Templegate’s horse racing tips: Kempton, Lingfield and Newcastle live on ITV – Top betting preview for Saturday’s TV racing

KEMPTON

1.50

GET in the Groove in the 888Sport Pendil Chase. BAGS GROOVE looked likely to take high rank among this season's novices when using his slick jumping to rattle up a hat-trick of wins.

5

He easily brushed aside Secret Investor at Wincanton in November before bolting up at Huntingdon.

It was no surprise he went off second favourite behind Santini in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but he was disappointing.

He couldn’t get to the lead that day with the strong pace maybe stretching him a bit as well. This should pan out better for him today and the return to 2m4f won’t do him any harm.

Secret Investor is 5lbs better off with Bags Groove on their Wincanton form but it wouldn’t have been enough to make a difference that day.

OUT & ABOUT WITH ANDY Don't miss Andy Ayres hilarious column

He’s since chased home Ok Corral in a Warwick Listed race and the decent ground is just what he wants.

Good Man Pat was far from disgraced on his chase debut when third behind French ace Master Dino at Plumpton last month.

He returned to that track to beat only one finisher last week and he’s back in the deep again today.

Castafiore caused a bit of a shock in a Haydock Grade 2 last month but I’m not sure the form is reliable.

LATEST IN HORSE RACING

TROY AGAIN

City Of Troy named Timeform's Horse Of The Year as Bluestocking not in top three

GREAT

Harry Redknapp is eyeing up the Cheltenham Festival after his big winner at Newbury

A CLOSE DAVE

Punters in bits as millionaire property magnate come jockey 'nearly falls off'

'completely bonkers'

Get to know Oli Bell - ex-boyfriend of ITV Racing's Francesca Cumani

2.25

THESE don’t look a fantastic bunch of juveniles so take a chance on ECCO in the Adonis Hurdle. He was fancied for the German Derby last summer.

In the end he was disappointing but his potential for hurdling is obvious.

Paul Nicholls has won this race four times in the last ten years. Two of those – Zubayr and Zarkandar - were making their debut for the former champion trainer. It’s a bit of a leap of faith but Ecco does appear to have the necessary class.

Petit Palais looks the best of those to have already run over hurdles in Britain. He won really well on his debut for Tom George at Ludlow.

The form would not be the most solid but he – as a half-brother to 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold – he is bred to have plenty of ability.

5

Alan King is going for a hat-trick in this race. His Praeceps was no match for more experienced Song For Someone on his debut at Newbury.

He took a nice step forward when winning at Market Rasen a couple of weeks ago. I prefer him to stablemate Giving Glances.

Nicky Henderson won this race with subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Soldatino nine years ago. Fusil Raffles has a similar profile in that he has shown good form in France, makes his stable debut in this contest and he races in Simon Munir’s green colours. He is of particular interest.

3.00

HOLD your Breath for the Sky Bet Dovecote Hurdle.

It showed how good Nicky Henderson must have thought ANGELS BREATH was to throw him into an Ascot Grade 2 for his hurdles debut.

Those who took the hint had few worries as this smart prospect came right away from Danny Kirwan.

5

They only jumped four hurdles in that contest and that might not have been ideal as he looks pretty slick. Giving 5lbs away all round is not ideal but he does look very classy.

Scarlet Dragon made his hurdles debut in this race 12 months ago when runner-up behind Champion Hurdle hope Global Citizen.

His Flat form was decent and he did look good when beating a fair field at Huntingdon last month. I’m expecting him to go well.

3.35

TALKISCHEAP should cost the bookies a packet in the 888Sport Chase.

He was a promising novice hurdler last season when winning three of his five starts including a couple of wins on decent ground.

The numbers of his chase career do not stack up to those stats but that doesn’t tall the whole story.

He ran really well behind dual Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi on his first two goes at chasing before winning a two-runner contest at Doncaster.

5

Alan King’s hope again ran a sound race when trying to give 6lbs to smart prospect On The Blind Side over today’s course and distance last month.

His jumping is sound, he has no problem with the ground and there are reason to think he’s nicely treated for his handicap debut.

Glen Rocco is another novice with a bright future. The form of his course second behind Arkle hope Glen Forsa on Boxing Day is very good and he could hardly have won much easier when stepped up to 3m at this track last month.

LINGFIELD

2.05

HAVE a good Knight in the Betway Hever Sprint Stakes.

CORINTHIA KNIGHT gave Gracious John a couple of pounds and a beating in a hot course-and-distance handicap in December.

He’s not been able to repeat that form since but there have been excuses.

My fancy was hampered more often than a sandwich maker in picnic season over 6f last time out and I’m expecting much better returned to his favourite 5f trip.

5

Stablemate Gorgeous Noora was runner-up in that same Lingfield contest last time.

She was no match for speedy Kachy but that no disgrace. Her four wins have come over 6f but she does have plenty of pace.

Encore D’Or has won three of his last four starts. The only defeat in that sequence came when runner-up in an Irish Group 3 so he arrives in peak form.

3.15

IT’S hard to see past WISSAHICKON in the Betway Winter Derby.

He stormed away with the Cambridgeshire in the manner of a Group horse in the autumn and he’s since added a brace of Listed wins over today’s track and trip.

The runner-up in both those races was Big Country and we could easily have that forecast result again.

The way Wissahickon got himself out of traffic problems in the Winter Derby Trial last time was most impressive and he’s even 3lbs better off with his old rival today.

Big Country is as reliable as they come but it’s hard to see how he can reverse the form with John Gosden’s ace.

NEWCASTLE

2.45

GO West in the Vertem Eider Chase.

This marathon 4m contest always takes some getting so WEST OF THE EDGE – at the foot of the weights – looks to have a fair bit in his favour.

He moved really well when runner-up behind Baywing in this race 12 months ago. My fancy in 3lbs lower in the weights and slightly less testing ground might well help him out.

This year hasn’t really gone to plan. His hurdles return was promising enough but a shuddering mistake at a crucial time knocked him off his stride when finishing in midfield behind Harry The Viking in the Borders National.

His jumping wasn’t as good as it should be at Haydock over Christmas but there’s reasons to think it will be better today.

Baywing was impressive in this race last year. He’s 7lbs higher in the weights but more of a worry is his form this season. The drying ground is not a help, either.

Daklondike has to shoulder top weight. He blows a bit hot and cold but it’s hard to argue with four wins from his last eight starts.

Chepstow

1.55 Highest Sun

2.30 Dickie Diver

3.05 Chef Des Obeaux

3.40 Samburu Shujaa (treble)

4.15 Capeland

4.50 Lickpenny Larry

5.20 Imperial Esprit

Lingfield

1.30 Narjes

2.05 Corinthia Knight

2.35 Fearsome

3.15 Wissahickon

3.50 Apex King

4.10 Greybychoice

Kempton

1.15 Not That Fuisse (nb)

1.50 Bags Groove

2.25 Ecco

3.00 Angels Breath

3.35 Talkischeap (nap)

4.10 Another Crick

4.45 Chantry House

Newcastle

1.35 Basildon

2.10 Cool Mix

2.40 West Of The Edge

3.20 Lust For Glory

3.55 Aristo Du Plessis

4.30 Just Don’t Ask

5.05 Bally Conor

Wolverhampton

5.30 Snooze Button

6.00 Monumental Man

6.30 Dalakina

7.00 Alkaamel

7.30 Decoration Of War

8.00 Naralsaif