Equinties - Haydock hopes

January 20, 2023

Equinties

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This week has been incredibly bearish for NH racing and as was highly rumoured throughout the week, Ascot’s Clarence House Chase Day on Saturday has been abandoned due to areas of the track still being frozen. 

Temperatures at the Berkshire-based track dropped to as low as -1.75C on Wednesday night, and with temperatures set to continue to drop until Saturday, Ascot Racecourse decided to cancel yesterday afternoon. 

As for the Clarence House Chase, the Grade 1 event was held at Cheltenham on Trials Day in both 2013 and 2017 due to abandonment – this could be an option this year, however, a few people on Racing Twitter have suggested alternatives.

Information about the future of the Clarence House Chase will be revealed in due course. 

With Taunton looking like their meeting will be kiboshed too, will we have ANY jumps this week?

Well yeh, hopefully...Haydock is set to hold an inspection at 9am race day to make sure their track doesn't worsen being fit to race now.

Headline roundup

Full of ‘Floors’

A third Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham is in doubt for FLOORING PORTER as trainer Gavin Cromwell has confirmed his superstar has suffered a setback.

The eight-year-old has only a “50/50” chance of participating in this year’s premier staying event, though his setback is “not career-threatening”.

The reigning champion is now as big as 12's for the Stayers Hurdle, having been as short as 5's - HOME BY THE LEE is still the current favourite at 4/1 with KLASSICAL DREAM the next best at 7’s.

More:

'He's 50-50 to make it' - Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter a festival doubt | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

Flooring Porter has met with a setback and his bid for a third Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle in a row hangs in the balance according to trainer Gavin Cromwell.

Snowden goes North with the LAW.

This season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, GA LAW, will attempt three miles for the first-time next weekend as he is set to travel to Doncaster for the Sky Bet Chase. 

The seven-year-old hasn’t been seen since his triumphant win in November and was set to take in Ascot this weekend before its abandonment, but the Sky Bet Chase next week will now be his next run. 

Jamie Snowden’s gelding was given eight pounds for his victory at Cheltenham and has already seen FRENCH DYNAMITE, the runner-up, and MIDNIGHT RIVER, the third, frank the form on their next start (FRENCH DYNAMITE ran a fair race in the Grade 1 Savills Chase behind CONFLATED). 

GA LAW is the current 8/1 second favourite, only INTO OVERDRIVE is priced shorter at 7’s. 

More:

'He's in perfect order' - Ga Law set for Doncaster date as Ascot target is lost | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

'He's in perfect order' - Ga Law set for Doncaster date as Ascot target is lost

Meydan: Group 2 Zabeel Mile 

With a lack of jumps racing in the UK, all eyes turn to Southwell and Newcastle, however, Meydan has some very interesting races on offer to keep the chimp in you all amused.

The highlight race of the day is the Group 2 Zabeel Mile over a mile and Godolphin are represented by five horses in the eight-strong field. 

The most interesting (and obvious) runner for the boys in blue is MASTER OF THE SEAS at 4/6 as he is set to hit the track for the first time in 283 days. 

The five-year-old DUBAWI gelding has some strong form from his flat campaign in 2021 – he won the Craven, was beaten by a short-head in the 2000 Guineas by the formidable POETIC FLARE, third in the Group 2 Joel Stakes, and was seventh in BAAEED’s QEII victory at Ascot on Champions Day. 

He is the highest-rated horse in the lineup at 117 with DESERT FIRE, a Group 2 winner at Meydan in January, the next best on 113 – Michael O’Callaghan sends his recent acquisition I AM SUPERMAN to the race, a horse who was second in the valuable Group 1 Neds Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes handicap in Australia last September. 

Our view: Godolphin look set to dominate this race with their 5 runners but it's the O'Meara horse SHELIR we like, in particular for his run in the Balmoral Handicap where there were some decent yard sticks behind him. Moreover, he looked as good as ever lto... at Meydan no less! 10's ew is a solid ew.

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Today's best stats

END ZONE 16.15 5lbs below last winning mark and goes for Fell who is 2 from 2 in this race.

GLORIOUS ANGEL 17.15 looks set for the hat-trick, Trained by Tuer, he lands 1 in 4 when running horses within 7 days of their last W. Billy Loughnane steering, he's having a good time of it atm.

Risk on

Nothing heavy today as saving the bank for the Haydock slop so will have lunch money play on these three Meydan plays:

15.10 BOOMSHALAA

Short at 6/4 but looks the likely winner in a rac where most have been off for a while.

16.20 SHELIR

For reasons in the preview.

17.30 SPANGLED MAC

Fancied to run a big race at 10's.

Either play small singles or win, place, place 12/1 treble.