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Gm Equinauts

This is a huge week of racing and there is something for everyone.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

THE DREAM CONTINUES

One of the stories of last season’s Flat campaign was the one of LIVE IN THE DREAM for Epsom-based trainer Adam West. From a Lingfield handicap victory off 97 to winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes and then finishing fourth at the Breeders’ Cup, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that didn’t enjoy what the PRINCE OF LIR gelding did last season. 

With no need to worry about any potential stallion career due to being a gelding, West and owners Steve & Jolene De’Lemos are gearing up for another season with their superstar and the Group 2 Temple Stakes looks a likely starting point. West said: “We split the season last year to get more racing out of him, but now we're hoping for loftier targets and less racing–obviously we can't go to Lingfield and Pontefract anymore!

“There's a good bit of condition on him that still needs to come off and we're hoping to start him out in the Temple Stakes in May. The main aim will be the Nunthorpe and he's probably going to be campaigned with that in mind, hopefully with the added bonus of going to America.”

From the connections’ POV, it’s hard not to be excited for this season when you look at the form he has in the book. During his Nunthorpe success, he beat the late HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (before she won l’Abbaye), BRADSELL, and REGIONAL before his Group 1 Sprint Cup success.  

So, with this in mind, go West! (bad pun).

CRAZY NUMBERS

As was well-documented after Aintree, I AM MAXIMUS’ victory in the richest steeplechase on Earth pushed Willie Mullins to the top of the British Trainers’ Championship with a sizeable lead over both Dan Skelton and reigning champion Paul Nicholls. 

Paul Nicholls told Betfair Racing that he once pulled back a deficit of roughly £180,000 in the 2015/16 season thanks to successes in the Scottish Grand National with VICENTE and Listed Select Hurdle with PTIT ZIG, so all hope is not lost for the chasing duo. 

Unfortunately for both Nicholls and Skelton, the master of Closutton is not lying down this season and he is applying the pressure where it hurts, starting with a raid of Ayr this weekend. 

There is a lot to unravel from the entries, but arguably the horse with the best CV is SHARJAH who has two entries for the handicap chases. He could have been interesting if he went for a handicap Chase at Cheltenham rather than the Turners, so a drop back to two miles off a mark in the 140s could see him well-treated.

However, the race that could win Mullins the championship is the feature handicap chase, the Scottish Grand National. He has six entered at this stage and all of them are interesting, but SPANISH HARLEM on his first start in a handicap chase could be the one to have a second look at. He’s been a bit disappointing despite his price tag, but his form behind TACTICAL MOVE - a subsequent Grade 1 runner-up - and the late SAINT FELICIEN could serve him well. He looks like a slow boat as well, so the trip will be up his street.

BIG RACE PREVIEW

 15.30 7f CONDITION STAKES

Newmarket form counts for a lot, especially on the Rowley Mile where horses can get lost going into and out of the dip. Two hold that crucial course form, BOILING POINT and the badly supported if not supported at all TEN BOB TONY.

BOILING POINTS Gr3 second over course and distance was very good form. The winner and 3rd were subsequently placed and chased CITY OF TROY home in the Gr1 Dewhurst. The ground needs to stay good or better. With the blowing wind, it can dry out quite a lot but it’s fair to say the first day will be described as good ground.

BOLD STYLE in the Godolphin blue needs to be taken seriously but mainly because of where he lives not necessarily on form, we suspect he is quite far down the talent list.

STARLORE’s 4th in the Gr3 Solario Stakes reads well, with DEVILS POINT securing gr1 placed honours. However, it’s fair to say that the son of KINGMAN still has a bit to find. With the wet spring we’ve had it’s difficult to suggest Sir Michael Stoute has his string in tantalising form. Maybe he’ll need the run?

Verdict: BOILING POINT is simmering with potential and will hopefully show it on the first day of the Craven Meeting.

YOUNG BLOOD

13.20 2YO NOVICES’ STAKES

Today marks the first day of the Craven meeting and the very first race is full of plenty of potential for many reasons. However, potentially the biggest one of them all is the first runner by PINATUBO as HALLASAN is making his debut. 

It’s always exciting to see the first crop of horses who were once lighting up the turf in the not too distant past, and the money has come for this 2yo who’s daddy is strong fave for champion first season sire honours. The price suggests connections might be expecting something special on debut.

HALLASAN is out of the Listed winner FIG ROLL, making him a half to the Group 3 winner AL RAYA.

Despite the price and the hype, this won’t be an easy assignment for HALLASAN as stablemate AL QUDRA is next in the market and although William Buick has made his choice, he is by the top 2yo sire NO NAY NEVER out of the Listed winner PIECE OF PARADISE. PIECE OF PARADISE did her winning as a juvenile and the damsire is HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR who exclusively raced as a 2yo, so he should be a forward type on paper.

The MOUNT NELSON mare PROM DRESS has had a good start to life as a broodmare as she has produced THE WIZARD OF EYE who achieved a peak rating of 109. His HAVANA GREY half-brother, ARRAN, is making his debut today. THE WIZARD OF EYE did his best work later on in his career, so he may be a slower one to build up.

As for BRETTON WOOD, he is bred in the purple as he is by FRANKEL out of the Prix Morny winner PRETTY POLLYANNA. That is one smart pedigree, but there has been a small drift on the overnight prices. He’ll be interesting to see on his debut.

The other ped to note is THE ACTOR for Hannon. He is by HARRY ANGEL and a half to 100 rated FIRST FOLIO.

Verdict: the money is shouting for HALLASAN and we’re very, very excited to see how daddy PINATUBO fairs as a sire but he’s far too short for an unproven pedigree. We want to see PINATUBO post some winners first. The Godolphin second string AL QUDRA is interesting (by rocket sire NO NAY NEVER) as is ARRAN by champion first seasons sire HAVANA GREY. The best bred BRETTON WOOD has drifted out to 15’s suggesting Owen will take his time with this lad. We’ll hang our hat on AL QUDRA, no bet.

RISK ON

No bets yesterday, today resents some good betting opportunities.

13.50 DREAM COMPOSER

This lad won for us last year and is NAP material. Could have done with a bit more rain but good ground should just be okay. Targeted at this race and he’s fit having had a run. 9/2 a good ew on the books or use exchange for a self made at a bigger price 6.4.

15.30 BOILING POINT

Slight odds on on books, hit the exchange for close to even money. Should be the one to beat in this race. 8/11 might be too short for some so use to lever a single e.g. DREAM COMPOSER becomes 8/1.

14.20 GRAND KARAT & 16.05 KIKKULI

A Charlton double here (we never thought we’d say that!). Yard have hit good form early so we’re hoping these two won’t need a run. GRAND KARAT opening mark looks more than workable with good form banked last season. KIKKULI is FRANKEL’s half bro who made a promising debut and should be hard to stop today. Ew the way to go in case they bump into one or two. 16/1 ew small double.

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