Equinties - Billy well clear

Gm Equinauts

England going full send against the Aussies to try beat the weather, Tommy Fleetwood leading in the golf and our local track Newbury playing host to some of the fastest rockets in the country.

Friday’s don't get much better than this.

Imagine not liking sport lol. Lets dive in.

BGP FANTASY LEAGUE COMP

We’ve been hyping up the TOTE’s new Fantasy game since we found it. Why? Simply because there is nothing else out there now which can help people cage the betting chimp while maintaining an emotional interest in the big races of the day.

People bet way too much and the Fantasy allows you to get limited risk on, fill your brain up with the dope it craves and still be in the mix for a big win.

If we hit 100 stables today, top of the BGP private league get’s a new ‘GM’ cap.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

Billy builds on lead

Billy ‘the Wonder Kid’ Loughnane rode a treble at Chepstow yesterday putting him on 79 winners this season. He's now not only 13 clear of his next rival in the apprentice jockey's leaderboard, but unbelievably, he is one ahead of current champion jockey William Buick. Insane.

He has 19 booked rides until next Wednesday meaning he is a busy boy, and fair play to him. Trainers are keen to make use of his skills and his remaining 3lbs claim.

Super Saturday 

Of the 8 declared for Saturday's Irish Oaks, four are trained by Aidan O'Brien as the Master of Ballydoyle will see SAVE THE LAST DANCE and WARM HEART clash on the track.

It's not just the Irish contingent that will making this year's Irish Oaks a hot one, BLUESTOCKING, a small bit a Racing Twitter horse will be hoping to get the better of WARM HEART on her third attempt.

Considering the Pretty Polly was just a few weeks ago, the Falmouth was just last week, and the Nassau is on the horizon, there can’t be many complaints at a field like this with even the inclusion of AZAZAT an interesting one based on comments from connections.

There will be a full preview of this race in tomorrow's Weekender edition.

Racing Twitter angry

And finally, something that was doing the rounds on Racing Twitter over the last few days was THAT ride by apprentice jockey Iqbal Khan on LUCKY QUEEN at Killarney on Wednesday.

For those who have missed it, Khan, having his first ride in a professional race, struck his horse 13 times within two furlongs and finished second.

This was a bad take:

Firstly, the twat onboard is about double the age of the Intern. Secondly, people have every right to call it out. It wasn't a mistake, like missing the line, there was intent.

Now, don't get me wrong, horses need a hard smack sometimes. Many readers will remember our boy Rocky. He’s enjoying semi-retirement since he came down at Hickstead last year. I love that horse but my god can he be a real d!ck. When he's in a field next to mares, he’ll fight me to not be brought in. I have no problems fighting him back while he’s on two legs trying to put iron through my face. But I’d never want to hurt him…not that I could anyway.

To be clear, I'm not anti-whip. Jockeys need it. But what he did looked nothing short of abusive and evidenced a concerning lack of empathy, in our view.

That’s odd behaviour. Call it out.

STATS OF THE DAY

Ward isn't the most reliable trainer but he is reliable at Nottingham where he’s 2 from 4 in 3yp handicaps. Runs SEA OF ELEGANCE in the 15.25. Could be a good day for prominent owner Rosier who also has CONQUISTADOR. 20.40.

The 19.40 looks to be the race of the day with many clocking mileage to get there but its Stoutey who makes it pay the best. He's 2 from 2 when travelling this far and is repped by CIRCLE OF FIRE for the King. The King is also repped by WELSH HARBOUR, Beckett is 6 from 16 in Haydock non-handicaps.

Will we see a double owner double?

YOUNG BLOOD

14.45 NEWBURY

This maiden has been won by Gr1 winners CHALDEAN and BAYSIDE BOY in recent years so get your notebooks out.

MAXIMUM DIVIDEND is by first season sire and o/o SIZZILING who was Gr3 placed as a 2yo. This chestnut colt is by American Triple Crown winner AMERICAN PHAROAH, who sided 4 Gr1 winners last year. Second to a Stoutey KINGMAN colt last time out at Sandown and should improve.

