Equinties - Eclipse line up

Author

BGP Capital
July 02, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

NEW NH STALLION

A few, but potentially not many, of you will know about NIETZSCHE HAS, the unbeaten French hurdler who won the Grade 3 Prix Aguado at Auteuil in May.

Well, he looks like a smart horse, and the 3yo by ZARAK - who justified odds of 1/2 lto - will be retired to stand at Haras de Montaigu at the end of this year.

Bloodstock agent Guy Petit bought him for €240,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale and his final assignment on the track is set to be in Grade 1 company in the Autumn.

“Boasting a truly remarkable physique, Nietzsche Has is the perfect example of everything you could want in a National Hunt stallion,” said Aliette Forien of Haras de Montaigu.

“His owner Edward James, with his new French racing entity Highbourne Stud, will support the stallion with his best mares, including two excellent fillies acquired at the Derby Sale; a Doctor Dino from the 'K' family of Haras des Coudraies, who will run in a bumper in Ireland before coming to France, and a daughter of Beaumec de Houelle from the leading family developed by Bertrand Compignie, who will join Marcel Rolland.”

ECLIPSE CONFIRMATIONS

It’s on. CITY OF TROY is back after his Epsom Derby success as he was one of 11 confirmations for Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse.

CITY OF TROY, who is looking to emulate GOLDEN HORN by doing the Derby and Coral-Eclipse double, has a few good horses to tackle including WHITE BIRCH (possibly), AL RIFFA, DANCING GEMINI, and stablemate LUXEMBOURG.

JAYAREBE, winner of the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot, was also left in in-case numbers were low for the race.

On DANCING GEMINI, trainer Roger Teal said: "These Group 1 races aren't easy to win, but he'll definitely have his day in the sun whether that be on Saturday or later on.

“He's a tough and genuine horse who's definitely got a lot of class too. Fingers crossed he can get his luck on the day and everything goes right because he's 100 per cent a top-class horse.

"It'll be a tough race with City Of Troy and White Birch and whoever else rocks up, but we're looking forward to running him and seeing where he's at. We got pushed wide on the turn for home at Epsom, while City Of Troy had the perfect run. Hopefully we won't be as congested this time and can get closer to him."

The good news for Roger is that, despite confirmations, WHITE BIRCH is unlikely to runs he needs to pass a health check and the vibes seem bearish he’ll make it in time.

JUMPS JOCKEYS CHAMPIONSHIP

Yes, we are fully in the Flat season now, but the summer is where the jump jockeys’ champions can be won or lost.

Ahead of last year’s jumps season starting properly in October, many believed it would be a shoe-in for Sean Bowen based on his work through the summer and his immense lead at Christmas.

However, there was a certain Harry Cobden waiting to strike.

And by the time Sandown’s jumps season finale rolled around, many were wondering if Cobden would give the championship another go for 2024/25.

As things stand, if Cobden is going to give it a good go he’s going to have to give it some welly starting as of yesterday because because Harry Skelton, out of nowhere, has has struck while the iron is hot and already attained a sizeable lead. Skelton currently sits at the top of the championship at 33 winners while Sean Bowen has 24 and Cobden has 14.

It’ll be interesting to see how the summer develops ahead of Chepstow’s Persian War meeting.

RISK ON

Disaster struck yesterday as SHAGRAAN didn’t turn up and WAHKAN blew up in the pre’s - not ideal. They will both have their day, the latter very soon. A real leveller of a day.

Today we like the bet put up already by Norm on X @normduncsbgp and the following:

19.10 MATTERHORN & 20.00 ALSHOS

Has already thumped two in this small field so really should be winning this. Short at 10/11 but arguably a good price as a single and to lever another for close to 1x. Lever ALSHOS TO 5/2… he beat one of Eve’s who was expected to win lto.

20.40 DESERT GUEST

Skelton’s horse has been pumped in the market but his pedigree is not right for a quick ground bumper. Archie Watson’s is the best bred for the race. The price tag at 16k is a little concerning but just on a blood basis, with Skelton’s taking so much of the market, DESERT GUEST proves a small value ew play at 11/2.

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