TEMPLEGATE takes on Ladies Day at Aintree confident of smashing in some winners under the spring sunshine.
The big race is at 3.30pm when Jonbon, the apple of Nicky Henderson's eye, takes on three rivals in the Melling Chase.
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JACOB’S LADDER (4.40 Aintree, nap)
He looked all about stamina when winning a Naas Grade 3 over 2m4f last time out. He powered through the line there like a horse who is going to enjoy stepping up in distance here. That was on heavy ground but he’s won in quicker conditions and should be right there.
CALDWELL POTTER (1.45 Aintree, nb)
He was impressive when winning the Golden Miller at Cheltenham last time and that race has been a good pointer to success here. He was always up with the pace and jumped brilliantly which will stand him in good stead on the Mildmay course which is a real test. He shapes as though this trip will be fine on a flat track and there’s more to come.
ROMEO COOLIO (2.55 Aintree, treble)
He was an excellent third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and looks hard to beat for Gordon Elliott. He has already taken on Grade 1 over this trip at Leopardstown on good ground so conditions should be ideal.
Templegate's verdicts
1.45
CALDWELL POTTER was impressive when winning the Golden Miller at Cheltenham last time and that race has been a good pointer to success here.
He was always up with the pace and jumped brilliantly which will stand him in good stead on the Mildmay course which is a real test.
He shapes as though this trip will be fine on a flat track and there’s more to come.
Handstands was excellent in beating subsequent Arkle winner Jango Baie in the Scilly Isles at Sandown last time.
He swerved the Festival so comes here fresher than many of his rivals and should enjoy this step up in distance for Sunracing Ben Pauling.
The only negative is the ground because his best form is in testing conditions although it was a bit quicker when he won a Sandown Grade 2 in December so he could well handle it.
Stellar Story was a good second in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham last time.
He is a proven stayer and trainer Gordon Elliott has won this race before.
He’s another who would ideally want more juice but should run well.
Dancing City was leading in that Brown Advisory before clattering into the third-last fence.
He won a Grade 1 hurdle over this trip here last year so the track suits but this will be the fastest ground he’s faced.
Don’t Rightly Know is another soft-ground performer who has won back-to-back Listed contests.
She gets the mares’ weight allowance but will have to raise her game.
2.20
HANSARD looks overpriced returning to a flat track which should play to his strengths.
He was never totally at home in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time when it was far from a disgrace to be beaten eight lengths.
He’s had a slight drop in the weights here and his capable rider takes off 5lb too.
He was a good fourth in a Grade 1 here as a novice and this is his first visit since with the Moore yard doing better now.
Impose Toi was a cracking second in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last time and enjoys this sort of trip.
The handicapper has been fair with a 4lb rise and he’ll be right in the hunt again.
Steel Ally missed the Festival after going close in the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last time.
Slightly softer ground would be ideal but he likes a flat track and goes from the front.
Wreckless Eric caught the eye when second in the big-field Imperial Cup at Sandown last time.
He stormed home there only for the line to come too soon. He likes good ground and is a major player again.
Kopeck De Mee was hailed as the bet of Cheltenham by many but didn’t fire in the Martin Pipe.
He is clearly better than that and may have needed the run after almost a year off. Any easing of the ground would help.
Wade Out was impressive at Wetherby last time and looks well ahead of the handicapper. He goes on decent ground and looks a threat.
2.55
ROMEO COOLIO was an excellent third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and looks hard to beat for Gordon Elliott.
He has already taken on Grade 1 over this trip at Leopardstown on good ground so conditions should be ideal.
Tripoli Flyer was impressive when winning the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton in February.
He was found to have broken a blood vessel during that victory so he missed Cheltenham with this less demanding test in mind.
That’s a slight worry but he was second in the Grade 2 bumper here last season so the track suits.
Diva Luna was a good third in the Dawn Run at the Festival and gets 7lb from the boys here.
She likes this trip and took the Nickel Coin bumper at last year’s meeting.
She’s had just four spins over hurdles so should be capable of better and could make the frame again.
Salvator Mundi was well beaten in the Supreme last time when the ground may have been a little lively for him.
That’s the case again but he has few miles on the clock and could take a step forward for Willie Mullins.
Jet To Vegas didn’t do a lot wrong when winning a Kelso Grade 2 last month.
He picked up nicely there and had plenty left at the line. This is stronger opposition but a podium finish wouldn’t be a shock.
