Equinties - Celebre d'Allen

Gm Equinauts

After the shitshow that was the 2023 Grand National, we were so hoping that this years renewal would follow that of last year and see every one go home safe and sound.

Although every horse who lined up did go home, not all have survived. Sadly, it was announced yesterday that 13yo CELBRE D’ALLEN passed away, a full 3 days after the race. A horrendous blow to connections and huge kick in the guts to all who rejoiced when they saw him up and about post-race.

His jockey, Michael Nolan, has been suspended for a mere 10 days for his poor error of judgement in asking the oldest horse in the Grand National to keep going when nothing left to give.

After receiving a torrent of abuse, he has come off social media.

You might ask us why, as a racing publication, have we detailed Michael’s actions instead of simply stating CELEBRE D’ALLEN sadly passed, RIP, etc etc and brush the rest under the carpet.

Well we’re horse people and whether it’s in racing, eventing or showjumping, the riders must always put the horses first.

Quite simply, Michael had a duty of care for CELBRE D’ALLEN and seemingly allowed the heat of the Grand National to override the responsibilities of stewardship of his mount. CELBRE D’ALLEN didn’t forget his job though, and in the heat of the sun gave Michael every thing. Michael didn’t look after him.

Remember, it’s the horse that is the reason every one fall in love with racing.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

LOWERING SIGHTS

“Could be anything.” It’s a phrase that is used frequently in horse racing, especially for young horses who are wildly unexposed. Okay, there is unwarranted abuse of the word, but you can’t say that for COSMIC YEAR, Harry Charlton’s unbeaten son of KINGMAN, who has been backed ante-post for the Newmarket 2000 Guineas and really could be anything!

We’ve already mentioned the exciting colt in the newsletter this year, and we actually mentioned him quite recently, but that’s when we thought the plan was Saturday’s Group 3 Greenham Stakes.

That was the plan, but the plan was changed earlier in the week, and we are now set to see him run at Kempton today in the 18:10, a seven-furlong novice stakes

Why? Well, Harry Charlton explained in TDN. He said: “He's in good nick and he's ready. We've had the Greenham in mind all winter – that was the target. This novice race wasn't even in the calendar, but when we looked at the weather and then saw that this race had popped up we thought it might suit.

“We walked the course on Sunday and we wouldn't have run him on that day on the track, but that is not to say that Newbury won't have it right by Saturday. But we had to make a decision about Kempton by Monday. [Newbury's clerk of the course] George Hill has been very helpful and he has a plan that realistically it's going to be good to firm, good in places for Friday, and I don't think they'll water on Friday night, so it's likely to be good to firm on Saturday.

“It's not that he can't run on that ground, but I didn't particularly want to run him first time out on that ground. It's a long old year.”

Charlton also mentioned that Juddmonte has JONQUIL entered for the race, so it seemed like the best option.

He’s priced accordingly for today’s race, and he will probably win, but it’s slightly annoying that he’s not running in the Greenham this weekend.

We won’t get to see him try Group company before the Guineas, and if he bolts up today, his price will become a lot shorter than it already is without learning too much. Tough one this.

More: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/cosmic-comeback-diverted-to-kempton-as-ground-dries-out-for-classic-trials/

NO GREENHAM FOR GOLD

Speaking of potential Juddmonte-owned horses for the Greenham Stakes, FIELD OF GOLD won’t head to Newbury on Saturday either.

He has some pretty nice form in the book from last year’s juvenile season. He finished second to the subsequent Grade 1 winner NEW CENTURY, he beat the subsequent Group 3 winner STARZINTHEIREYES at Newmarket in July, he beat MATAURI BAY in the Group 3 Solario Stakes, and he then finished fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to CAMILLE PISSARRO.

He’s a lovely galloping grey, but Newbury is not on his agenda, as John Gosden said: “At the moment the plan is to run Chancellor at Newbury and for Field Of Gold to point towards the Craven Stakes at Newmarket next week. 

“Because of what happened at the start at Doncaster, Chancellor had a stalls test at Kempton yesterday which he passed and it’s all systems go for Newbury where the track and ground should be fine for him.

“Field Of Gold is in good shape but the mile at Newmarket may play more to his strengths and it will tell us whether he’s a 2,000 Guineas horse or not.”

Just looking at the Greenham Stakes, RASHABAR is going, as is CHANCELLOR, Godolphin have two entered in the race (AL QUDRA and ANNO DOMINI) so who knows if both of them will go, and the interesting DIABLO ROJO has David Egan jocked up for Raphael E Freire.

MATAURI BAY is also entered for Ralph Beckett and has Hector Crouch booked, so the FIELD OF GOLD form will be tested.
We’re looking forward to the Flat returning to Newbury!

TRIUMPH TO FLAT

The 2025 Triumph Hurdle was littered with pieces of Flat form coming to the table.
PONIROS, the winner, was second in the London Gold Cup, EAST INDIA DOCK came from the flat, as did HELLO NEIGHBOUR, TOO BOSSY FOR US, MONDO MAN, LUMIERE DU LARGE, CHARLUS, GIBBS ISLAND, BLUE LEMONS, OPEC, and PAPPANO.

A few of these horses, notably the winner, will probably head back to the Flat at some stage, but the first one to do so could well be EAST INDIA DOCK for James Owen.

The four-year-old by GOLDEN HORN still looks unexposed on the Flat. He bolted up under Jack Doughty at Goodwood in September before finishing a fine fourth at Doncaster under Ryan Moore 10 days later. He’s improved since, that’s for sure, and Owen is plotting a plan to Chester for him.

He said: “We are keen to go to Chester with East India Dock. If he gets in, I’m sure we’ll be coming.

“He’s rated 89, which would have got him into the main race in any of the last three years, and I think he’s well handicapped on his hurdles form.

“I think Chester will suit him. He’s not ground dependent, he’ll stay the trip, he races economically, and on his hurdles form he’s well handicapped on the Flat.

“We bypassed Aintree so that he could have a short little freshen up for the Flat, and I think there are a lot of pluses.”

That’s not the only Gredley Family-owned four-year-old who could be running in the Chester Cup, as he continued: “Liam Swagger is an intended runner too. He’s currently rated 83, but we’d like to get in the main event if we can and so he’ll go to Chelmsford in the meantime to try to pick up a penalty,” Owen added.

“Charging Thunder likes going left-handed and won well at Southwell last time. He’s rated 90 and will be suited by a race of this nature. Cavern Club is headed for the consolation race probably off his rating of 81.”

EAST INDIA DOCK will be a hype horse now returning to the Flat. He’s the 12/1 favourite already for the race and he could well be a plunge horse. Would we be interested in him? We think he’s a top horse and love his pedigree but his tough, busy spell in the NH sphere means he’d have been on the go a long while and we’d be worried about the effects that might have on him. James Owen will have a job to keep his fresh

RISK ON

Two singles this week, two L’s. Today we like several horses but will post to X once we’re fully decided on them.

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