Gm, Equinauts

With April drawing to a close and the sun beginning to shine, the summer Flat season is almost upon us—and it will truly feel underway when the first Classic, the Guineas, arrives this weekend.

Confirmations have been done and a couple supplemented, BOW ECHO remains strong favourite!

We’ve no doubt this summer can be a massively profitable one as the big guns, both old and new, start to hit the track so make sure you’re subscribed as a PREMIUM READER.

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But note! Preparation is key, and that starts with having the right tools in place. One box worth ticking is getting familiar with the Tote, especially for Guineas weekend which is a World Pool meeting.

Their WORLD POOL days allow you to bet into huge, international pools with exceptional liquidity, meaning you can secure strong value if you fancy one—while still benefiting from a guaranteed SP on shorter-priced runners and way more favourable pay-outs on exotics such as reverse forecasts.

In fact, a stat for you. The World Pool beat the SP on over 61% of ALL the runners across last years Guineas card.

More, with a minimum of £150,000 up for grabs in the Placepot pools, the Tote remains one of our favourite weapons in the punting armoury.

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Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

✈️WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

DARYZ made a stunning return from his winter break to dominate the Prix Ganay at Longchamp:

The 2025 Arc winner confirmed his class with a composed performance, settling easily before quickening decisively when asked. His turn of foot was as if BARZALONA had pushed a little red button. Incredible scenes.

Trainer Francis Graffard noted that while the race was one DARYZ was expected to win, the manner in which he did so—showing both improved temperament and sharp acceleration over a shorter trip on quicker ground—offered even greater encouragement for the season ahead.

Connections are now planning an active campaign and why not, he can handle it for let’s not forget he only made his debut, as in, his actual ‘first time seeing a racecourse’ debut this time last year. He raced seven times last year (his first season) and picked up the Arc along the way lol. Still blows our mind. Anyway, back to his targets… THE PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES at Royal Ascot and a possible run in the Prix Aga Khan IV are on the agenda before a bid to defend his Arc crown at season end.

DARYZ’s win this weekend highlighted not only his versatility in distance but also a potent turn of foot that could make him a major force at this years Royal Ascot. For those who feel October was a long time ago, that performance was a big reminder of his exceptional talent.

Owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan has a potential superstar on her hands.

Else where, MANATEE MEHMAS made this debut:

We tipped him up early Saturday morning on X instead of sitting on him and putting hi in the newsletter because we thought there would be a price crash…and there was.

Backed into heavy odds on against a smart STARMAN filly for James Tate, the message was that this boy was absolutely BOOTING solid 85-90 horses out the way easily at home.

He’s only out of a lowly rated maiden but she’s a half to sire TASLEET and the injection of that all important MEHMAS blood has clearly worked well for he looks a certified monster.

🐎A CELEBRATION MARRED

Dan Skelton in a Saturday winners’ enclosure now feels like the norm, and he was there twice at Sandown as QUEEN MAEVE and DOYEN QUEST delivered to carry the yard past the £5m milestone. With the champion trainer title secured, records tumbling and new standards set, it looked a perfect day for the Skelton team.

That was true—right up until the moment was overshadowed by the tragic loss of THISTLE ASK in the feature race.

He was travelling well within himself, looking strong and jumping like a stag before one big mistake which saw him sustain an injury which meant he sadly had to be euthanised.

The race was ultimately won by Alan King’ star EDWARDSTONE, a win which MUST be celebrated,

but we have no doubt that THISTLE ASK would have gone exceptionally close has he not made his fatal error.

THISTLE ASK’s rise to the top was incredible to watch. Rated only 115 before moving to Dan’s, his new training programme saw him climb to a huge 160 and landing thee Graded races on the way.

Racing is now deprived of the chance to see his potential fulfilled as one of the top two-mile chasers, and our thoughts are firmly with his conn

A brilliant but equally sad day for the Skelton team. It shouldn’t have ended that way.

🏃‍♂️THE CHAMP

Sir Anthony ‘champ’ McCoy described completing the London Marathon as an unforgettable experience after running the 26.2-mile course in support of the Matt Hampson Foundation.

The former champion jockey was part of a support team helping Matt Hampson, finishing together in just under five hours. McCoy admitted he had some doubts beforehand but was proud to make it to the finish, while also raising more than £8,600 for the cause, inspired in part by the foundation’s support of his friend Graham Lee.

The event also saw strong representation from across the racing world. Charlie Todd impressed with a sub-three-hour run while raising significant funds for mental health, and Danny Muscutt also posted a solid time while supporting a baby loss charity. Trainer Chester Williams added to the effort with a commendable run and fundraising total, highlighting a collective effort from the sport to support a range of meaningful causes.

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