boost his each-way chance.
Jingko Blue looked better than a handicapper when scoring in that grade at Sandown. He has proven his stamina and has a lot more to come against this stiffer opposition.
2.10
FACT TO FILE gave a sound beating to the useful Gaelic Warrior at the Dublin Racing Festival last time and should improve for this longer distance.
He showed his liking for the track when a narrow second in the Champion Bumper last season and connections swerved hurdling and sent him straight over fences.
He’s a proven Grade 1 performer who goes on any ground and has a lot more to come.
Stay Away Fay warrants plenty of respect having won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at last year’s Festival.
He landed smooth wins on his first two chase starts before looking a bit flat-footed when third in the Cotswold Chase here last time.
He made a couple of errors there too which didn’t help and he wouldn’t want to repeat.
1
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We know he’ll definitely stay and trainer Paul Nicholls has reached for the cheekpieces here which could bring improvement.
American Mike has come up short when trying this Grade 1 level before but he battled well and improved for the step up to three miles at Navan latest.
He’ll be running on up the hill and could hit the frame.
Monty’s Star loved the mud when taking a minor contest at Punchestown last time.
His staying power will be an asset but he faces much stiffer opposition here.
Giovinco was second to Stay Away Fay in the Esher Chase at Sandown before Christmas and won well at Newcastle last month.
There’s no obvious reason why he’ll turn the form around with the Nicholls runner.
Sandor Clegane was third in the Albert Bartlett last season but has come up short on his two cracks in Graded company over fences.
2.50
LANGER DAN has an excellent Cheltenham record and can go close to following up his win in this race 12 months ago.
By some miracle, trainer Dan Skelton has got him back to the same handicap mark of 141 as that victory and we can cross out his form earlier this season as this has been his only target.
He has only finished out of the frame once in a Festival handicap and that was when he was brought down and he’ll be right there again.
Ballyadam doesn’t win as many as he should be he went well in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Christmas meetings and has every chance of hitting the places at a handy price.
Doddiethegreat was a bit unlucky to finish only fourth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time after meeting traffic problems.
He earlier went close in fair company here when ridden closer to the pace.
He looks ahead of the handicapper for Nicky Henderson.
Sa Majeste is lightly raced and landed his first win since joining Willie Mullins on Limerick’s Christmas card.
This is much tougher but connections are bullish and owner JP McManus has a fair record in the race.
Built By Ballymore makes his handicap debut after a couple of good novice wins.
His mark looks fair and trainer Martin Brassil is a past-master of hitting a target like this.
Might I has been chasing but was fourth in the Martin Pipe last year and is respected on this return to hurdling from 3lb lower.
First Street is an honest handicapper who has had a wind op since chasing home Lossiemouth in the International here.
He hasn’t won for a while but has place prospects.
Brazil won the Fred Winter in 2022 and is effectively off the same mark thanks to his rider’s claim.
He had a quiet spin around Leopardstown latest but can get a lot closer here.
3.30
EL FABIOLO is streets ahead of these rivals and can add the Champion Chase to last year’s Arkle Trophy success.
A lot is said about his jumping but he’s a clever jumper who gets the job done.
The odd error he can make hasn’t slowed him down yeat and he followed that Arkle success with an 11-length win at Punchestown.
This season started with a saunder around Cork before another Grade 1 was hoovered up at the Dublin Racing Festival last time.
He’ll win if running anywhere close to his best form.
Jonbon is the one who made a big mistake when beaten in the Clarence House here in January.
He did well to stand up after taking the fourth-last with him and couldn’t reel in Elixir Du Nutz.
That was a hard race and he’ll have to be a lot better to trouble the favourite.
Edwardstone looked his old self when front-running to win the Game Spirit at Newbury by an impressive 40 lengths.
No doubt he’ll attempt the same tactics here and that can see him do a lot better than his distant fifth in this 12 months ago.
He won the 2022 Arkle so we know the track suits and it would be no surprise to see him finish ahead of Jonbon.
Captain Guinness was second in this last year and should do better than his laboured effort at Leopardstown.
Elixir Du Nutz is fresh from that defeat of Jonbon yet is ten times the price of the Nicky Henderson runner.
