Equinties - monster decs

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Gm Equinauts

It’s been absolutely minging all week but today is a beautiful day, almost as if God himself has given respite to the recent downpour to make sure the perfect most perfect conditions are present to showcase some of the biggest monsters of his creation.

Let's dive in.

Headline Roundup

Market stopped Rasen (I think that works)

The rain has been very dramatic recently! Newcastle looked like they were racing round a lake with standing water in the middle of the venue but Market Rasen was forced to abandon altogether because they really did turn into a lake.

Racing began on soft ground at the Lincolnshire-based course yesterday but following 35mm of rainfall in less than 18 hours, two inspections, and an omittance of two fences from the 2m1f handicap chase, racing was called off - just look at those conditions!

Trainer Tom Lacey told Racing TV that "safety has to be paramount" and that it was the right call to cut the day short.

This abandonment throws worry into the air about what the ground will be like for Haydock Park's feature race day of the year, the Betfair Chase day, on Saturday - the official going is Soft, Good to soft in places, but the rain was falling all day yesterday and it isn't set to stop until lunchtime today.

ALLAHO’s replacement?

Amidst uncertainty about the future of ALLAHO, Willie Mullins may have an up-and-coming star to fall back on for the two and a half miles division as BLUE LORD continued his progression to land the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase yesterday.

One year younger than Mullins’ two-time Ryanair successor, the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned seven-year-old led home a Closutton 1-2 to beat TORNADO FLYER into second – the runner-up has run a great race in preparation for the King George next month.

Two and a half miles will be the distance that BLUE LORD is campaigned over this season, something the team at Closutton believed would get the best out of him even as a hurdler, according to jockey Paul Townsend.

More:

Saturday declarations  

Declarations are in for Saturday's big racing on ITV and racing twitter buzzing… CONSTITUTION HILL is running.

Despite a midweek drift in the market on the exchanges due to uncertainty that they would run, the bags have been packed for both CONSTITUTION HILL and A PLUS TARD as they make their seasonal reappearances.

Hendo’s monster Supreme winner has been declared for the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot and will take on four rivals including BREWIN'UPASTORM, GOSHEN, FOR PLEASURE, and UHTRED.

He might not be as fast as the horses we’ve just been talking about but he’s just as well known…The king of slop, BRISTOL DE MAI is all systems go ahead of his sixth run in the Betfair Chase and he has been on weather watch all week.

And finally, the leading British hope in this year's Gold Cup, L'HOMME PRESSE, will run in the Grade 2 1965 Chase.

The one word of warning with this race is that it could turn into a non-affair - HITMAN is the second favourite but he is also declared for the 13.50 at Haydock on the same day and the market suggests he'll be going there and DO YOUR JOB for Michael Scudamore is declared for the 14.05 at Ascot TODAY.

Full previews of the races will in Saturday’s edition of the newsletter.

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Chepstow bumper

There are some potentially good horses in this line up... well, Christian Williams will be hoping there is anyway given he paid 200k for his.

If it's not a Fergal horse heading the market, it's a Nicholls horse and he runs GO WEST. He finished second in a point behind LOOP HEAD who runs in the 13.10...if he runs well, that's a timely form boost. Nicholls has a near 50% sr in Chepstow bumpers from 29 runners... that's insane.

Honeyballs is next in the market. That thing won a crap point and he's by a sire not having the best time of things atm (still early days) so will be taking on.

Christian Williams' 200k horse is next at 7's. The yard never have them ready for bumpers.

Lavelle's CONNOLLY is interesting at a bigger price, 9/1. A half to MR INCREDIBLE who is a 140 horse for Willie Mullins. The yard keep hitting the crossbar atm but typically most of Emma's bumper horses run well.

Our view: The stats say Nicholls' just wins but at the price I'd be keen to find an ew play. I'll hang my hat on Emma's CONNOLLY.

Catterick bumper

A pretty weak race where I don't like the fave but there isn't too much to take it on with. On pedigree I'd be all over JET OF DREAMS but he's trained by Greatrex. The horse cost 72k... I have no idea where Warren gets his owners from.

Our view: Frustratingly, I really like JET OF DREAMS on blood but couldn't back him.

Risk on

SPORTING ACE

Has had a run which important this time of year. Best horse in race and should be able to handle top weight. Full bet at 7/2.

Strong whisper for RAINBOW SKY 17.15… a lot of size movers maxing it. Use as leverage for another bet.