Equinties - Monmiral takes on Jonbon

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Gm Equinauts 

4 good looking jumps meetings on the cards today with some Cheltenham horses on display. 

I think there's going to be a few strong faves that will be too hard for their respective field to pass, so it looks like one of those days to try an acca. 

I rarely do acca's as it's another stake to account for, and my view is finding one winner is hard enough, nevermind 3 or 4... but I do understand why they're so popular amongst racing twitter with the potential payouts so hard for your betting chimps to resist. Why? Impatience, it's as simple as that. Chimps want the big bank now! 

By playing acca's only, you'll go broke before you hit the jackpot, so give yourself a chance with singles. If there's a day you like 3 horses, play your three singles and then try a small size treble or trixie. Don't do this too regularly, it's better to have days off from risk on, than trying to get more risk on but that's best practice if you're going to do them. 

Now, let's dive in.

Headline Roundup

Alla-whoa, what's happened?

There's signs festival ante-post punters might have done their bollocks and it's not even 2023, let alone March.

The two-time Ryanair champion ALLAHO might head straight to his title defence in March without a prep run, says trainer Willie Mullins.

The 177-rated eight-year-old was being set up for a Kempton clash with BRAVEMANSGAME in the King George before Mullins ruled him out of the race after he had experienced "a few small setbacks” but this news caused him to drift out to 13/8 from 11/8 for the Ryanair. Uh oh.

The master trainer has come out again to say that his monster of a horse should be back in training before Christmas and "if I can get a run into him before Cheltenham then I will but it's not essential - it wouldn't bother me if we went straight there as he won the John Durkan first time out last year.”

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Jonbon vs Monmiral

I bet Warwick can't believe their luck (and Hendo his!).

With the Cheltenham going too quick for MONMIRAL last weekend, Nicholls has decided to send him to Warwick Wednesday instead and face off against Arkle fave, JONBON!

Hendo will be absolutely hating this!

150 over hurdles, MONMIRAL has been declared alongside fellow chase debutante and 152 rated hurdler, JONBON and Dan Skelton's WEST CORK, who has about 10lbs to find on the pair, for Warwick's two-mile novice chase on Wednesday.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2nd, JOONBON is yet to jump a fence in public but videos from his home in Lambourn suggest he's mutated over the summer into something special.

He's now fave for this season's Arkle. Don't forget, the six-year-old is a full-brother to DOUVAN who won the Arkle in 2016.

3 years between drinks for Butler

East Chiltington-based trainer Paddy Butler made his way to the winner’s enclosure for the first time in over three years as EL HAGEB ROSE, a horse that went off at 100/1, pulled off an easy 3L victory with a finish that got Richard Hoiles very excited.

The £85,000 purchase was making his first start for Butler having been with Gary Moore since 2017 and under Marc Goldstein, the eight-year-old stuck on well to win comfortably.

Surprised at the win, Butler shared how much of an interesting horse he is to train.

"He's a lovely horse and we've been riding up the hills round here just to avoid the gallops as he's timid but has ability,” said the trainer, who hasn’t had a win over jumps in the UK since the 2014-15 season. “I thought he'd need this race and I was surprised he was going so well, but he's a lovely chasing type going ahead.”

Fair play to connections – congratulations.

A MCFABULOUS display

Following his disappointing performance 10 days ago at Wincanton, MCFABULOUS picked up his first win over fences at Exeter yesterday as he swept Dan Skelton’s UNEXPECTED PARTY aside following some early-race antics.

CAMPROND, the 11/8 second favourite, unshipped Aidan Coleman at the first fence, and instead of keeping himself to himself, he decided to cause trouble to both the first and second fence after his unseating.

As for the winner, a Grade 2 successor over hurdles, MCFABULOUS jumped very well and quickened up nicely before the last. Harry Cobden said post-race that he is “one of our novice chases to go to war with this season – you could run him over 2m5f or even 3m”.

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Hereford bumper

Nicholls' fave, SEASIDE LEGEND is a German flat bred horse who owns the best blood for this race. Quite short at 2/1 but I can see why and on paper, I already know it's going to be hard to take him on.

JJ's MAGIC SEVEN is a full brother to MAGIC DAZE rated 143, that's okay but he didn't run very well lto so despite the yards 100% record in bumpers at track, I'm tentatively drawing a line through him too. 

GALAXY MOON is interesting for Bailey who's horses are running very well atm. This lad's dam sire is MARTALINE who is exceptional at producing bumper horses. He's had a wind op and is one of the more expensive horses in this line up. On the shortlist with yard 3 from 5 in Hereford bumpers. 

Our view: For me, its between SEASIDE LEGEND and GALAXY MOON with a preference for the flat blood of Nicholls', but I'd watch the market before the off.

Fakenham bumper

This bumper see's a rare entry by top flat trainer, Varian, who runs SHINJI and is odds on. More interestingly, Aidan Coleman is booked to steer and he normally rides Olly Murphy horses, who has the second fave (with a better ped for the race imo). This whole thing stinks and in what is a two horse race, the yards will know the outcome before the race is even off.  

Risk on

12.37 LAW ELLA

13.30 ONEWAYORTOTHER

14.22 MULLENBEG

17.45 MRS USA

Double on MULLENBEG and LAW ELLA at 3/1. Singles on ONEWAYORTOTHER 4/5 and MRS USA 6/4. Small play on 17/1 win acca.