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Gm Equinauts

I'M BACK.

Miami completed, happy to be home (a week is enough there).

I was on the same flight back as Johnny G who was returning from his holiday in Barbados via Miami and we had a good chat about lots of subjects Miami Int. American Airways lounge.

I tried to probe into what 2yo of his to look out for this season but he said, like ours, they haven't even started work yet making it all a guessing game until they come under pressure.

We talked for a good half hour about all things racing; Richards Knight's Tattersalls sales debt impact on the market, Newbury's prize money increase (he boycotted a race last season), Frankie's last season and his nervousness of finding out which of his 2yo's have 'trained on' for the upcoming season.

A very, very nice gentleman.

Whilst away, I subbed British racing for Gulfstream Park which was v. fun. It's just different out there. They have everything out there to compliment the main event - sports bars/restaurants, casinos and clubs, the lot.

It looks like I missed a brilliant weekend of racing last week though. The Graded action at both Leopardstown and Sandown was apparently enjoyable and seemingly a lot learnt.

The intern has done a great job of keeping track of the goings on, so let's dive in.

Headline roundup

Willie’s highs and lows 

Despite eight winners, countless Grade 1 victories, and plenty of runners, you’d have to say that the master of Closutton will be a touch annoyed about how this weekend has panned out for him.  

And it all started in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, a race he won, as LOSSIEMOUTH was turned over at 1/3 by GALA MARCEAU.  

Mid-race interference from the owner-mate JOURDEFETE cost the undefeated filly the race.  

Look, maybe Paul Townend didn’t give her the greatest ride in the world, but she showed plenty of attitude to fight back to where she did and she shouldn’t be discounted for the Triumph.  

Not to be put down by the disappointment, EL FABIOLO put in one of the best performances of the weekend in the Irish Arkle as both DYSART DYNAMO and APPRECIATE IT were well held.  

This was a proper performance, bar the small pace collapse, and connections were very happy with the victory.  

Following a 1-2 in the Irish Gold Cup on day one and having to watch MIGHTY POTTER bolt up on day two (we’ll get onto this), Mullins was hit by two more shocks yesterday as BLUE LORD and FACILE VEGA both failed to win in their respective races.  

The latter came as more of a surprise as it all happened so suddenly - he took on HIGH DEFINITION for speed early on, was asked for a challenge by Townend but didn’t deliver, and he stopped very quickly.  

If you were to guess, you’d say something is wrong with him - Townend said it was “too bad to be true” after the race.  

The son of QUEVEGA is now a 6/1 shot for the Supreme - will you be backing him at that price?  

Overall, I’m sure any trainer would dream to do what Willie did this weekend, however, with a few big disappointments, he may be leaving the DRF with more questions than answers.  

The Mighty One 

It may have been questionable for Mullins this weekend, but Gordon Elliott was doing cartwheels around the parade ring on Sunday as MIGHTY POTTER cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase. 

The MARTALINE gelding is now seven from nine across his career and unbeaten over fences as he demolished the field at Leopardstown, causing firms to shorten him up to 11/8 for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival. 

This is a serious horse. You could just watch him all day. 

When he gets them right, (and he does miss a few) he is so slick over his fences (watch the third last again, it’s heaven), he has a great turn of foot, and he looks like he can stay very well. 

It’s a long way away, but could this be Gordon’s Gold Cup horse for next season? On pedigree, the sire doesn’t train on too well, however, Gordon and the team think a tonne of him, and they have believed he was a potential Gold Cup horse since his Supreme days. 

Let’s hope he stays sound and well for a while. 

The Warrior forges on 

And finally, despite all his Grade 1 successes, Willie Mullins still delved into the handicaps at the DRF as he made use of GAELIC WARRIORS’s 143 mark to secure the valuable Liffey Handicap Hurdle for Rich Ricci. 

Having finished second in the Boodles off 129 (how tf did he lose off 129!?), GAELIC WARRIOR looks to be a right one for Mullins and could arguably be his best novice hurdler heading into the Festival, a place where he has a number of options. 

The Ballymore has been named as Willie’s ‘preferred target’, but the County Hurdle was also mentioned before his new handicap mark of 153 was announced. 

However, there were strong whispers around the Leopardstown paddock that a few people would like to see him go to the Supreme Hurdle instead of the Ballymore – it wouldn’t be off the table for Willie to change his mind, after all, he has done this countless times before! 

Whatever his future holds, he looks very nice for connections, and he capped off a brilliant DRF.  

More news

Gordon on the hitlist… again

Gordon Elliott found himself back in the news for the wrong reasons yesterday as he was fined £1000 for a horse testing positive for banned substances.

The horse in question is the Bective Stud-owned ZANAHIYR as tests came back from last year’s Champion Hurdle, a race he finished third in, that showed he had traces of a metabolite of lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, in his system.

The tests were conducted after the IHRB carried out an unannounced inspection of his yard last April under the instructions of the BHA - neither the BHA or Elliott is able to determine the cause of the infringement, causing the BHA spokesperson to call it “a mystery case”.

It’s a big case and SAINT ROI is now the official third place, read more below.

Oh Canada for Fitzdares

Prominent UK bookmaker Fitzdares is set to launch in Canada next week in what will be the company’s first venture outside of the UK in 140 years.

Under contract with iGaming Ontario, Fitzdares is keen to capitalise on a strong Canadian sports betting fan base ahead of the Super Bowl.

Interesting story:

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Today's best stats

Loads of racing and loads of stats not properly qualifying, leaving only one to consider today.

18.10 UNITED FORCE for Archie and Paul Mulrennan. Trainer/jock combo is 4 from 10 this season at a track the yard target. If horse has improved, shouldnt finish out of top 3.

Huntingdon bumper preview

Loads of runners in this and it's a mares/fillies race so this is going to be the most 'educated' lucky dip ever. I'd tend to side with the mares who are older (and presumably) stronger but none of them appear any good on paper.

Lavelle is heading the market with her mare FLIGHT OF FREEDOM having finished second behind a subsequent Listed winner (beating QUEENS GAMBLE!) for Fergal, that's good form.

FLIGHT OF FREEDOM is a drifter and I'd be happy to look for a bigger price down the field to take her on tbh, perhaps with her other one ROSALYS. This girl is only 4 so might need more time but her dam side is nice being a half to the likes of goof flat horses in SAM COOKE and DIOCLETIAN. Her sire WORKFORCE is a big question mark meaning this if a bit of a guess. She's about 22/20's.

The other one I'd side with is Rae Guest's ONE COLOUR. I love TEOFILO's and he's out of a mare who's related to very capable middle distance flat horses.

ROSALYS 20/1 and ONE COLOUR 16/1 the tentative picks in this weak bumper.