Gold Cup triumph helps Templegate reach the top

With nine winners from 27 selections, Templegate of the Sun, headed the March Napcheckers’ list. A 14-point return secured top placing with Rob Wright of the Times finishing second on 11.9 points. Racing Post Spotlight were third on 8.3 points ahead of Robin Goodfellow (Daily Mail), who maintained his good form with a 6.0-point profit.

There were also March profits for The Scout (Daily Express), Marlborough (Daily Telegraph), West Tip (Western Morning News) and two other Racing Post tipsters, Postdata and Ratings.

Templegate’s winning naps were nicely spread throughout the month, ensuring no lengthy losing sequences. The highlights included the thrilling victory of Native River in the Gold Cup. The Colin Tizzard-trained gelding was one of three winning 5/1 naps, the others being Kildisart (Kempton, 17 March) and Thomas Patrick (Newbury, 24 March). However, the month’s best return came when Bridane Rebel (11/2) prevailed at Market Rasen on 11 March.

Second placed Wright advised five winning naps from 26 in March including 16/1 Go On Gal, successful at Southwell on 6 March. He was also on the mark with Mister Whitaker (13/2), winner of the last race on the opening day of Cheltenham (13 March). Like Templegate, Wright napped Kildisart (5/1, Kempton, 17 March).

Abbeybb, who gave trainer William Haggas a record-equalling fourth success in the Lincoln (Doncaster, 24 March) helped Racing Post Spotlight to an 8.3-point March yield. The 5/1 shot was one of nine successful March naps for Spotlight (36% strike-rate) with the others including 7/1 Angus Milan (Ayr, 9 March) and Coo Star Sivola (5/1, Cheltenham, 13 March).

Robin Goodellow continues to set a blistering pace in the 2018 Napchecker race. The Mail’s top tipster has built up a quarterly return of 28.9 points and is well clear, with Templegate (17.6 points) and Rob Wright (16.1 points) leading the chasing pack. March’s contribution was seven winning naps from 24 (29.16% strike-rate). Winning naps included 8/1 Roksana (Newbury, 24 March) and Mister Whitaker (13/2 Cheltenham,13 March).

The Scout, who enjoyed great success in the first two months of 2018 with his general tipping, posted a 3.9-point yield with naps in March. February ended with two winning naps and that sequence was extended to five with wins on 3, 4 and 5 March. A further seven winning naps followed with Lincoln winner Addeybb (5/1, Doncaster, 24 March) featuring on the portfolio.

Two Cheltenham Festival winners featured in Marlborough’s seven winner March tally. The two in question were Footpad (5/6, 13 March) and Presenting Percy (5/2, 14 March) while 8/1 Jaune Et Bleue (Uttoxeter, 17 March) helped secure a 2.3-point March yield.

Also ending March on 2.3 points was West Tip, whose modest 18.5% strike-rate was offset by two stand-out winning naps. The first was Summerville Boy, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 9/1 (Cheltenham, 13 March) and the second came on the penultimate day of the month when 12/1 Dynamo Walt triumphed at Newcastle.

Attain (7/1, Lingfield, 3 March) and Coo Star Sivola (5/1, Cheltenham, 13 March) helped Postdata to a 2.0-point March profit, while last year’s champions, Racing Post Ratings, ended the month with a tiny 0.4-point gain.

One feature of the last month has been the number of horses napped by more than one tipster. Backing the most popular nap is a simple system, perhaps, but one that can be source of good profits. And, by using Napcheckers ‘Today’s Naps’ page, any horses napped by more than one tipster can be identified in seconds.

Date Published: 07/04/2018