Templegate’s top tips for landing a 33-1 stunner just like him

TEMPLEGATE will be your premier source for top picks for this week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Each day our man Steve Mullen will make his picks – and the good news is he’s in shape to spot a real gem!

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Last year he found Belfast Banter in the County Hurdle with a whopping 33-1.

Can he do it this time too? We’ll find out over the course of the week.

But now, read our man’s top tips for finding a winner and check out his top trends that could help you beat the bookies.

Temple gate says…

First and foremost, you have to use your own judgment – ignore the whispers of the circuit and the tips of a guy whose brother’s cousin cleans cars at Cheltenham.

In my experience, far more “good things” are implemented than gained.

Don’t forget that multiple yards in the same race may think their horse is a certificate.

When I started everything was on paper and it took a long time to properly weigh a race.

But thanks to the internet, you can now watch a replay of each horse’s runs, which can be helpful.

I’m trying to visualize how the race will go as some tracks are suited to front runners and others are best off the pace.

However, the end result is still the same – you have to enter the hours.

Look for a horse that has proven himself on the ground and likes distance. These two factors are still the most important.

If a horse needs it like a road, it’s unlikely to work in the mud and you can shut out a lot of horses that way.

If you can find a horse that has won or come close in class, has proven itself on the ground and likes distance, then you have what it takes to make a decent bet.

Key trends from the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

horses in shape

I know a lot of horses go to Cheltenham after a first or second to last time – most runners are of some sort.

But the number of races won by a horse that was first or second last is worth noting.

At the 2021 festival, 19 of the 28 races were won by a horse that finished first or second last time. In 2020 there were 20 and in 2019 22.

You can’t blindly support them, but it’s something to consider.

Previous festival form

About 60 percent of festival races over the past 20 years have been won by a horse that has previously run at the meet.

In 2021, 16 of the 28 races were won by a horse that competed in a previous festival, no matter where it finished.

Of these, only six had won at a previous festival – it just seems important to have been there before.

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