Cheltenham Festival horse racing tips: Templegate NAP is a perfect for this track and can fly home on day three

TEMPLEGATE tackles day three of Cheltenham Festival confident of finding you a load of winners.

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

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BANBRIDGE (1.30 Cheltenham, nap)

Looks to be crying out for this longer trip after running a cracker when runner-up in the Irish Arkle over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival. He goes well here as he showed when winning the Martin Pipe over hurdles last year before taking a Grade 2 chase here at the November meeting.

STUMPTOWN (5.30 Cheltenham, nb)

Has done nothing but improve this season and followed an easy Thurles win with an impressive seven-length victory at Sandown. The latter race saw him move up to three miles, he had no stamina issues and he looks on a fair mark here.

TEAHUPOO (3.30 Cheltenham, treble)

Gordon Elliott runner has improved massively for going up in distance this season and has been an impressive winner on his past two runs. He kicked off the campaign taking a Fairyhouse Grade 1 over 2m4f before matching that form over this trip at Gowran and can win this red-hot renewal.

Templegate’s day by day tips to day three of Cheltenham Festival

1.30

BANBRIDGE looks to be crying out for this longer trip after running a cracker when runner-up in the Irish Arkle over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival.

It was no surprise he couldn’t go the pace but he absolutely tanked home to grab second place right on the line.

He goes well here as he showed when winning the Martin Pipe over hurdles last year before taking a Grade 2 chase here at the November meeting.

Mighty Potter is the obvious threat as he heads here looking for his fifth win on the spin.

He’s already landed three Grade 1s including over this trip at Leopardstown last month.

He’s high class but he didn’t take to Cheltenham when running in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season which gives Banbridge fans hope.

Appreciate It was a good third in that Irish Arkle. He has plenty of class and was excellent over hurdles, winning the Supreme here two years ago before missing a whole season.

He is a late convert to chasing but has done well and should improve for this longer distance.

Balco Coastal looks the best of the British team for Nicky Henderson. He chased home Gerri Colombe in the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown which is solid form.

He stays well but likes to front-run where he’ll face competition from Stage Star who usually leads.

He landed a good handicap here last time when jumping well but this is another level.

James Du Berlais has had just two runs over fences and kicked off with an easy minor win at Fairyhouse.

His jumping came under pressure when he was well beaten by Mighty Potter at the Dublin Racing Festival and he’ll need a big step forward to get near the front.

2.10

SALVADOR ZIGGY has improved massively since joining Gordon Elliott last summer with four wins in a row, including one over this trip.

He then shaped well when finishing fourth in a qualifier for this race at Cheltenham in October when just collared in the closing stages.

His mark is only 2lb higher and, while he has a lot of weight, he has the ability to go with it.

Stablemate Maxxum beat 26 rivals when winning at Leopardstown at Christmas before getting no luck in running back there at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Davy Russell can steer him through this big field and go close.

Elliott also has high hopes for The Bosses Oscar who was a 40-1 outsider at Musselburgh last time but ran well.

A 3lb rise for that looks fair enough.

Good Time Jonny comes from trainer Tony Martin who knows how to win a big handicap.

He qualified for this when third behind Maxxum at Christmas and was given a spin over two miles to sharpen him up last time. He is high on the shortlist.

An Tailliur finished just ahead of the tip when they met here in October.

The Jonjo O’Neill hope came up the hill strongly and will be doing his best work at the finish again.

Nicky Henderson has a couple of chances with Nico De Boinville partnering Walking On Air who had plenty in hand when scoring at Exeter last month. He stays well and looks open to improve.

But don’t ignore stablemate Captain Morgs who got his act together when winning over course and distance last time.

And Hendo also runs Mill Green who wasn’t disgraced at Haydock.

Itchy Feet steps down from a Grade 2 second at Haydock and was third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as a youngster.

Hector Javilex won on his last visit here before a solid effort at Huntingdon. He could figure if you’re getting extra places.

2.50

SHISHKIN came back to his brilliant best when winning the Grade 1 Ascot Chase by 16 lengths.

It was the first time Nicky Henderson’s star had tackled this trip and he clearly loved it.

Memories of him being pulled up in last year’s Champion Chase have been erased as he seems to be over his physical problems and this test will be ideal again for the nine-year-old.

There’s a worry that he could feel the exertions of that Ascot effort but his trainer reports him in flying form at home.

Last year’s second Janidil can fill the same position again.

He put a couple of poor runs behind him when coming back to close to his best at Gowran last time.

We know he acts well at Cheltenham and he looks a fair each-way price.

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Blue Lord blotted his copybook a little when beaten at the Dublin Racing Festival after making a late mistake.

His conqueror that day Gentleman De Mee isn’t here and his form before that was strong with an 11-length win in a Leopardstown Grade 1.

He ran well when third in last year’s Arkle so should get up the hill and hit the frame.

Fury Road can flatter to deceive but he’s a Grade 1 winner who scored when trying this sort of trip at Down Royal before Christmas.
He ran well in the Irish Gold Cup last time and deserves his place in this.

Envoi Allen has been high-class in his time and was third in the Champion Chase at last year’s Festival.

He ran no sort of race in the King George on Boxing Day so has questions to answer now.

The others look way short of this level with Hitman better on a flatter track like Aintree.

3.30

TEAHUPOO has improved massively for going up in distance this season and has been an impressive winner on his past two runs.

