Equinties - returning warrior

Gm Equinauts

Newbury’s last meeting before Christmas had it all yesterday - gambles, drama, exciting winners and loads of brilliantly horrible Christmas jumpers.

But there was one race which left punters absolutely fuming…

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

GOSHEN V2

Many of our sections in the newsletter aim to be informative, well, we like to think so anyway, providing updates, opinions and context usually about races in retrospect or the near future. However, sometimes a piece of news that is purely reactionary is too good to pass on, so we have to include it. Yes, we’re talking about ROYSSE.

You have to feel for the five-year-old son of KAYF TARA as Ben Pauling has been pretty vocal about this horse all season. Pauling appeared on the Only Fools Love Horses Podcast hosted by three young lads and said he was a big horse to watch for this season, and he was also complimentary during his At The Races stable tour. He said: “He won very nicely in a bumper at Newbury, and we think the world of him. Hopefully, he will be a proper hurdler this season and he could be one of our better ones.”

This is probably why he was sent off 10/11 for his hurdles debut when he threw the race away after the last, and he went off 4/9 yesterday at Newbury as many punters redemption bet.

In a fleeting throwback to GOSHEN in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle, ROYSEE stacked it at the last when about 25 lengths in the clear.

Ben set a furious pace up front and tried to run away with the race and by the last, the horse was clearly a little tired from his exertions but had enough of a lead to basically walk in should he so desire.

But he didn’t. Ben didn’t let off the gas, sent him into expecting a big one and it all went horribly wrong.

So, what happened?

Well, it’s hard not to point a finger or two at the jockey, Ben Jones, who we imagine on reflection would choose to not only ride him differently if given the chance, but also be a little more clever about how best to get over the last when owning such a big lead.

The big ask wasn’t necessary and perhaps not an option had he felt petrol tank marker dwindling over the red.

Arm chair jockeys and burnt punters will no doubt be quick to criticise the ride, rightly or wrongly so, suggesting he could have slowed him down, collected him up nicely allowing him to pop it on his own terms. Easy right?

Well, Ben is a young lad and when victory is insight and the adrenaline is pumping on the big stage, it can reduce the ability to think rationally and so instinct kicks in.

His instinct this this time was wrong.

He also didn’t need to go so hard all the way round, a mirror image of the last ride which is ultimately why they came down.

You can bet your bottom dollar Ben will keep the revs down next time and maintain the horse within a comfortable cruising cadence to see out the race and win on the bridle.

RETURNING WARRIOR

GAELIC WARRIOR would have been a great addition to the King George this year. He’s a three-mile novice hurdle winner who has always shown stamina, yet connections are convinced to campaign him as a Champion Chase horse this season. Who are we to second-guess Willie Mullins, ay?

We also think he’s bolt up in the Ryanair, a race that looks weak at the moment, but that’s by the by.

The Arkle winner is on the road to his seasonal return at Christmas, and the race that he is eyeing up is the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown. Starting the season left-handed over 2m1f is certainly a far cry from beginning right-handed over three miles at Kempton, that’s for sure.

Confirmations for the Grade 1 contest on December 27th came in yesterday, so we got a clearer picture of who he might take on, and it’s not an easy field. FOUND A FIFTY, unbeaten so far this season, has shown his ability and he likes Leopardstown, probably more than GAELIC WARRIOR.

He will also like the extended nature of the 2m1f compared to a fast two miles, though that also goes for GAELIC WARRIOR. The likes of CAPTAIN GUINNESS, MARINE NATIONALE, DINOBLUE, and BANBRIDGE were also kept in the race, though the latter is more likely for the King George if the ground holds.

Joseph O’Brien even has Gold Cup aspirations for BANBRIDGE – barmy stuff! He said: “Kempton will give us a guide towards his Gold Cup credentials. Obviously it’s a more extended race than what he’ll meet at Kempton and how far we can stretch his stamina remains to be seen.”

“Maybe from Kempton we will go to Aintree but truly we’ll get to the King George in one piece and then discuss his plans after that.”

Either way, the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase is shaping up into a nice little contest. A race-fitter FOUND A FIFTY against the talented GAELIC WARRIOR. Nice.

JOHN DANCE

It seems like an age ago since the John Dance story first came to our attentions. Specifically, it’s been roughly 21 months since he was ordered to cease operations by the FCA.

More information has been released, and the numbers behind the case are mental.

The former part-owner of BRAVEMANSGAME has been charged with using over £64 million of money from clients to ‘fund a lavish lifestyle’.

£64 million quid! WTAF!

Specifically, the FCA says that £723,000 was used to buy six racehorses, including BRAVEMANSGAME in 2019 who has a whole host of big races next to his name and millions more to purchase and fund the development of his farm in Middleham.

That’s not to mention the other nice things he funded like the hiring a blade from the North to Newbury, laden with champagne en route of course, to watch BMG win the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

How the hell did he think he could get away with it?

We think he’s going to do a fair stretch. Unbelievable.

RISK ON

14.07 HAUT FOLIN

He’s a bit in and out of form but he has won here before and that sets a standard above all in this crap race. Should be a good bet at 7/4.

If we like anything else we will post on X @equinties

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