Equinties - real ambition

Gm Equinauts

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Let’s dive in.

HEADINE ROUND UP

ARKLE SHAKE-UP

As always in the lead up to March, Cheltenham updates are rife and we’ve had some differing bits of news regarding the Arkle Novices’ Chase over the last seven days.

Last week, SIR GINO was ruled out of the Game Spirit, only to then sadly be ruled out for the rest of the season. The update from the Seven Barrows camp was morbid to begin with, but spirits seemed slightly higher yesterday as Henderson provided one of his usual brilliant updates about his chasing star.

As we speculated when the news first arrived, what would this do for the Arkle - would a few more horses chance their arms, or are trainers still worried about MAJBOROUGH?

Well, the former has transpired as two fresh horses are set to take on MAJBOROUGH and L’EAU DU SUD on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The first comes from Lambourn itself as, after persistent badgering from Matt Chapman, Henderson revealed JANGO BAIE is a likely substitute in the Arkle for SIR GINO.

We don’t really know what to think about this. He’s a horse we like, really like in fact, and he didn’t lose anything in defeat to HANDSTANDS lto. Ben Pauling’s novice chaser stole a few lengths and had enough saved to win. Fair play.

JANGO BAIE was really good on is chasing debut, and he has Cheltenham experience (on the New Course, however), so that counts for something. His jumping wouldn’t be an issue over the trip either.

However, two miles around Cheltenham - would he have the tactical speed to win? Admittedly, GAELIC WARRIOR won the Arkle last year and he is all stamina, so that is a skill to have and the worry over him being untested over this trip in chase races is perhaps negated by showing a turn of foot over hurdles to beat TELLHERTHENAME at Ascot.

On his podcast, Matt Chapman stated the Arkle could really cut up hinting that taking the ew on JANGO BAIE now is a no brainer, who he thinks is guaranteed to finish in the top 3.

As for the other Arkle inclusion, Gavin Cromwell is leaning towards sending ONLY BY NIGHT after her win at Exeter on the weekend. We pondered this earlier in the week, so to see it confirmed is good to hear as we can see the case.

Cromwell said in his William Hill blog: “The unfortunate news of Sir Gino’s injury has definitely given us food for thought with Only By Night holding an entry in the Arkle. She jumps really well, but Majborough is a very good, talented horse.

“That said, we’re swaying towards running her in the Arkle instead of the Mares’ Chase now as it stands.”

Bullish!

She has speed, and we’re not totally sold on her stamina yet. Exeter posed a small bit of concern into our brains regarding her grit over a longer trip, so running her in an Arkle makes sense. Get weight from the boys, buck out and see if they can catch her. Like it!

REAL AMBITION

THE REAL WHACKER is a dream horse to own, right?

He cost just €21,000, he’s won two Grade 2s, one of them being the illustrious Charlie Hall Chase, he’s won a Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival in a magical finish, and he’s taken his connections to the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Okay we might have a soft spot for him because we backed all his big wins but a 21k horse who takes you to the big day and delivers on them - come on! In a world where it costs six figures to ‘buy a Gold Cup horse of the future’ that can’t even win a handicap chase off 130, he is the ultimate realistic owners’ dream.

The reason we bring this up is connections have outlined their spring targets, and they include the two biggest races in any jumps season. The Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National. Woof.

Funnily enough, even though he won his Browns on soft and he won his Dipper on soft, Patrick Neville has come around to the idea that he likes good ground and we agree - he’s a front runner who bowls along out in front and plays catch me if you can which is a great tactic on quick ground..

The Charlie Hall form has been slightly let down by BRAVEMANSGAME but we know the top grade chases aren’t his bag anymore.

SO, could THE REAL WHACKER win a Gold Cup? Probably not, but if the ground is nice and quick - he wouldn’t be the worst place bet in the world!

Will he win a Grand National? Again, unsure. Aintree water the ground so much in order to de-risk the track for the horses that, ultimately, his chance might be gone before he even has his breakfast. More, he might not get it all his own way out in front.

He also wouldn’t be the best-treated horse in the world off 159, but he’d probably have a better chance than the likes of CAPODANNO and CONFLATED who have similar weights.

Anyway, Neville thinks he could be the one for this year’s National if the ground comes his way, as he said: "You need a Graded horse to get in and there's a lot of good horses who won't do so, but he's proved it. He loves it when he gets his ground as he pricks his ears and gallops away, and everyone who's ever ridden him has said the National is the race for him and he could love it."

If he wins the National, that would be some story.

BARTLETT OUTSIDER

And finally, we’ve got an Albert Bartlett outsider to mention.

We actually gave a small nod to him yesterday when talking about WENDIGO, and our exact words were “who knows how good BALLYBOW is”.

Well, we got a look at him yesterday as he won a Grade 3 novice hurdle over three miles at Clonmel.

In fairness to the horse, this race can produce nice horses. SEARCH FOR GLORY won the contest last year, MONTY’S STAR the year before, and HIDDENVALLEY LAKE finished second to MONTY’S STAR that day.

Although yesterday’s race was a three-runner affair, we actually liked what he did. They went no gallop, and his jumping was affected by that, but he flew the final two hurdles and kept up the gallop nicely.

Gordon Elliott tends to send a few to the Bartlett, and he could be one of his contenders alongside a horse like WINGMEN.

He said: "They went no gallop and it was a nothing race really. They quickened over the last two, but the one thing I do like about our horse, from the second-last to the line, is the way he dropped his head and showed a good attitude.

“We’ll go for the Albert Bartlett now. I think it could suit him, and he could have an each-way chance coming at a few horses from behind.”

He may not win a Bartlett, but he has a better chance than most and his attitude is one you would love in every horse. He’ll be one to follow going forward.

RISK ON

Another real tough day. We don’t bet Irish but eye’s on TIBERIUS THUNDER at Dundalk - dynamite pedigree! The best bets are tomorrow but we’ll have small stakes on:

13.38 AVIATION

Should be able to reverse form with James Owen’s and Wadham loves a Fakenham winner.

14.30 PRINCESS AMBER

A real dart here at a whopper price at 25/1 so nothing to go mad on but this is a weak race. We bet Hannon’s last time, who he said he loved, but she disappointed so we’re taking her on. The others look bad girls. PRINCESS AMBER is very very well bred and could be the best in time here. 25/1 small ew.

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