Equinties - Ferny hello

Gm Equinauts

All week we’ve been alluding to making a big announcement this week, well, today’s the day.

November last year, to celebrate the Breeders Cup, we gave away a trip to Vegas. An Irish chap named Ronan won it, we booked his flights and helicopter tour this week (we told him if he misses his flight home that’s on him!).

And then in December we made someone’s Christmas when we gave away a £500 John Lewis voucher.

Tonight we’re announcing something that has been in the pipeline for some time now and is for everyone. To be involved, simply subscribe to the weekenders edition for only £1 via the link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

FERNY HELLO

December 26th, 2021. That’s the date in racing history we last saw FERNY HOLLOW, the 2020 Champion Bumper winner, on track. 

The unbeaten-over-obstacles 9yo has form in the book with APPRECIATE IT, RIVIERE D’ETEL, FRONTAL ASSAULT, BOB OLINGER, THEDEVILSCOACHMAN, and GENTLEMAN DE MEE, all of which he has beaten. 

However, having suffered a good number of injuries since that Grade 1 Novice Chase success at Leopardstown on Boxing Day 2021, he is set to return this Saturday in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase. The only entry FERNY HOLLOW has for this year’s Cheltenham Festival is the Queen Mother Champion Chase, a contest he is 25/1 for, but it seems as if connections can start dreaming of having a campaign with him. 

Cheveley Park managing director, Chris Richardson, said: "Fingers crossed the build-up to the race goes well and Willie's happy – it would be lovely to see him back. I'm sure he'll be ring-rusty and I just hope that he travels safely and gets round. "All roads lead to Cheltenham and it's just a question of how far we get." 

To see him back in full flight would be some sight. Let’s just hope he can remain injury-free.

ACE IMPACT

Haras de Beaumont launched the stallion career of Arc hero ACE IMPACT yesterday, and he already has a queue of horses waiting in line to be covered. One of which is DAMKENA, the full sister to Listed winner KENFREEZE and Group 3 winner KENDAM, who was the top lot at yesterday’s Arqana February Sale for €62,000. 

She is already in foal to GALIWAY, but after this foal, she will visit ACE IMPACT who is standing for a record first-season French fee of €40,000. Another who is set to visit ACE IMPACT is GRAND VICTORY, an unraced full-sister to ZAGREY who finished third to EQUINOX and WESTOVER in the Sheema Classic. She was bought for €60,000.

More from the breeding world: https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/sales-reports/prepare-for-impact-haras-de-beaumont-acquire-pair-of-top-lots-at-arqana-to-visit-arc-hero-achJr6u7dmcA/

14.30 GRADE 2 MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE

Today we are treated to a nice Grade 2 novice hurdle to get stuck into with seven mares to consider. 

ASTON MARTINI heads the market for Nicky Henderson and James Bowen. She is a GETAWAY half-sister to the 135-rated LANDRAKE and caused a bit of a surprise to win at 14/1 at Lingfield over two miles. 

Lto saw her step down in trip and today sees her return to 2m4f, though it was a weak race at Lingfield and the other Hendo horse was fancied. She has to give weight away today which is never easy.

CHERIE D’AM landed a bit of a touch for the Skeltons’ at Aintree on Boxing Day as she won a handicap off 115 impressively. 

It was slow-motion stuff at Aintree, like it will be today, but she pulled a bit more out at the finish and their race was quicker than the handicap hurdle over course and distance later on the card. She also carried nearly two stone more than the winner of that handicap, BINGOO, so she holds good respect here.

EITHER OR is the choice of Nico de Boinville of the Henderson pair, a potential tip in itself, having won at Warwick at the start of January. The front two from her last run pulled clear of the third, suggesting that both she and VICTORIA MILANO are smart, but it’s hard to know what the form is.

SMILING GETAWAY beat the well-regarded BREAK MY SOUL at Warwick lto having beat another well-regarded horse in BETWEEN WATERS at Ludlow. 

It looks as if this has been a small plan as connections highlighted this race immediately after Warwick, but she has drifted slightly in the market. However, she’s a strong mare and holds plenty of respect.

LITTLE MISS DANTE completes the single-figure-priced horses in this race for Olly Murphy and championship-chasing Sean Bowen. She hasn’t been seen for 54 days, yet the full sister to GO DANTE is an exciting contender due to her pedigree. The form of her last race isn’t great as none of the front five have backed up since but she will like the conditions and Olly Murphys horses are in a self described ‘purple patch’.

The other two might find it too tough today but

Verdict: This newsletter landed a good bet with CHERIE D’AM back in November on the basis it was a weak race and Darren Yates doesn’t buy bad horses. She is the pick again today in these sloppy conditions and would be a bet if it wasn’t for the Skelton yard form - they’re going for a rough patch. The yard in form is Murphy’s so his LITTLE MISS DANTE, a previous max bet bumper winner for this newsletter, could out run her big odds. No bet.

RISK ON

After yesterdays one and done, we’re playing two horses and three bets today:

14.02 LOVE YOUR WORK

We often get our aw bets right and it looks a good time to be on this lad. Run over the wrong trip, down to a winning mark, everything in his favour today. 11/4 or 4.0 on the machine, win bet.

16.46 TITAN DISCOVERY

We have won on this lad before. He should just be better than the field and will love the mud. Even money.

Two singles and a small double paying 6’s.

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