- Equinties Newsletter
- Posts
- Equinties - decisions
Equinties - decisions
BGP Capital
February 25, 2026
Gm, Equinauts
A decision will be made…
Let’s dive in.
HEADLINE ROUNDUP
CAN THE TALK OF NYC WALK THE WALK?
Last years 2000 Guineas winner, the ill-fated RULING COURT, kick started his 3yo season in Dubai to collect their version of the 2000 Guineas.
Now, that isn’t your typical route when training horses for a long season in the UK with the Guineas and Derby in mind, but considering who Charlie Appleby’s boss is, you can imagine he absolutely no choice
and they’re doing it again this year with TALK OF NEW YORK…who looked pretty good on his only start for Godolphin:
TALK OF NEW YORK will follow in RULING COURT’s footsteps to try land the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas on his way to the British 2000 Guineas, but this particular pathway to greatness isn’t the only familiarity with his old stablemate.
Like RULING COURT, TALK OF NEW YORK is by a Coolmore stallion. But not JUSTIFY. TALK OF NEW YORK is by super stallion WOOTTON BASSETT who sadly died last year. Connections will be hoping he can stamp his credentials as a champion and introduce the valuable (and now rare) WOOTTON BASSETT blood to diversify their breeding operations away from DUBAWI.
The Jumeirah 2000 Guineas is this Saturday. Don’t miss it.
DECISION TODAY?
CONSTITUTION HILL is schooling today and we wonder if a decision over his participation at Cheltenham will be made around the kitchen table.
At yesterdays Kempton gallop, Hendo told the press it was very much 50/50 and that he was changing his mind every day but really needs to sit down with Michael Buckley to discuss his future (we think today).
We truly believe CONSTITUTION HILL won’t run in it, but the fact Hendo is so open about how close a call it is, we wouldn’t be surprised if he does now.
It’ll be interesting to know how much of an influence owner Buckley will have on the decision though, for he will be haunted by past losses of the potential stars he has had.
Buckley has had several tragic losses in his time of ownership, most notably in THE PROCLAMATION who Hendo regarded as possibly being the best horse he ever had. He fell in Ascot’s Lightning Novices’ Chase back in 1990 under Richard Dunwoody and although initially seemed okay, deteriorated overnight and sadly had to be euthanised.
Now, falling is a risk in jumps we accept but CONSITUTION HILL is different. He’s hit the deck three time already and four might just be one too far.
These such incidents—particularly fatal falls or sudden euthanasia’s—have been heart-breaking for Buckley, who has spoken openly about the "rotten luck" with promising horses not making it, the emotional toll (crying over losses), and how they haunt him.
The past deaths surely will heighten Buckley’s caution when it comes to this sit down with Nicky, another mishap could be devastating emotionally. And that’s without comment on the fact so many millions of eyes will be on him. There is a strong chance Buckley is favouring safer alternatives where we can all enjoy watching him knowing he is safer.
A LOOK AHEAD
Newbury is hosting this weekend and it’s the Greatwood Gold Cup under the spotlight.
Heading the market is VINCENZO for Sam Thomas who was last seen winning at Ascot. He needs every yard of the track so this slightly reduced trip is a slight concern on quicker ground (good to soft).
Nicholls has won the race a couple of times in the last ten years and is repped by TWIN JETS who knows his way around our home track. He went off fave lto at Cheltenham but unseated. Top weight will be difficult.
HELTENHAM finished behind TWIN JETS at Newbury but it’s been a disaster since falling twice and then trailing home last in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last time out. We imagine his run behind JONBON et al was a purely a confidence booster. He won this race in ‘24 but that was in heavy and we think he might need slower going than he will get this weekend now the sun is FINALLY out.
BLOW YOUR WAD can go on good good to soft and will be more comfortable at this level compared to the race he was in last time. He is new to the Moore’s but that yard love a Newbury winner and he could go well here with Freddie Mitchell taking off 3.
ISSAM reps Tom Symonds who is having a good year but he might need slower ground.
Of the rest, RODNEY carries nothing but needs to improve, JOSH THE BOSS will like the ground but might be a bit too small, GLENGOULY will probably get done by younger legs, MAHONS GLORY might find this grad too tough, PLEASINGTON looks a boat, TRIPLE TRADE too high in the handicap and the others shouldn’t be winning.
Verdict: At this moment in time, if the Moore’s have him right (they’re coming out a bit of a quiet spell) then BLOW YOUR WAD could be a seriously live contender Saturday at 7/1.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO FOLLOW OUR BETS:
