Equinties - French pointers

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Gm Equinauts

I'm going to talk about controlling the chimp again.

For those newly subscribed, the chimp is your emotional part of your make up. The thing that tells you to keep chasing the highs and bet more now your pot can 'afford it'. Wrong, your pot can't afford it. It's so so easy to give it back faster than you won it.

Winning takes patience, losing takes a minute.

LOCK IT UP.

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Now, let's dive in.

Headline roundup

A race of Heritage

Well, the Listed Heritage Stakes certainly lived up to it's name as the market fancies came to the fore and it was BUCKAROO who toughed out an epic battle to see off saw off the hot-favourite HOMELESS SONGS.

The market took a long time to organise itself as early money suggested BUCKAROO couldn't lose. An hour before the off, HOMELESS SONGS was then smashed late into strong fave only for that gamble to go straight into the books pockets.

How do you assess the result? Both have run very good races and it seems like BUCKAROO has come on from last year with another winter under his belt. He was always mixing it at the nearly Group 1 level but just couldn't quite get the job done when it counted but is something Joseph O'Brien is confident to address now - “has the potential to be a Group 1 horse this season”.

The FASTNET ROCK colt is entered for the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup while the FRANKEL filly is entered for Newbury’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.

Davy’s last dance?

The last month in the world of Davy Russell has been interesting.

He stood down from his ride in the Gold Cup and Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham without a peep after pulling up in the Albert Bartlett – it seems like he was suffering from an injury as he is still “a bit sore” – and since then, we haven’t heard anything from the legendary rider.

Fast forward to now and Russell has broken his silence to come out and say that he will be riding at Aintree and GALVIN is set to be his ride in the Grand National following comments from trainer Gordon Elliott.

Similar to Cheltenham, Davy’s book of rides could look a lot healthier by the time Aintree rolls around next week as Jack Kennedy’s appearance at the three-day event still hangs in the balance after his leg break three months ago.

After a slightly disappointing Cheltenham for Cullentra House, it’ll be a nervous time for Elliott at the second biggest racing festival in the UK national hunt season.

Bath’s incredible declarations

Well, this has been insane to watch.

265 declared horses were left without a run yesterday as Bath Racecourse’s flagship raceday on Friday was massively oversubscribed due to what one can only blame this on... the prize money on offer?

No race is above a Class 5 event (literally my worst nightmare) and every race is severely competitive (gonna throw up) – the 16.00 0-55 1m2f handicap has a two-pound range from top to bottom as Mark Usher’s ADAAYINOURLIFE is rated 53 while the rest are rated 54 and 55.

Tip for the meeting - LEAVE IT ALONE.

Plenty of trainers have entered to capitalise on the seven-race card with Tony Carroll set to have seven runners and even the likes of NH boys Milton Harris, Nicky Henderson, and Alan King will go represented.

Fair play to Arc for putting the prize money on and hopefully they can continue to be rewarded going forward.

UCC fuck up

Well, this newsletter was completed until this happened, but fuck me, this is wild.

Yesterday, the soft and wannabe woke students at University College Cork voted for this:

Which promptly caused Twitter to be miffed at the news.

Racing is fucked if its going to be a victim of increasing virtue signaling amongst the public.

Pointers from France

14.00 at Deauville. Generally a colts trial for the Guineas, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

BELBEK is a Juddmonte bred, he has a beautiful pedigree. From the immediate family of CHAMPS ELYSSES and DANSILI. BELBACK is trained by Andre Fabre, the master trainer. He won the Gr1 Prix Jean Luc Lagadere on soft ground and will love the conditions today. BREIZH SKY was behind BELBECK when they met in the Lagadere and it is hard to see whether he’ll turn the tables today.

KUBRICK bombed out in the Gr1 Criterium International won by PROUD AND REGAL. BREIZH SKY was in front of him that day, but the roles could be reversed. The son of DUBAWI is entitled to come on for a winter on his back, his brother RAGING BULL got better with age winning three Grade 1s in America.

Our view: BELBEK will like the conditions and can make a winning seasonal debut.

Later in Deauville, the 15.10 is a race fillies are entered for the French 1000 Guineas, the Poule d’Essai Des Pouliches.

WED was one of the best 2yo’s from this group, albeit on good ground. She was either over the top at the end of last year (trained too much) or just didn’t like the soft ground at Longchamp in the Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac. She was a 32k yearling purchase, and from the immediate family of STREET CRY and SHAMARDAL (which would make sense).

SPIRIT GAL (from the family of URBAN SEA, who produced GALILEO and SEA THE STARS) had the better of BEGINNINGS in a maiden at Naas on good, good to soft ground. BEGINNINGS was starting off her career that day for Ballydoyle, and they tend to come on for their run. She made a winning debut afterwards at Dundalk and has Ryan Moore in the plate. Her mother is WINTER who won the 1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes.

FANCY ME was a Group 3 winner when winning a race that has thrown up a few good horses in the past, the Prix Des Reservoirs at Deauville. She’s by PIVOTAL so won’t mind the soft going and has course form.

Christophe Soumillon has won this contest 5 times in the last 10 years, and 3 times in the last 3 years. It’s been lucky race for him. SAUTERNE is his mount, a daughter of KINGMAN and her mother is a sister to STACELITA who was a Champion and produced a champion in SOUL STIRRING. A recent fitness advantage for SAUTERNE as she won only 48 days ago.

Our view: a difficult one to call. SAUTERNE is on a winning streak and has Soumillon in the plate. Ryan Moore and Ballydoyle have the fast improving BEGINNINGS who is bred in the purple, if she is as good as her parents she’ll win. SPIRIT GAL could be the fly in the ointment, on this ground especially. Maybe one can make up into a Guineas horse?

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Bumper previews

There are 3 today and this newsletter is already way too long so will only do brief summaries.

Hereford

Backed the fave lto (won obvs) but taking on today as carries a pen. SOLDIEROFTHESTORM shouldn't be out of top 3. This race will really wind me up because the best pedigree for this race is MACS LEGACY 28/1...and he's trained by complete smoke show Rebecca Curtis. Now she doesn't ever have them ready for bumpers which is very annoying because I know I'm right with this one and if it was trained by someone like Honeyball he would shit in.

Wetherby

 Split divisions. Wetherby I - Lawes' SUPPORT ACT probably wins this but not strong on it, weak bumper and in Wetherby II - pretty sure Signy's is a lay at 2/1, not bred best for this race. I like mega-drifter BOLDOG, despite the sell off from 11/4 to 11/2.

Risk On

18.00 BANDERAS

It's been fucking smashed, apologies. Didn't think it would get backed that much given the apparent competitive nature of the race but tbf it's supposed to be a weapon. Strong bet.

19.30 IN THE GIVING

Weak as piss fillies race. Haggas should be able to get more out of this girl than her old trainer and top jock in the plate who rode her lto. 9/4 everywhere. Full bet.

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