Equinties - chasing away the flat

Gm Equinauts

Well, with the horses entered this week, the jumps are definitely back!

To celebrate we’re hitting this newsletter with a double Young Blood - one for the flat and one for Huntingdon’s bumper.

It won’t be long until it’s just bumpers previews They’re our bread and butter, we can’t wait.

Let’s dive in.

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

ARRAY OF STARS LINE UP

Last month’s Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner and newsletter bet ARRAY has been supplemented for Saturday’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in a bold move by Juddmonte for £35,000.

The NO NAY NEVER colt has been installed as a general 14/1-shot for the seven-furlong contest worth £500,000, a race won last year by Juddmonte with their future Classic hero CHALDEAN defining their clear intent for back to back victories in the prestigious race.

CITY OF TROY was confirmed for the race by Aidan O’Brien having been a late non-runner from the Group 1 National Stakes last month while stablemates HENRY LONGFELLOW, RIVER TIBER, JOHANNES BRAHMS, UNQUESTIONABLE, and HENRY ADAMS still remain in the race.

More, Charlie Hills has also confirmed his Group 2 Champagne Stakes winning monster IBERIAN for the race with Tom Marquand set to ride. 4’s looks big.

WHAT A LINE UP.

LEAVING VIA THE SALES

Group 1 winner VIA SISTINA is yet another high-profile George Boughey mare set to head to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale later this year following the news of CACHET earlier this week.

The five-year-old by FASTNET ROCK has been a wonderful prospect for connections this season thanks to her Group 1 Pretty Polly win, facile Group 2 Dahlia Stakes victory and neck-second in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet in August.

She will have a final outing in either the Group 1 Champion Stakes or British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes on Champions Day before heading to the sales ring.

JUMPING INTO WINTER

And finally, some of the best horses of the National Hunt game are set to reappear for the first time this season over the next few days.

There will be more – and better – horses to talk about tomorrow, but as for today we have ZANAHIYR, RUN FOR OSCAR, and ANDY DUFRESNE against each other over hurdles in the 15.00 at Punchestown.

ZANAHIYR might just need the run and there are whispers connections are going novice chasing with him after this, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes where as RUN FOR OSCAR runs fit from his flat campaign. He was competitive over hurdles last season off his mark in the mid-140s.

Outsider of the field, ANDY DUFRESNE lines up. He didn’t look himself over fences last season and may just appreciate the drop back to hurdles. Don’t forget he is a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle winner and has plenty of class about him – if hurdles relight the flame inside of him, he could be interesting to watch at a big price.

YOUNG BLOOD

14.47 LEICESTER  

BEATRICE SHILLING by SEA THE STARS o/o a CHAMPS ELYSEES mare, it’s a staying pedigree and trainer isn’t renowned for his debutants winners. Best watched on debut.

WARDA JAMILA is COLTRANE’S half sister. She’s by CALYX who has put some speed and precocity in to her, she made a promising debut at Leicester and looks sure to improve from that effort.

DANCE DESIRE has been weak in the market all morning, by SEA THE STARS. She looks like she may benefit from the experience after today, best watched.

Ralph Beckett runs two in the race, TUMBLEWEED is a half to 5 winners, pedigree isn’t hugely exciting so best watched on debut. BLUE AKOYA is a SEA THE MOON filly who was picked up for 70k at the sales last year, she looks more a project for next year.

PRIZE POSSESSION needs to find a lot of improvement from her debut and the others look like they’ll come on from the run.

Verdict: The Trains half sis WARDA JAMILA is expected to improve from her debut run and as she is against a load of newcomers can put her experience to good use today.

17.30 HUNTINGDON

The market leader is HILL SPIRIT. Connections won this race last year so clearly the target but they did it with one who had a lot more stamina in the pedigree. That said, this one’s sire is the same sire as our lad OCEAN WIND and that might add the staying potential needed.

The Irish raider THEINCROWD is next at 4’s. The dam side is littered with flat stayers but the sire leaves a lot to be desired for a race like this.

The Twiston-Davies couldn’t be in better form and they run 80k SULEIMAN ARTIST for connections who know how to buy good ones. Nothing wrong with his pedigree for this race and we know Nige likes to target bumpers.

TOPKAPI has a moderate flat pedigree and has probably been chucked in here either to try and pick up a weak race or get some experience.

Milton Harris was close to landing a gamble in yesterday’s bumper, he send’s GIDDYADINGDONG but this pedigree is nothing to write home about. The only thing going for it is the ground. That said, Milton’s yard in form so should be fit.

PIERREFONDS is probably the most expensive horse in the race at £165k. Jack Jones is predominantly a flat trainer but can ready one in the NH sphere. This lad could be quite useful but is he ready or out for a gallop? Watch the market…currently 9’s.

At bigger prices, CALL IT ADAAY and SPITFIRE BRIDGE have the pedigree’s to make some noise.

Verdict: Despite the gamble on Archie’s (who could bolt up if ready tbf), the pedigree selection is SULEIMAN ARTIST 9/2. A big price danger is CALL IT ADAAY at 30’s who on pedigree, has a squeak for a place. This is not a betting heat, more a race to get our eye in for the big betting races later on in the season.

STATS OF THE DAY

15.10 TOMMY CULLEN makes his under rules chase debut for Charlie Longsdon. The last three winners of this race have all been trained by a person who’s name begins with the letter C. Can Charlie Longsdon make it the 4-timer?

15.30 SILVER BUBBLE loves Brighton, winning her four times and more, winning this exact race last year. Handicapped to go well but already been smashed in the market. Can Gay land the gamble?

One of these isn’t a serious stat.

RISK ON

17.25 SALAMANCA CITY

Stayed on well on debut and trainers horses come on for their runs. People piling into Beckett’s because of the SKELLETT form but she was beaten out of sight. Either 3/1 or 11/1 w/o fave - could split the stake to hedge in what looks a two horse race.

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