Equinties - the frost bites

Gm Equinauts

It’s December 1st, the countdown to Christmas begins what is normally joyous time of year for everyone, but it’s going to be a pretty tough Christmas for Graham Lee’s family.

Please donate £5 by texting Graham to 70970 or share this auction with as many people as you can.

Thank you.

Let’s dive in.

Don’t forget: After giving away the Vegas trip last month, don’t miss our next prize - a £500 John Lewis gift voucher to help with your Christmas shopping.

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Approved for medical use only in 2003, the French call it ‘le weekend’ because basically this thing lasts in your system for 3 day.

Boner’s on demand, for 3 three days!

Perfect for a weekend away when you know you’re going to need a little help.

Try it through UK MEDS, use discount code EQUINTIES10 and thank us later.

p.s none of this is medical advice but we’ve tried it…

HEADLINE ROUND UP

SATURDAY INSPECTIONS 

Newbury’s clerk of the course, George Hill, has said that conditions will be “problematic” ahead its feature race day of the year on Saturday. 

Conditions are set to hit a low of –5C tonight and the potential of freezing fog could be an issue for the cut-up ground ahead of Coral Gold Cup Day.

Hill said: "The forecast is -3C to -5C and for a freezing fog in the morning, so it's definitely more problematic. The forecast keeps changing across the country so we've just got to remain hopeful. We'll see where we are in the morning and make a decision from there.

"A third night of cold weather and the coldest night being the third night having raced on it, it's easy for anyone to figure out that Saturday is the biggest challenge."

As we saw at last year’s Cheltenham December Meeting, the second day of a meeting in cold weather is tough to protect against. Horses getting their hooves into the ground and exposing the turf to the conditions allows for a quicker freezing process, and it takes plenty of time to put the frost covers back on after racing finishes.

The team behind this newsletter go to the Hennessy every year (we still call it that), it very much kicks off our Christmas countdown. 

We’re praying it’s on.  

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/newbury-to-inspect-at-7.30am-on-friday-for-opening-day-of-coral-gold-cup-meeting-auwTj2k6nhTh

13.50 GRADE 2 NOVICES CHASE 

Just the six are set to head to post for the first Graded race of the day and it sees HERMES ALLEN, last season’s Grade 1 Challow Hurdle winner, make his much anticipated debut over fences. 

Despite having sustained late and serious support before the off to push him to strong fave in a field which included IMPAIRE ET PASSE and GAELIC WARRIOR, HERMES ALLEN disappointed in the Ballymore but was generally a consistent type for Paul Nicholls last season.

His victory over YOU WEAR IT WELL in the Challow and third to IRISH POINT at Aintree is the best form in the race, it’s just a question of whether he adapts to fences. He’s athletic but a slightly smaller type compared to the usual big stamps Paul buys such as BRAVEMANSGAME and STAGE STAR. 

The money horse in the contest is MARBLE SANDS who is another that finished down the field in the Ballymore but his victory over RARE EDITION and GINNY’S DESTINY at Huntingdon is good form and he looked like a smart chaser at Ayr 27 days ago.

He has race fitness and chasing experience on his side which could be key. 

Despite early money for him, NICKLE BACK has been a slight drifter from 10/3 out to 5/1, though plenty on Racing X are still a big fan of this progressive chaser for Sarah Humphrey and you can see why…He has been electric for connections this season, winning by a combined 43 lengths over his last two starts and has plenty of raw potential. Stepping out of handicap company to a Graded race is always tough and today’s runners shan’t let him simply tearaway in the manner he has been doing but he deserves to be in this race.

Another horse stepping out of handicap company to Graded level is NO ORDINARY JOE who is making his chasing debut for Nicky Henderson. He is a recognisable horse having finished second to IROKO in the Martin Pipe and third to WEST CORK in the 2021 Greatwood Hurdle, though winning a race like this would take a big effort.

Verdict: There are a lot of doubts as to whether HERMES ALLEN is ‘ready’ ready after Paul Nicholls has said he’ll come on for the run. That said, since when does Paul ever use a Graded race to get a horse fit? We think he’s ready to go and with only 6 runners in the race, have no interest in taking him on.

15.00 GRADE 2 LONG DISTANCE HURDLE 

As plenty of people have already expressed on Racing X, there’s a lot to like about MARIE’S ROCK in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle. 

She comfortably beat DASHEL DRASHER in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day and put her Mares’ Hurdle disappointment behind her to finish third to SIRE DU BERLAIS at Aintree. End of season form can be questioned though, which would be a small worry for odds on backers. 

DASHEL DRASHER, apart from that loss at Aintree, is a very consistent horse for Jeremy Scott and finished a close second in the Stayers’ Hurdle. The quickening ground might be a small issue as he does have his best form on soft ground, but at least he is race fit.

Reappearing for another crack at the contest, PAISLEY PARK will be hoping to go one better 12 months on from his duel with CHAMP in the race last year. He isn’t getting any younger and will inevitably be the first off the bridle before staying on, but he goes well fresh and he won this race in 2019 when beating the beloved THISTLECRACK. If he wins, the house will come down.

At the bigger prices, some tipsters are on the side of HUGOS NEW HORSE who was last seen when 15th of 20 in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham. That run aside, he beat PERSIAN TIME – who runs in the second race for Nicky Henderson – at Ayr and three miles will be right up his street. Paul Nicholls rates the horse highly, though this would take a clear career-best to get close. 

Verdict: No strong view in this with these types of horses so hit and miss in terms of form. Watching race.

TODAYS BEST STATS

HERAKLES WESTWOOD was a big priced winner for this section yesterday, but with two race meeting off today - unfortunately there are no standout stats for Newbury.

RISK ON

A lovely 7/1 winner yesterday, we only have Newbury to target today (we’ll be there). It looks a tricky day, any bets will be posted on Racing X @equinties.

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