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Gm Equinauts

“It’s probably the best John Durkan I’ve ever seen.”

No, that’s not the words of Tom, 16, on Racing X, that’s what Wizard Willie Mullins admitted after FACT TO FILE won the weekend’s feature race, the Grade 1 John Durkan.

It was special tbf.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE DURKAN

A big statement from a man who’s seen it all!

FACT TO FILE managed to beat a two-time Grade 1 winner, a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, and a two-time Punchestown Gold Cup winner on his first start in open company..

Even though one might argue that the race slightly fell into his arms, it’s still impressive and served up 10/10 viewing.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and FASTORSLOW went hard enough from the outset, and it was interesting to see FASTORSLOW travelling with zest before the third-last and then immediately coming off the bridle after it.

JOURNEY WITH ME, GRANGECLERE WEST, and MINELLA COCOONER were off the bridle before the third-last and Mark Walsh even had to bump FACT TO FILE for a stride or two to remain on their heels.

This would suggest that the pace was strong enough in the conditions.

But still, FACT TO FILE was a very game winner, and he’s really living up to the hype that Willie Mullins placed on his shoulders last season. Mullins mentioned the Gold Cup for him last year, and he is now favourite for the race.

So, how do you look at this race with a view to the future?

Mullins thought all of his would need the run in the pre-race comments, so that should be applied to both FACT TO FILE and GALOPIN DES CHAMPS.

The latter did very well to keep going after his early pace over an insufficient trip. With race fitness and three miles on his side, he is well within his right to reverse the form with FACT TO FILE in the Savills Chase.

After that, all eyes will be on a potential third Gold Cup. Considering Mullins was scared of his chances on the back of his last Gold Cup win, he must be pleased by yesterday’s effort.

One can imagine that SPILLANE’S TOWER will head that way as well. He has plenty of speed as he won over this trip in a Grade 1 last year, so might others have the stamina edge over him at Christmas?

And then there’s FASTORSLOW.

There’s only so many times we can keep saying ‘run him in the King George’ until we get bored, but it looks the right option.

The best of the Irish staying in Ireland? Check. Right-handed? Check. Flat three miles? Check.

Pay the money connections. You’ll have a great Christmas if you do.

CHAMPION OF HURDLING

The last few days for the Champion Hurdle division have been pretty wild.

Firstly, Nicky Henderson all but ruled CONSTITUTION HILL out of the Fighting Fifth. Then BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD beat STATE MAN in the Morgiana. And finally, Henderson then said that if SIR GINO wins at Newcastle on Saturday he’ll be kept over hurdles.

Let’s start with the Irish.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD, with the benefit of race fitness, beat STATE MAN to really get the wheels in motion towards the Champion Hurdle.

She is clearly a nice horse, but would she beat STATE MAN (or either of Hendo’s stable stars) in a two-mile championship hurdle when her rivals also have race fitness?

We’re not sure and we certainly don’t think she’d had beaten LOSSIEMOUTH had she run!

Plus, the fact she battered a few hurdles and still won suggests that the runner-up perhaps needed the blow and we wouldn’t be surprised later down the line should the form be reversed.

If he didn’t then we’re looking at a very bright prospect, excuse the pun!

As for SIR GINO, seeing him over hurdles does kind of suck given the buzz from Sevenbarrows regarding his recent schooling.

We completely understand why he’s going to the race from Nicky Henderson’s perspective, but we (and Hendo) were so happy to see SIR GINO being lined up for fences as a four-year-old.

As we said in our analysis of the Coral Gold Cup gallops morning, every one knows he’s bloody smart (franked recently by BURDETT ROAD) so very well could go and win a Fighting Fifth easily and be right on the route to a Champion Hurdle win.

Yeh, it’s a shame we won’t see him fly over the bigger stuff but hey, at least he’s set to run (unlike others!) and we’ll just appreciate a top horse regardless of what’s under him.

WEEKEND EYE-CATCHERS

KNIGHT OF ALLEN – SATURDAY 13.15 HAYDOCK

Jane Williams has Grade 1 targets for KNIGHT OF ALLEN, and while she may be a bit off the mark here, she certainly has a well-handicapped horse on her hands.

The 2m3f handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday looks like a hot race with STEEL ALLY, BEAT THE BAT, and KAMSINAS and KNIGHT OF ALLEN certainly mixed well with these horses.

He travelled well before the third-last and stuck on nicely under David Noonan having jumped well all the way around.

Williams now knows that he can stay at least 2m3f and connections will have some fun with him going forward.

DEAFENING SILENCE – SATURDAY 13.50 HAYDOCK

The 2m5f Graduation Chase at Haydock on Saturday will be one to follow. It looked hot pre-race and it still looks spicy post-race.

The winner, TRELAWNE, could be a National horse if he keeps a lid on his craziness and the same could be said for the second, IROKO who looked like he would come on for that seasonal debut.

However, don’t forget about the third, DEAFENING SILENCE, who started his season off nicely. Having not run since December 2023 when beating INSURRECTION in the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle, he looked fairly polished over his fences for a horse in deep waters on his first chase start.

He has a rating of 133 now and it would be very harsh for the handicapper to give him any more tomorrow when revised. He could well stay three miles and he’ll come on for it.

There’s a nice handicap in him, especially on winter ground.

LUCKY PLACE – SATURDAY 15.50 ASCOT

We don’t usually do winning eye-catchers, but LUCKY PLACE is worth talking about for his win in the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle.

He had nice form last season with GOLDEN ACE (when giving a stone away) and from the Coral Cup, but Saturday’s task was a big step up.

On his first start of the season, he did well and all the right horses (GOLDEN ACE and BLUEKING D’OROUX) were behind to give the form some substance.

Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville think he went under the radar last year, and they are probably correct.

But, comments about the Stayers’ Hurdle in their post-race interviews certainly show the regard they have for him. He’s 25/1 for the relatively weak event which is interesting but we also know he can jump a fence so watch out for that too.

RISK ON

We were one handicap blot off landing a mega double Saturday as the siblings ROYALE MARGAUX and ROYALE PAGAILLE finished 2nd and 1st. Damn that would have been good. Friday and Saturday was a good couple of days for this newsletter.

Better than poor old Norm, who, after two days is currently last in on X’s Tipster Exposer Winter League. He’s adjusting to having to bet every day so we shan’t lose faith in him. He might not win now with the deficit (we backed him) but we know damn well he’ll finish positive. He’s the best we know!

Nothing from us today.

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