The snag for him is he likes to lead and could have company with Edwardstone wanting to cut out the pace too.
Gentleman De Mee was a Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown last season but has been struggling lately.
Boothill has good form at Ascot but has hit the deck on his past two runs which is a worry.
Funambule Sivola was second in this in 2022 before taking a tumble last season.
He’s not come close to winning for a while now so needs to bounce back.
4.10
DELTA WORK loves this track and can land a third Festival Cross-Country Chase win.
He famously got the better of the great Tiger Roll in 2022 but put in an even better effort when repelling Galvin 12 months ago.
I wouldn’t worry too much about his sixth over this course at the November meeting as he was giving lumps of weight away in that handicap and this is off level weights.
This is his target for the season and he can deliver again for Gordon Elliott.
The yard has a strong hand and the ground will be ideal for Coko Beach.
He hasn’t won on this course before but looked a real natural when winning over the cross-country track at Punchestown last month.
He handled the banks well there and looks a live threat.
Galvin is in there again but his form seems to have dipped a little this season.
Minella Indo was good enough to win the Gold Cup in 2021 and was runner-up 12 months later.
He has never matched those highs since but was a solid fourth over this track at the December meeting and is another much better off at the weights today.
He acts on any ground and can go close again.
Stattler hasn’t won since the 2022 National Hunt Chase and he didn’t enjoy himself over the Punchestown Banks last time.
He has a touch of class but needs to show more in this discipline.
Foxy Jacks really got his jumping together when winning over course and distance at the November meeting ahead a few of these.
He’s less favoured by the weights today but is still respected although he’d probably like the ground a bit quicker.
4.50
SAINT ROI has spent most of his time running well in Grade 1 company but can give Willie Mullins his first ever handicap chase win at the Festival.
He was good enough to finish third in the Arkle last season and went on to hit the post behind Banbridge in the red-hot Manifesto at Aintree.
He has long had this race as his target and showed promise on his handicap debut at Fairyhouse in January where he was fourth despite being hampered.
He had a quiet prep run at Leopardstown last time and will be fully revved up for this.
He goes on any ground and his sheer class can take him close.
The Skeltons have a strong hand with Unexpected Party and Calico.
The latter was a good second in fair company here at the November meeting and is only 4lb higher today.
Unexpected Party has come nicely down the weights and will have been laid out for this.
Sa Fureur has the benefit of the excellent Jack Kennedy on board and was an easy Fairyhouse winner before going close at Navan.
This is just his fourth chase run so there should be more to come.
Libberty Hunter finished strongly to score over here last time and should get similar ground with a little cut. He’s another who looks capable of improvement.
Harper’s Brook tries a first-time visor that connections will hope helps him get up the hill.
His form at Sandown and Ascot is smart but he’s flopped badly on all three runs at Cheltenham which has to be a big worry.
Madara won nicely here in December and followed up at Leopardstown last month. That was a really impressive effort and he’s on the shortlist.
5.30
CANTICO made huge improvement from his debut when winning at Navan last month.
He travelled really strongly despite the deep ground and powered home for a convincing success in a good time.
Trainer Willie Mullins has trained four of the past six Champion Bumper winners and he has another real hope here.
Jalon D’Oudairies has won both starts without too much trouble.
He was particularly good at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and has the benefit of Jack Kennedy taking over today.
You Oughta Know was second in what is usually the key pointer to this at the Dublin Racing Festival.
He was a bit unlucky not to finish closer to winner Jeroboam Machin who has been ruled out with injury. He won’t be far away again.
Jasmin De Vaux is another member of the strong Mullins team.
He didn’t have to break sweat when scoring on debut at Naas in January and should charge up the hill given that was over 2m3f. He’s another contender under Patrick Mullins.
Paul Nicholls has a chance with Teeshan who had seven lengths in hand when winning on debut at Exeter.
This is obviously tougher but he won his Irish Point by 40 lengths and looks a nice prospect.
Gordon Elliott has more chances with Romeo Coolio who scored nicely on debut at Fairyhouse and The Yellow Clay who was badly bumped behind You Oughta Know on comeback.
It would be no surprise to see either of them make the frame.
Templegate’s tips
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