Gm, Equinauts

We had some good winners over the Easter bank holiday, time to push on and start building the bank for the flat season ahead.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

🏆A GRAND PLAN

Trainer Emmet Mullins once again showcased his propensity to do the ‘unexpected’ by landing a remarkable victory in yesterdays Irish Grand National with a horse who’d only had his first start under rules less than a year ago.

LESS. THAN. A. YEAR.

In a race typically dominated by battle-hardened horses, Mullins defied convention by saddling one with ZERO runs over hurdles and only four over fences lol. Yet, in a performance that blended massive balls and genius placement, the lightly raced son SOLDIER OF FORTUNE proved more than equal to the challenge—staying on strongly in the closing stages to secure a win which will be remembered for decades.

This particular triumph carried a strong sense of déjà vu. Not long ago Mullins shocked racing world in the (proper) Grand National with NOBLE YEATS, a novice chaser. That day at Aintree, they rewrote the script, becoming the first novice in over half a century to land the world’s most famous race.

The parallels between the two victories are obvious. In both cases, Mullins placed his faith in unexposed talent rather than proven endurance.

This latest success only emboldens the reputation Mullins has as one of the sport’s most innovative thinkers. His want to take calculated risks, combined with an astute understanding of each horse’s potential, is paying off on the worlds biggest stages.

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🚨GROUP HORSE ALERT

Owen Burrows enjoyed a good easter as his progressive colt GETHIN bolted up in Kempton’s Magnolia Stakes:

Making his seasonal reappearance, GETHIN justified strong support in the betting (us) with a very easy win, travelling all over the field before extending easily in the closing stages like a good thing.

GETHIN’s experienced somewhat of an interrupted career to date. Once considered a potential Derby contender, setbacks and need for juice in the ground delayed his progress, but this latest success suggested that Burrows’ patience is beginning to pay off. Speaking after the race, Burrows described him as a “work in progress” who has still more to come.

The way he put away a good field yesterday suggests Group races will be next on the menu.

🤪 TOO LITTLE TOO LATE?

More than 400 leading figures in British racing have signed an open letter to Labour MP Lisa Nandy opposing betting’s “affordability checks,” highlighting the current sh*tshow situation within the sport.

As we know, the measures require bettors to undergo financial assessments—such as credit checks or providing personal financial information—if their deposits reach certain thresholds. While intended to reduce gambling-related harm, many in racing argue the checks are overly intrusive and risk deterring ordinary punters.

There was clear evidence from other countries who tried similar that showed any friction to bet pushed punters toward unregulated or black-market operators, where protections are far weaker. It was all ignored.

The UK betting black-market is booming now. Every single ‘proper’ gambler we know is getting on with illegitimate bookmakers and as such the sport faces the prospect of a massive financial hit.

Short sighted supporters of the reforms continue to insist stronger safeguards are necessary, but the debate only underscores a delicate balance between consumer protection and the sustainability of racing.

Are the 400 strong signatures all a little too late?

Quite possibly…

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