Equinties - Hendo forgets Epatante

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Gm Equinauts

Nothing tests your mettle like horse racing. Nothing. Zero. Fucking nada.

One moment you're reading a race like a book, confidently wrapping up two bumpers, already confidently anticipating the profits before the event pans out exactly how you knew it would.

And the next the once rated 132 black type winning MACK THE MAN basically pulls up in a 0-120 and the game levels you. As easy as that.

(Inclined to now call him YAK THE MAN but I do have a soft spot for him and really really want him to bounce back...one day.

Anyway, let's dive in.

Headline roundup

In what was a dramatic, but bizarre, few hours for racing yesterday, Nicky Henderson ‘forgot’ to enter his star mare EPATANTE for the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Lambourn-based trainer had until yesterday morning to enter his horses for the Champion Hurdle, Mares’ Hurdle, and Stayers’ Hurdle, however, Henderson made a “mistake” and didn’t confirm his 153-rated mare for the 2m4f contest in March.

"She was meant to be in there," he said. "I spoke with Frank [Berry, McManus's racing manager] last night and relayed my list to the office – it's so obvious I don't know how I missed it.

Classic Hendo.

Racing Twitter lost its mind for about an hour only for Hendo to come out and say he made a mistake and that she can still be supplemented – she was even taken out of the betting markets ffs.

Henderson has confirmed that he will cover the £4,599 supplementation fee should JP McManus decide to send the nine-year-old to the race.

More:

Of the rest, these were the most interesting points from the latest entry stage:

-CHAMP was left out of the Stayers Hurdle whilst his stablemate, BUZZ, who has been dealing with a pelvic injury, has been entered.

-ASTERION FORLONGE, CHACUN POUR SOI, and MONKFISH, the Willie Mullins trio, were all given entries for the three-mile hurdles event.

-BOB OLINGER remains in the Champion Hurdle alongside SIR GERHARD and ZANAHIYR

Are there any notable omissions?

More:

Betfair Hurdle entries

Keeping with the long-range entries, yesterday saw 45 horses confirmed for Newbury’s valuable Betfair Hurdle.

At the head of the market is Willie Mullins’ GAELIC WARRIOR, currently rated 134 in Ireland, following his 86-length maiden hurdle success last month – he seems to be the ‘Twitter Cheltenham Festival Handicap Plot Horse’ so connections could have just entered him to see what the British handicapper would do to him.

This season’s Greatwood Hurdle form is set to head under the microscope as GIN COCO, runner-up to I LIKE TO MOVE IT, has also been entered.

The seven-year-old was put up four pounds for his run lto and trainer Harry Fry has saved him for this race, as he said: “Newbury has been the plan for Gin Coco since he was runner-up in the Greatwood. We decided to aim him for this, and we've stuck to plan A ever since. He's very much on course."

Fellow Twitter horse and recent disappointment, PIKAR, is also entered for Dan Skelton and NO ORDINARY JOE is looking to back up his Kempton win from Christmas.

More:

Guineas family to be sold

Are you a fan of AL RIFFA for the Guineas this year? Do you have some spare cash down the back of the sofa?

If so, it’s good news for you!

The dam to last year’s Group 1 National Stakes hero is set to go through the sales ring at the Goffs February Sale.

The dam, LOVE ON MY MIND, is in foal to GALILEO CHROME, so the purchaser of the broodmare will also have a half-brother to AL RIFFA.

As well as the dam, her GALILEO CHROME yearling is also set to be sold alongside a half-sister to the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine LA PETITE COCO, a half-brother to the successful JASON THE MILLITANT, and a full-sister to the Irish 1000 Guineas winner JET SETTING.

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Today’s best stats 

MAN ON A MISSION 14.45 is in good form and is 3 from 6 at Lingfield and both jock and trainer are 2 from 4 together at track.

AL GHANIM in the 15.15 goes for Probert and Loughnane who are 3 from 6 at 50% when teaming up at Lingfield.

ELEGANT CHARM goes for the powerful cobo of Charlie Appleby and James Doyle who land >1 in 3 when teaming up at Kempton. Bullish.

Risk on

ELEGANT CHARM is expected to go in but she's too short and with the only racing today being on the aw when race results tend to be known before the off, I'll be tools down (waiting for the bumpers).