Equinties - Fighting Fifth Saturday

Gm Equinauts

Things that deserve a countdown (and it’s own time of the year): your Birthday, Christmas, maybe the summer holiday…definitely the Fighting Fifth.

This race will be studied in the future, it’s so big.

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Let’s dive in!

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

GOING THE RIGHT WAY

Before we get stuck into Coral Gold Cup Day, let’s have a small look back on yesterday, and the main things we learned.

So, CONSTITUTION HILL’s ‘form’ got a boost in the opener after ACT OF INNOCENCE won.

Yes, ACT OF INNOCENCE did work with the freak at Newbury the other week, but that doesn’t mean anything regarding the big dog today. What yesterday’s performance did mean is that this new recruit for Hendo is quite a smart horse, and the second, SINNATRA, isn’t bad either. SINNATRA looked like the winner after the last, but ACT OF INNOCENCE stalked him nicely and went past with ease. To do that on your first start of the season is quite impressive, especially from the Hendo yard. He could be quite smart going forward. BUVEUR D’AIR and JONBON have won this race for Hendo before, and we like him, CONSTITUTION HILL aside.

Speaking of liking horses, Jamie Snowden has always rated WENDIGO, and it’s fair to say he probably improved a good 7lbs from Worcester to win quite a hot John Francome. We think that the race will work out well in time.

REGENT’S STROLL didn’t disgrace himself for a first start over fences (his jumping was great) and he looks like he’s being saved for a big one in the spring, NO QUESTIONS ASKED will be winning nice races this season, CREST OF FORTUNE will go close in a nice three-mile handicap soon, and WENDIGO just looks very uncomplicated. He does need three miles, so the Browns would look very obvious for him, and he probably is a live player against a horse like FINAL DEMAND, but he’d need to improve a few pounds probably. Snowden wants to send him down the route of the Kauto Star at Kempton, which is a nice stepping stone, but will Kempton suit him? It’s quite a speedy track, and that may not be what he wants.

That aside, he’s a pretty decent animal for Snowden.

And finally, Ben Pauling probably needs to think about a step up in trip for MAMBONUMBERFIVE at some stage. For a four-year-old, he is jumping fences like an experienced old hand, and his demeanour is desirable. He is winning two-mile races that he really shouldn’t be, and he will be some animal over 2m4f-3m in time. What the handicapper does to him on Tuesday will be interesting, as he could just get another 6lbs and keep batting in handicaps for now. He does get a weight-for-age allowance this side of Christmas, after all.

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