3.30
JONBON pulled off a miracle to stay on his feet in the Champion Chase last time when hammering the ninth fence.
He wasn’t helped by one of the Festival’s farcical starts which left him on the back foot from the off.
Nico De Boinville coaxed him into second after that mistake which hopefully hasn’t left too much of a mark.
He has won Grade 1s at the past two Aintree festivals and can keep up that record here.
It would be great to see El Fabiolo come back to something like his best.
He was so impressive when winning the 2023 Arkle but his chancy jumping has cancelled out his big engine for the past couple of seasons.
He was beaten in a Grade 2 at Navan last time so he’s living on his former glories a bit now.
Protektorat has run well here including when third in this race 12 months ago on the back of his victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
He was well beaten in that race this time so has a few questions to answer.
Matata is a very useful handicapper who landed a nice victory at Windsor’s comeback meeting in January.
He failed to back that up when held in the Grade 2 Game Spirit at Newbury last time and needs a major step forward to figure in this company.
4.05
BAD hasn’t been living up to his name since blinkers went on and Ben Jones has been riding him with a lot more patience.
Those tactics have earned two good wins at Kempton heading here.
He likes this trip and still looks well ahead of the handicapper even after a 6lb rise.
This speed track will be ideal and he even rallied to lead on the run-in last time which bodes well for the famous long run to the line at Aintree.
James Du Berlais was second in this last year when his stamina just failed him in the dying strides.
The ground should be a bit quicker this time and he’s only 1lb higher than 12 months ago.
Fellow double green runner Blue Lord is interesting taking a drop in class after finishing third in the Ascot Chase last time.
He has spent most of his career at Grade 1 level so may find this a little easier and he’s a decent jumper.
Latenightpass loves this track and was a cracking second in the Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
He’s getting on a bit now but looks a solid each-way contender.
Amirite has been aimed at this race by Henry De Bromhead who ran him over hurdles at Thurles to warm up.
He has come down the weights and should enjoy this challenge under Rachael Blackmore.
Ginny’s Destiny hasn’t fired this season but he has a big engine and could be woken up by these different fences.
He’s come down the weights and the first-time cheekpieces could help too.
The Goffer ran well in the Grand National last year before running out of petrol.
He should be happier with this shorter distance and showed promise in the Cross-Country Chase last time out.
4.40
JACOB’S LADDER looked all about stamina when winning a Naas Grade 3 over 2m4f last time out.
He powered through the line there like a horse who is going to enjoy stepping up in distance here.
That was on heavy ground but he’s won in quicker conditions and should be right there.
His trainer Gordon Elliott has another decent chance with Familiar Dreams.
He took Grade 3 honours at Limerick 22 days ago and is a proven stayer.
Battle Born Lad is an interesting runner for trainer Mark Walford.
He had almost six lengths in hand when scooting in over this trip at Haydock last time.
Decent ground suits and there’s a lot more to come.
Mister Meggit didn’t have to leave first gear when sauntering to victory over 2m4f here in November.
We haven’t seen him since then but he looked potentially classy and it will be interesting to see if there’s market support on this comeback.
Califet En Vol was just getting going at the end of 2m4f when winning a Huntingdon Listed race for Nicky Henderson.
He is certain to enjoy this stiffer test and is proven on the ground.
Argento Boy didn’t land a blow in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival for Willie Mullins.
He looked useful when winning at Punchestown before that and should finish a good deal closer here.
5.15
AFADIL ran a mighty race when second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month and a 2lb rise in the weights gives him every chance.
Freddie Gingell is one of the better conditional riders around and gets on well with this six-year-old who is open to plenty of improvement.
The excellent Conor Stone-Walsh is good booking for Washington who threw in a rare blip in hot company at Newbury last time.
He’s had a little nudge down the weights and looked up to this standard when scoring at Fairyhouse before Christmas.
His trainer Harry Derham has another big chance with Lario who was a fair second at Newbury 34 days ago.
He likes this trip and the cheekpieces may just wake him up a little bit. He looks fairly handicapped.
Celtic Dino was fourth in the Grade 1 Formby Hurdle here on Boxing Day before a slightly disappointing effort at Kempton last time.
He clearly likes Aintree and this trip is right up his street.
Stablemate Lump Sum threw in a rare stinker in the Imperial Cup on the back of an excellent second at Newbury.
He has plenty of weight but his best form could see him make the places.
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