Equinties - red hot Ralph

Gm Equinauts

We failed to land the gamble yesterday but the clue is in the name…that’s gambling. You dust off, don’t chase but do go again.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

RUSSELL’S RESOUNDING RESULTS

Ever since CORACH RAMBLER won the 2023 Grand National, Lucinda Russell has received an influx of talent into her Scottish-based yard.

As expected, a lot were likely to be much better chasers than hurdlers (the age-old phrase), but we saw glimpses of that yesterday as two horses made successful chasing debuts.

The first, and most impressive, was PRIMOZ in an open-company handicap chase off 123 where he beat the useful PAY THE PIPER at Wetherby.

The six-year-old by WESTERNER has always been a horse that both Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore have thought plenty of, and having won yesterday, he’s showing plenty of good signs.

He won over 1m7f today, but he’ll get further in time considering he is from the family of the Listed three-mile chase winner BADGERLAW.

Eight minutes later, EL ELEFANTE sat prominently and caused an upset to win impressively, with the 2/5 favourite WEST BALBOA a mere fourth of five.

One would have to be really impressed with her manner of jumping. She jumped a bit to her right, but her speed at the fences was eye-catching and her attitude was commendable.

A few firms have introduced her at 25/1 for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham. That is a lofty target for a horse who was rated 124 over hurdles, but she will be much better over a fence.

RED HOT RALPH

Could Ralph Beckett be in any better form?

Mathematically, of course he could, but his 17 winners from his last 60 runners at a strike rate of 27% is something to be extremely impressed with.

From his four runners at Nottingham, he fired in three winners yesterday, two of which were debutantes running in maidens. We’re quite a annoyed we missed them because we’ve had good fun betting this yard this year.

SMOKEN, by TOO DARN HOT out of the Group 3 winner MISS MARJURIE, kicked off the day well by coasting to success, with both her and ARCHIVIST pulling well clear of the third.

In the next race, REVOIR added to STUDY OF MAN’s successful second season of runners as she won on debut. She is a half to Beckett’s two-time Group 1 placed REMARQUEE, so she is set to be a nice one.

And finally, ALBANY defied a 385-day break from the track to win the 1m2f handicap.

It was a good day for Beckett, and his form would have to give strong encouragement towards the chances KINROSS, DOHA, and QIRAT on British Champions Day.

Although she is the biggest-priced horse of the trio, there is plenty to like about DOHA (33/1) in the Fillies & Mares as she tried to give six pounds to TAMFANA in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes, form which looks good considering TAMFANA has won the Group 1 Sun Chariot since and is a 6/1-shot for the QEII.

She was also a decent fifth in the Nassau when giving eight pounds away to all of the four horses ahead of her, notably OPERA SINGER, SEE THE FIRE, and SPARKLING PLENTY.

In Beckett, we trust!

BRADSELLING UP

What a season BRADSELL has had this year!

We’ve not hidden our love for his ability despite trying to take him on more than once, but winning a Group 3 after a 329-day break before succeeding in two hot Group 1s and placing in another Group 1 is serious form.

Few sprinters win a Group 2 at 2, Group 1 at 3, and Group 1 at 4 while also remaining fairly unexposed, but that is what BRADSELL has done.

This season has been him at his very best, so it’s huge to see that the National Stud in Newmarket will be adding the sprinting superstar to their stallion ranks in 2025.

His swansong will be at the Breeders’ Cup having won Flying Five two starts ago and finished second in the Prix de l’Abbaye on his latest run, and he will hopefully be a proper sire in time.

Fair play to the National Stud for keeping him over here, and best of luck to connections!

RISK ON

A bad day yesterday with our big bet failing to show up. We thought MINNIE WILDES was a lot better than that, we don’t know what happened. Apologies.

19.00 KOY KOY

A good ew swing here at a 25/1 shot who is bound to pop up soon given he’s so well handicapped. Fancied lto but did too much and got found out in the heavy going. Back on the aw (he is 1/1) he can majorly outrun his odds today for a yard who has been so so good to us this season, as usual.

We are still looking at today’s bumper, so will post that preview on our X account @equinties

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