Horse racing tips: Templegate’s 7-1 NAP can kick off another massive week for Willie Mullins at Punchestown Festival

TEMPLEGATE tackles a cracking day of racing in Ireland confident of banging in some winners.

It’s day one of the Punchestown Festival and a whole host of Cheltenham Festival superstars will be back in action.

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Our top tipster delivers his verdicts to the big races below – don’t forget to back a horse at the best price simply by clicking their odds.

TULLYHILL (3.40 Punchestown, nap)

Looks a good price to turn around the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle form in Punchestown’s opening Grade 1. Paul Townend’s mount has put in some decent displays at this track which offers a very different challenge to Cheltenham. He was a good second in the Champion Bumper at last year’s meeting and took a Listed hurdle by nine lengths here two runs ago. That saw him sent off favourite for the Supreme where he was never happy on the course and turned in a performance that was too bad to be true. A seven-week break since then can help along with returning to his favourite venue with Paul Townend in the saddle. He can edge out Slade Steel who was impressive at Cheltenham but looks ready for more of a stamina test.

BANBRIDGE (5.25 Punchestown, nb)

Can show his true colours in the Champion Chase on the decent ground he loves. Connections made a mistake by running him in the Ryanair on soft at Cheltenham and he’s better judged on his defeat of Pic D’Orhy in better conditions at Kempton in January. The cheekpieces going on may just sharpen him up a little and he can go close under JJ Slevin.

MONTY’S STAR (6.00 Punchestown, treble)

Ran a cracker in the Brown Advisory behind rising star Fact To File and can take today’s final Grade 1. He kept up with Willie Mullins’ ace until the closing stages and saw out the extended three miles strongly. He has few miles on the clock and is open to improvement for Henry De Bromhead.

Betfair’s Rachael Blackmore said of her ride: “He won his beginners’ chase at Punchestown in December, he jumped really well that day and we’re hoping that he can do so again. He has raced just three times over fences, and we’re hoping that there is more to come from him.”

ALMAQAM (3.50 Yarmouth)

Looks the best bet in Britain. Ed Walker’s colt is one of my 12 to follow for the season on the back of his highly encouraging debut at Newmarket in late October. He’s in the Derby and, while that may be a tall order, you would hope this son of Lope De Vega would be fit enough to do himself justice on this comeback. He’s already proven over this mile with a little cut in the ground and will hopefully take a major step forward.

Templegate’s Punchestown verdicts

3.40

TULLYHILL should be happier back here than he was in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time.

He never got going that day and showed his true colours when scoring here by nine lengths in February and he went close in the big bumper at this meeting 12 months ago.

Slade Steel was impressive in outstaying Mystical Power in the Supreme and will be a force again.

Cheltenham’s stiff finish was ideal for him and he looks ready for a step up in trip.

Mystical Power had to dig deep when fighting off Firefox at Aintree and there’s a chance that has left its mark.

4.15

BIALYSTOK acquitted himself very well in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last week and won this race 12 months ago.

This trip is ideal and he’s only 1lb higher than his Ayr effort. He’s a big price to make the frame.

Stablemate Daddy Long Legs is the obvious threat after his saunter around Ludlow just six days ago.

He has come up short a couple of times at Grade 1 level but he’ll be a major player from a very fair mark of 135.

Toto Too scored on debut for Gavin Cromwell at Naas earlier this month and has few miles on the clock for his age.

5.25

BANBRIDGE needs good ground so was never going to do himself justice in a muddy Ryanair Chase last time out.

He proved his ability out of novice company when beating Pic D’Orhy at Kempton and he has enough speed to cope with this drop in distance.

Dinoblue sets the standard after her close second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham last time.

She won a good handicap at this meeting last year so course and distance are not an issue.

Captain Guinness cashed in on El Fabiolo’s demise to win the Champion Chase well and is another who has scored here before. More rain would help as he likes it soft.

6.00

MONTY’S STAR kept up with potential superstar Fact To File for a long way before finishing second in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham last time.

He saw out the three miles well and was in winning form here on New Year’s Eve. There should be a lot more to come.

Spillane’s Tower won a Fairyhouse Grade 1 rather than go to the Festival and the step up to three miles could see him produce more.

He looks a danger while Embassy Gardens would have been closer than 17-lengths second in the National Hunt Chase but for a late mistake. He’d like it softer.

Templegate’s tips

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