TEMPLEGATE takes on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival confident of landing some winners.
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LEOPARDSTOWN
12.40
JEANIEMACARONEY clocked a personal best when winning in a big field at Thurles 43 days ago.
She travelled strongly and wasn’t stopping at the end of two miles so should get him.
She gets on well with today’s 7lb claimer and should improve again.
Queens Gamble comes over from England with every chance.
Harry Derham has scored here before and this mare went close in a hot handicap at Newbury last time.
It’s still early days for her over timber so there’s more to come.
Considering he won this last year, Brucio is a big price to make the frame.
She hasn’t done a lot lately but we know this trip is up his street and she’s off a similar mark when you take off her rider’s claim.
Qualimita ran a solid race at Fairyhouse latest and makes her handicap debut for Gordon Elliott off a feather weight.
1.10
IMPAIRE ET PASSE can cause a minor upset by seeing off stablemate Ballyburn on ground that should suit him better.
With no rain forecast, the ground could be good by the time this goes off and that’s more in the tip’s favour.
He landed Grade 1 honours at Limerick last time after an impressive saunter around Fairyhouse on chase debut.
He can take another big step forward here.
Ballyburn was no match for Sir Gino at Kempton but he looked a hot prospect when scoring on his first crack over fences at Punchestown in November.
He was high-class over hurdles but this could well be the quickest ground he’s raced on which is a worry at such short odds.
Croke Park could be best of the rest as he looks for a Grade 1 hat-trick.
He has landed narrow wins at Fairyhouse and here but his stamina is proven and he can stay on into third.
1.40
KOPEK DES BORDES can book his place at Cheltenham by keeping up his 100 per cent win record.
He was impressive when scoring at the Christmas meeting here last time despite looking very novicey over some of his jumps.
You can bet Willie Mullins has been working on that in the meantime and there’s a big engine there that can take him a long way.
Kaid D’Authie only had half a length to spare when winning here last time but he gives the impression of a lot more to come.
He is a fair way behind the tip so far but it’s still very early days.
Bleu De Vassy was beaten by a good one here at Christmas but was far from disgraced and it’s too early to write him off at this level.
He likes decent ground and has plenty of pace.
Good And Clever ran a nice third in the Formby at Aintree last time and is another in the each-way picture.
2.10
It’s easy to forget just how good EL FABIOLO was before his costly blunder in the Champion Chase last year.
The fact he was 2-9 favourite for that tells the story and he has four Grade 1s on his CV, including this race last year without breaking sweat.
He was a still fair second behind Jonbon at Sandown when last seen in April and he just looks too big a price if he’s anywhere near his best.
Gaelic Warrior is the obvious one despite his surprise defeat here to Solness at Christmas.
Maybe the waiting tactics were overdone by Patrick Mullins that day and Paul Townend is unlikely to make the same mistake and turn that form around.
The ground will suit Solness again and he is right in the picture for a place although the Joseph O’Brien horses are in quite the same form as around the Festive period.
Marine Nationale would like the ground softer to show his very best.
2.45
PINKERTON is in fine form and ran a cracker to finish third in a red-hot race here last time.
He has plenty of staying power and enjoys decent ground. A 2lb rise for that excellent effort gives Noel Meade’s hope every chance again.
Sequestered won eased down here latest and is another who thrives on good conditions.
He’s gone up 12lb for that but still looks progressive and can figure at fair odds.
Backtonormal has not done a lot in novice company so starts handicapping with a low weight for Gavin Cromwell even before his excellent rider takes off another 5lb.
He has been well backed all week which tells the story.
James Du Berlais needs to show more than his comeback at Ascot last time but he was a good third in this last year and has every chance of making the frame again.
Search For Glory drops down from Grade 1 level but softer ground would be ideal.
3.20
If he’s anywhere near his best, STATE MAN will take plenty of beating especially with Paul Townend in the saddle.
Willie Mullins’ No1 has chosen to stick with the Champion Hurdler over Lossiemouth who gets a valuable 7lb mares’ allowance.
You could argue that she would be better over further but she gave Constitution Hill a race and was closing on the superstar in Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle.
State Man wasn’t himself behing Brighterdaysahead here last time and Mullins will have him much closer to full fitness here.
We know he likes trip and track as he’s won the past two runnings of this and can land the hat-trick.
Winter Fog should be good enough to win the battle for third place as he actually finished a length in front of State Man here last time – but that was surely a blip.
3.50
BRAVE TROOP seemed to have plenty left in the tank when winning at Navan last time out.
He pulled right away from his rivals after the last and the official margin could have been a lot more than four lengths.
He’s up the weights but is still improving.
McLaurey hasn’t been clobbered for this handicap debut despite a convincing victory at Limerick.
He showed plenty of pace for this trip and should take a big step forward in this company.
Strutter got the job done nicely last time and is another who could be a step or two ahead of the assessor.
This is hotter company but has scope for more.
Storm Heart has been holding his own at Grade 1 level so should show his class despite a fair weight.
He would ideally have it a bit softer but has enough quality to figure.
4.25
FUTURE PROSPECT certainly lived up to her name when cantering to victory on debut at Fairyhouse in December.
Patrick Mullins didn’t have to move a muscle in landing a nine-length success as she quickened smartly clear.
The ground was decent that day so conditions should be fine and she’s exciting.
Amen Kate created a good impression with an easy Listowel success first up.
That was back in September and plenty of the beaten horses that day have come out and won since.
She may be a little rusty after 127 days off but is a danger.
Churchfield Sunset landed Listed honours at Navan last time and is another to have shown her best in good conditions.
She has some pace and looks capable of making the frame.
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