BOILING POINT is a son of champion 2yo TOO DARN HOT, the Varian inmate is a brother to RESOLUTE MAN who won on debut for Roger. Interesting that he holds two Gr1 entries.

KING OF LUCK trained by Sir Michael Stoute, this NEW BAY colt was bought for 325,000gns. His brother is PSYCHEDLIC FUNK who was a Gr3 scorer and was 3rd in the Coventry as a 2yo. This lads broodmare sire is GALILEO who is having an amazing time, yet again as a dam sire, this year represented by SHAQUILLE amongst others.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE trained by last years winning trainer Andrew Balding. Bred in the purple, he was a 600,000gns yearling. His sire is TOO DARN HOT, and he is o/o TURRET ROCKS. She won the Gr2 May Hill Stakes as a 2yo and was Gr1 placed. TURRET ROCKS in turn has produced AGE OF KINGS, who was a 1.1million guineas yearling to MV Magnier.

Watch the market for any other newcomers.

Verdict: MAXIMJM DIVIDEN has had a run and most likely can improve from that, he sandwiched a Juddmonte horse and a Godolphin horse at Sandown. BOILING POINT could be the one though. He holds a Gr1 entry which is interesting, and Roger Varian won this in 2021 with top 2yo and Gr1 winner BAYSIDE BOY.

16.45 LISTED ROSE BOWL STAKES

ASADNA had all the timeform rating gurus in a hot sweat of excitement after his debut performance where he scooted clear of his rivals by 12lengths, he was given a ridiculously high 103 rating. There was loads of chat about his work before Royal Ascot but he duly flopped. He could easily bounce back for his new trainer today.

PALMAR BAY beat JASOUR (was his debut) lto and JASOUR has of course won the Superlative S. Gr2 since. JASOUR could well have improved a lot since his debut but it’s still good form. The trainer doesn’t throw a dart if he thinks he’s not without a chance.

SHAGRAAN won well lto, he needs to improve today but that’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

BALON D’OR ran a screamer at Epsom in the Woodcote (we backed him; he made the running and was just headed late on), then ran ok in France. He’s the type who is going to start looking vulnerable at this level so needs to step up.

KINNIGOLI KID is by NO NAY NEVER and cost 85k as a yearling and resold for 120k as a Breeze Up to give Jim McCartan a nice little profit. Dam was Listed placed, half bro was Gr1 placed, the family of POSTPONED and SILVER KNOTT. 2nd and 3rd from his debut run in Novice Stakes over the next couple of days.

MARKAKOL ran poorly on debut after being well backed and then won well nto, difficult to say if he was flattered on his second start as the form looks questionable. Market to guide

DAPPER VALLEY ran a cracker on debut at the course which is helpful. Pat Dobbs lost his steering lto so you can put a line through that. Interesting contender if he can get back on track, stall 1 isn’t particularly helpful.

ACTION POINT is by first season side BLUE POINT, he won cosily on debut and then ran well at Ascot, the form around him hasn’t worked out great so he’s got a bit to find in this company.

INISHFALLEN, a son of EXCEED AND EXCEL who improved nicely from his debut run to win second time out, form looks questionable, he needs to take another step forward today. It’s plausible but others have more appeal.

ODONNELL’S ORCHARD showed some ability on debut, this is a big step up on only his second start. Clearly Dascombe likes him and thinks he’s improved a lot, ew claims at best.

Verdict: We wanted to take ASADNA on but he could easily bounce back to form in what looks a relatively weak Listed event.

RISK ON

15.00 WARM SPELL 

They're all unexposed in this race but Varian could have a good day… this lad has had a run, so should be less green and we know he's good. Full bet at evens.

17.00 NIGIRI

Weak race against badly bred horses. This girl should have won lto. Full bet at 11/8.

Small double.

There might be another play posted to twitter.