Equinties - going down under

Gm Equinauts

Chepstow delivered Racing League fans a brilliant stereotype last night as sheep caused a big delay to the start of proceedings.

That wasn’t the only event to add to the calamity (and it’s this next one which could have caused punters to be p*ssed off), it rained and very quickly, the going went from firm concrete to soft!

Too much over watering? Probably, but there was certainly not enough communication as the Racing Post still described it as firm by the end of the card when we managed to pick out a mud loving winner:

When the going is so important to betting, any changes need to be LOUD AND CLEAR.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

NEXT STOP, MELBOURNE

The Ballyroan Stakes has been a nice stepping stone to the Melbourne Cup over the last 12 months.

VAUBAN won the race last year before he went of favourite (and lost) in the Melbourne Cup and this year’s winner, CRYSTAL BLACK, looks like another who could be going down under.

The Royal Ascot winner backed up that performance at Leopardstown last night to land the Group 3, a win that’ll put him on the plane for the Melbourne Cup.

But can he seriously perform in one of the biggest handicaps of the whole international calendar?

Firstly, based on his victory at Royal Ascot, he clearly has an engine. Not many horses win the Duke Of Ed from stall four (eight of the previous nine winners won from a double-figure stall) and when he got to the front, he won nicely.

He also beat the Willie Mullins certainty of the week, ETHICAL DIAMOND, that day as well.

As for last night, he beat THE EUPHRATES by five lengths which is solid form as he beat CHANTILLY (London Gold Cup third) as a two-year-old. His form from this year is Group 3/Listed standard, so beating him by a distance is promising.

It’s hard to dislike him, to be honest, but as with any horse coming from here to Australia, travelling is half of the battle.

Willie Mullins thought they overdid their work with VAUBAN ahead of the Melbourne Cup last year, so trying to avoid that will be crucial.

GROUP 1 ENTERED

Speaking of impressive Leopardstown performances, HILL ROAD opened the card yesterday, and he looks like a horse to watch very closely going forward.

By QUALITY ROAD, the €350,000 purchase bolted up on his debut having been a non-runner on two occasions this season. He has a lovely page as well as his dam, EXOTIC NOTION, is a half to the four-time Grade 1 winner CITY OF LIGHT who himself is by QUALITY ROAD.

He holds an entry for the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh in September and he has the price tag to back it up.

As two-year-olds go, he is very exciting.

MOORE PRESSURE

Revealed yesterday, Ryan Moore will replace Kieren Shoemark onboard INSPIRAL in this Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois.

This, obviously, adds more pressure to the shoulders of Shoemark who has been under the spotlight in recent weeks.

Cheveley Park hinted at the idea of changing jockey earlier in the week even though Shoemark knows the horse well having ridden her twice this season.

After some deliberation, Moore was the choice of the high-profile owners, which puts Shoemark in a tough position.

Although John Gosden will continue to back his man publicly, stuff like this doesn’t help and the rumours around Shoemark’s future have been rife in recent weeks.

It really is a case of who can Gosden get that’ll be better? After a decent year (and a decent night in the Racing League), it looks like Oisin Murphy could be that man.

A big move to the Gosden’s’ is surely the correct next step to make for him as at least he will have some chance at replacing the Frankie Dettori-shaped whole left in the yard.

RISK ON

16.20 SIMPLE STAR

Was shortlisted as a pedigree pick before we realised he won this race last year. 5/2.

19.10 EQUIANO SPRINGS

You all know who he is, targets the course, we’re obviously going to back him today. 6/1.

Small 23/1 ew double.

MISSED OUT ON THE WINNERS THIS WEEKEND? SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO ACCESS OUR WEEKENDER EDITION FOR ONLY £1 A SATURDAY!

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • The weekender edition (Mon-Fri still free)
• • The weekends best bets
• • That warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing the intern gets fed
• • Only £1 a week!