TEMPLEGATE takes on Saturday’s big Grade 1 confident of having found the winner.
Read on for our man’s runner-by-runner guide and find his tip at the bottom.
Templegate likes the look of this Nicholls runner in the Tolworth
ARCTIC BRESIL 4
ARCTIC on roll. Hammered some modest rivals when winning on debut at Cork last month.
This is a big leap in class but he was very impressive and Henry De Bromhead knows what it takes to win at this level. He handles soft ground and has a lot more to offer under Rachael Blackmore.
AUTHORISED SPEED 4
SPEED demon. Was a good fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and won easily here last time out despite a bad error at the final flight.
He tanks along and relishes testing ground so should be right at home in the conditions. Can improve again for the Moores.
BLOW YOUR WAD 2
BLOWN it. Operated in some decent bumpers and looked a nice hurdles prospect when winning at Kempton in November.
This is a pretty big leap in class from that so needs a big step forward but these conditions should suit.
COLONEL HARRY 2
HURRY Harry. Loved the mud when getting off the mark in a modest race over course and distance last time out. Went from the front there and kept finding a lot more when challenged.
Trainer Jamie Snowden is in good form but he takes on much stronger opposition here so needs more.
L’ASTROBOY 3
BIG Boy. Won his bumper at Ffos Las a neck ahead of Tahmuras and went back to the Welsh track to land an easy enough win on his first run over hurdles.
He did it nicely and handled the soft ground well so looks capable of making his presence felt in this hotter contest.
NEMEAN LION 2
LION must roar. He was a fair handicapper on the Flat in France for Andre Fabre and has taken well to hurdles with a debut win at Hereford before a solid second in fair company at Haydock.
There’s something to build on there but he needs to improve significantly to land this big prize.
TAHMURAS 5
MUR to come. Has improved with every run and left his fair bumper form behind when winning by eight lengths on hurdles debut at Chepstow.
Paul Nicholls then stepped him up in class to land a Haydock Listed prize with more than five lengths in hand. He powered through the line there so should have no problem getting home at Sandown and there’s more to come.
UKANTANGO 2
TANGO out of step. He landed a couple of nice novice wins at Aintree and Wetherby before a solid Grade 2 second at Cheltenham in November.
He can build on that and should have no problem with the testing conditions although this looks very hot company.
Templegate’s tip
TAH can star in the Tolworth Hurdle (2.25 Sandown).
TAHMURAS was impressive when scoring at Haydock last time when he finished full of running.
There’s a lot more to come and Paul Nicholls’ hopeful can edge out Authorised Speed and Irish raider Arctic Bresil.
