Equinties - Marine no machine

Gm Equinauts

THIS NEWSLETTER HAS BEEN EDITED.

Not racing, but we thought it right to celebrate the life of a very famous police horse named AURORA who sadly died this week.

Being 18 hands and bright white, she was unmistakeable with in the police ranks and her most famous moment was leading the Queen’s funeral procession.

She was put to sleep having suffered an injury during her retirement. Rest easy, AURORA.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

DOING HANDSTANDS

Yesterday’s Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle threw up a progressive winner in Ben Pauling’s HANDSTANDS before the same connections landed the Huntingdon bumper with DUNSKAY. 

In fairness, the 5yo wasn’t asked too many questions by jockey Harry Cobden once he hit the front and he put JANGO BAIE away with minimal fuss in a very impressive manner. 

He was trimmed into 16/1 for the Baring Bingham and is the second-shortest priced British runner behind GIDLEIGH PARK at 10/1. And it seems like that is the race he is heading to as trainer Ben Pauling mentioned the contest after the success. 

Furthermore, Cobden was sweet on the performance, as he said: "I was very impressed with that. I schooled him only yesterday but he felt a lot better out there. He travelled beautifully and then didn't do a tap in front." 

He is definitely below the level of what BALLYBURN has shown, but with the uncertainty lurking about which race he will run, Pauling could have a live contender to go to war with.

HANDSTANDS was one of two winners for the Pauling yard yesterday, his fifth this month of Feb after a brilliant January (9/30). We have a kind friend who has tipped us a few and will keep him on side for a while yet, the man is on fire.

NATIONAL MISSION

John McConnell is attempting to win the Grand National without giving his horse, MAHLER MISSION, a prep run as the Coral Gold Cup runner-up will head straight to Aintree.

The 8yo gave the late DATSALRIGHTGINO a cracking race at Newbury in December despite losing both of his front shoes. 

McConnell has had his eyes on the Grand National for a while, but there was an element of worry about prepping a good horse for one big day to then just “maybe fall at the first”. However, this doubt has diminished as McConnell said: "He had a bit of time off after Newbury and he's back in work now. We're happy with him. In general, he's a very good jumper. It's always hard to know how horses will take to the fences at Aintree until they do it, but we would be hopeful he can."

MAHLER MISSION is the co-16/1 favourite alongside the 1-2 from last year – CORACH RAMBLER and VANILLIER – with the Cotswold Chase winner, CAPODANNO, as big as 20/1.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/grand-national-festival/the-grand-national-trends-buster-joint-favourite-mahler-mission-will-bid-to-defy-stats-and-head-to-aintree-without-a-run-this-year-anWST3v08oLw/

PRINCESS OF THE RING

A lot of people like FACILE VEGA. Some more than others.

The history of QUEVEGA, the Champion Bumper win, and his raw ability have contributed to this. However, he is not the only progeny of QUEVEGA that has been making the news recently as PRINCESS VEGA, QUEVEGA’s first foal, made €150,000 at the Goffs February Sale. 

She is in foal to WALK IN THE PARK and won a Tramore maiden hurdle by seven-and-a-half lengths in 2019 before retiring in 2021. She has already produced one foal, a filly by ORDER OF ST GEORGE, who was bought for €48,000 at the Goffs December National Hunt Sale.

With AURORA VEGA also in training and running to a fair level, it’s fair to say that the QUEVEGA bloodline will always catch the attention of racing fans. It’s nice to see them doing well, but to have another Grade 1-winning horse over obstacles would be the cherry on top of the cake.

Could PRINCESS VEGA be the one to produce that in time? Let’s hope so.

YOUNG BLOOD

SANDOWN BUMPER

DIVISION I

This is all about one man.

It is without doubt that OFF THE JURY should have hosed up last time but, whether by design or not, was given a stinker in classic Maxwell style.

KEN ROY, presumably named after Succession’s Kendall Roy, he reps the familiar colours of Graeme Brooks, trained by Nicholls. French dam side meaning ground no issue and you know he’ll be ready for today.

ELECTRIC MASON reps Chris Gordon, one of four trainers who have representatives in both divisions. Good form from lto, he’s already proved himself the best horse on his immediate dam side. Will love the ground, place chances.

LES’S JERSEY ROYAL reps man of the moment Ben Pauling. Some smart horses dam side if you go back far enough and he’s by a sire who can bang in bumper winners. Another yard you just know will have him ready.

On pedigree, the others will struggle against the aforementioned, perhaps POOCH the one with a place squeak at a price but not guaranteed.

Verdict: Maxwell’s OFF THE JURY should have won last time, he looked very good when finally asked. Was Maxwell ever pulled in to the Stewards for this? We actually think it was one of the most impressive British bumper performances without winning. He was well off the pace and still could have won, what was a good bumper, fairly easily. If Nicholls trained this horse with Cobden riding, he’d be heavy odds on. But he’s not, he’s 7/4 because most of the risks attached come from it’s rider, David Maxwell. If Maxwell doesn’t f this up, OFF THE JURY 7/4 should win this and is a bet.

DIVISION II

You’ll recognise the colours of the favourite - the same colours that have sat on top of CONSTITUTION HILL for all of his wins under rules. That’s right, Hendo and Buckley join forces with another useful one by BLUE BRESIL, named TRADECRAFT. He was put away easily by a Nicholls horse who we backed, already meaning he is no CONSTITUTION HILL but that form is still good and he’s deserved fave at 2’s. 

Nicholls’ THE BLUESMAN is nicely bred and cost a big 200k. His point form has been franked, his dam side is littered with winners, he’ll love the soft and has the pedigree to win. Big danger. 

WHITE RIOT has had the same overnight squeeze. His pedigree really isn’t suited for a race like this - absolutely nothing on his page suggests he’ll get the trip or go in the ground but with Pauling in such good form, everything he runs should be considered. 

There’s a gap in the market to the next horse FRENCH SHIP (good name) at 12’s. By FRENCH NAVY, the only really useful horse sired by him is MARINE NATIONAL. One to take on. 

The rest are the prices they are because they can’t win. 

Verdict: This is a really tough one and will be fascinating to watch with notebooks ready. Nicholls’ THE BLUESMAN will like the heavy ground best (that’s not to say Hendo’s won’t go in it) and there is very strong word for Pauling’s WHITE RIOT. We’ve been waiting for this horse for a few weeks as he’s supposed to be one of the yards best. But, and this is a big but, his pedigree is no good for todays 2m slop test. I imagine the Pauling yard didn’t anticipate Kempton being a bog today and it would be no surprise to see him pulled.

Young Blood is all about pedigree’s so the pick is THE BLUESMAN currently 6.0 on the machine, however, we have often had help picking this sections winners through whispers so we shan’t ignore the calls for WHITE RIOT. We think his punters (7’s into 5/2) will be done by conditions today but if what they say is right they’ll get their money back next run. Equally, we won’t be surprised if he bolts up, he’s supposed to be one of the yards best. Plus, he does get nearly a stone from his rivals for being a 4yo.

RISK ON

A bad day yesterday with Donny called off and our only other bet on the Varian horse losing. Anyone with eyes could see the best horse lost, she picked up way too late - the winner won’t beat her again.

The key is not to chase and wait for the right bet. People bet too much and have no patience. Some days, you just have to take the L. If you can’t enjoy sport without betting and wait for the right bet, then that’s a big long-term problem.

Today’s plays:

That man, David Maxwell. All he needs to do is sit there until two furlongs out then press GO.

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