Equinties - Hendo away day

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Headline roundup

Hendo's Kempton gallop gets a TV slot

Seven Barrows went on an away day yesterday to Kempton, a day which was dedicated to the sheer quality of CONSTITUTION HILL and Racing TV gave them their own daytime slot.

It seemed to be a seamless piece of work from the Champion Hurdle favourite yesterday but Hendo revealed actually just how hard it is to get a blow into his yard monster.

In this video, you see CONSTITUION HILL breeze in front of two lesser horses who had a 10 lengths head start on the first circuit... he's not even trying.

Nico onboard CONSTITUION HILL.

It wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine for Nicky Henderson's lot though, as the master of Seven Barrows revealed BUZZ was unlikely for Cheltenham.

The Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree will now be his next target, a potential first run for over two years.

Furthermore, MARIE’S ROCK could be heading to the Stayers’ Hurdle after all rather than the Mares’ Hurdle.

Henderson said: “Epatante is in the Champion Hurdle and you can take it she's in the Mares' because she can be supplemented.

"JP can decide what he wants to do, but if she went to the Mares' I can see a very good reason for Marie's Rock running in the Stayers' because that's sort of what that gallop told us.”

Dalgleish hangs up the license

Keith Dalgleish, the record-breaking Scottish trainer, is set to hand in his training license at the end of the year.

The 39-year-old was the first trainer from Scotland to send out 100 winners in a calendar year (2017) and he has a total of 799 successes on the flat and 153 victories over jumps.

He said: "I want more time to myself and my family, there is no other reason than that. I know others have been going out of the game because they haven't had enough business but it's nothing like that."

“But I may come back in a few years' time, I'll see how it goes."

Good luck with your future endeavours, Keith!

1000 Guineas contender Commissioning retired

And finally, last season’s Fillies’ Mile successor COMMISSIONING was forced into retirement yesterday following a career-ending injury picked up in training.

The unbeaten daughter of Kingman was the 6/1 third favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket this year following her flawless season in 2022/23, however, an injury to her right hind fetlock has put a hold on her career.

Terribly sad news but we wish her best of luck in her new career as a broodmare at Highclere.

Note: COMMISSIONING was 2nd fave for the 1000 Guineas behind TAHIYRA, has her retirement shaken up the ante-post market? Not really! So who wins?

1000 Guineas 'preview' preview

We think the Fillies Mile at Newmarket is the best indicator of 1000 Guineas success. COMMISSIONING won it last, she was 5/1 and NOVAKAI was second, she is still 25/1 on Betfair.

Last years Fillies Mile was the second fastest in the last 10 years. The fastest was LAUREN'S, by half a second. She was subsequently second in the 1000 Guineas, beaten by BILLESDON BROOK who was a shock 66/1 winner. So, on the clock it looked top form.

Of the last 8 winners of the 1000 Guineas; 5 had ran in the Fillies Mile and been placed in it, bar the exceptional MINDING who did the double, making COMMISSIONING a worthy second favourite for the 1000 Guineas. TAHIYRA is favourite, and reps some quality form but Dermot Weld who trains her tends to get very cold spring weather which puts his horses behind come May. TAHIYRA will more than likely be an Irish Guineas horse, which is a couple of weeks later.

MEDITATE is next on the list, she ended up winning at the Breeders Cup. But had found LEZOO too good at Newmarket in the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Trained by Aiden, so can never rule out but should be bigger than 6/1 in our opinion.

STATUETTE is another trained at Ballydoyle. Well regarded and repping American blood, she's unbeaten in two starts however she has been off since June and a prep run will tell us more.

NOVAKAI was running around in front at Newmarket when COMMISSIONING beat her by a length. The winner had had the benefit of a run at Newmarket as she had won the Rockfel over the track a couple of weeks before. NOVAKAI was out in front, changed legs a couple of times going into the dip but stayed on strongly. Perhaps only denied by lack of experience at Newmarkets Rowley Mile. Course form is key to the Guineas, and importantly for this reference Group 1 form in the Fillies Mile is sacred.

Our view: NOVAKAI is well over-priced for the big one and at 25's might be worth getting a little risk on ahead of the NRNB promotions which will undoubtedly change the prices.

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Today's best stats

No real qualifiers today bar Greenall and Geurriero clocking mileage to get to Muuselburgh. They land 1 in 3 when travelling this far and actually have 3 going today. The stat suggests only one goes in and I'd say it's CONCETTO 16.25 who bolted up on chase debut lto and could be well in.

Risk On

Nicholls look set to clean up at Wincanton today but the prices reflect that. CONCETTO 16.25 for the stats looks a good bet but short enough at 6/5 - probs just good lev for a good single (which I cant find rn).