He kicked off the campaign taking a Fairyhouse Grade 1 over 2m4f before matching that form over this trip at Gowran.

They were both in testing going but he has won in quicker conditions and trainer Gordon Elliott is adamant he goes on any ground.
Klassical Dream was fifth in this last year and was last seen running well in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 in December.

The plan was to keep him fresh and he could go a place or two better this time.

Blazing Khal has a couple of Grade 2 wins at Cheltenham and came back from 14 months off to win the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month. He will appreciate stepping back up to this trip and is a threat.

Home By The Lee was impressive when winning at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and has lots of staying power.

A bit more rain would enhance his chances as he goes well in the mud.

Flooring Porter has won this for the past two seasons. The only worry this time is he’s had injury issues heading into this year’s race.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell says he has him fit and firing and, if that’s right, he’ll be right in the hunt again.

French raider Gold Tweet came and beat Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle here last time.

He had lots left in the tank and the bookies could have underestimated him at double-figure odds.

Paisley Park has a win and two places in this race and that record warrants respect.

He looked as good as ever when winning the Long Walk hurdle at Kempton and, with many bookies offering extra places, he could fit the bill at a big price.

4.10

IL RIDOTO gained a well-deserved win in a red-hot handicap over this course and distance last time out.

He had gone close in two big races here before that and putting cheekpieces on and riding him nearer the pace paid dividends.

An 8lb rise means he’ll have to take another step forward but he’s only six and his excellent jumping will be a major asset.

The horse he beat last time, Fugitif, was just a length behind so his double-figure odds could be generous.

Haut En Couleurs has been running in classier races than this handicap and was a solid second at Gowran last time.

He has to give weight away but this trip suits and his excellent rider takes off a valuable 3lb.

The Willie Mullins runner is the biggest danger.

So Scottish has done well at novice level and wasn’t beaten far on handicap debut at Ascot when last seen in November.

He’s been well supported in the market for shrewdie Emmet Mullins but could do with jumping a bit better.

Midnight River was third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here before coming back to win a similar race at the New Year meeting.

He’s 7lb higher for that but won it well so could defy the rise.

Datsalrightgino was second here before stepping into Graded level for a good effort at Kempton.

He sees out this trip strongly and the first-time cheekpieces could spark some improvement. He is one for the shortlist.

Mars Harper ran a belter when second in fair company at Leopardstown last time.

This trip looks ideal for him but he needs a bit more from a 7lb higher mark.

Shakem Up’Arry jumps well and wasn’t disgraced in fifth here last time. He looks on a fair weight and trainer Ben Pauling is in decent form.

4.50

MAGICAL ZOE can be an emotional winner for trainer Henry De Bromhead in the race named in honour of his young son who tragically died last year.

It’s not a sentimental tip as this five-year-old has some excellent form including a good win in a Down Royal Grade 3 contest last time out.

She deserves marking up for that because she had to come from a long way back and make up a lot of ground quickly.

That was just her second run over hurdles so there should be a lot more to come.

Nicky Henderson has high hopes for Luccia who has been superb so far.

She scored easily on her hurdling debut at Newbury in November before taking a Listed prize at Exeter without breaking sweat.

This is her toughest test yet but she’s sure to deliver more.

Lot Of Joy has been running well in big fields and followed a Leopardstown second with an easy win at Fairyhouse.

Willie Mullins has a strong record in this race and she could add to it.

Nikini chased home Magical Zoe at Down Royal and was only collared in the final 50 yards. She could keep on for a place again.

Halka Du Tabert held her own at Grade 3 level at Fairyhouse where she led at the final flight.

That built well on a maiden win at Naas and she can deliver more for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

Jetara stayed in bumpers until December and she was just ahead of Halka Du Tabert last time. She is another who looks capable of better for Jessica Harrington.

Elliott has another chance with the aptly named Shecouldbeanything. She went close in a Listed contest at Punchestown where she stayed 2m5f.

That stamina could be an asset in the closing stages as this is sure to be run at a fierce gallop.

5.30

STUMPTOWN has done nothing but improve this season and followed an easy Thurles win with an impressive seven-length victory at Sandown.

The latter race saw him move up to three miles and he had no stamina issues.

His jumping is excellent, which will be a major asset here, and there’s a lot more to come from this fair handicap mark.

Angels Dawn was in the process of running a cracker in good company at Punchestown last time.

She was looking like the winner when unseating at the second-last.

Before that, she scored over this trip at Down Royal. She goes on any ground and should figure in the finish.

Beauport looks the pick of the home challenge.

He started the season winning well over 2m4f at stamina-sapping Carlisle and found the Grade 2 Dipper a bit beyond him here last time.

Moving up in distance looks a wise move and he can run well for local hero Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Mr Incredible has his quirks but he showed real heart when second in the tough Classic Chase at Warwick in January.

He stayed well there and a 3lb rise in the weights makes the Willie Mullins runner a major danger.

Dunboyne has refused to race but there was no sign of temperament when he was beaten in a photo for the red-hot Thyestes Chase at Gowran last time.

He can’t be guaranteed to repeat that but he’s got the ideal man in Jamie Codd on his back today.

Royal Thief was off for more than two years before scoring by ten lengths at Punchestown in January.

He is a thorough stayer who may be able to build on that excellent comeback.

Anightinlambourn has been in excellent form around Cheltenham and had today’s rider on board when winning an amateurs’ contest when last seen in November.

She stays well and deserves this crack at stronger company.

Templegate’s tips

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