Equinties - Mullins’ firepower

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And just like that, it’s 7 degrees and British jumps is BACK.

Woof! Let’s dive in.

Headline Roundup

Galopin’ to the Gold Cup

The Mullins taps are seriously flowing now and his star chaser was back in the winner’s enclosure yesterday as GALOPIN DES CHAMPS backed up his price at the Grade 1 John Durkan…in 1st gear.

The six-year-old took a couple of jumps to get into the swing of things but he was smart at the finish and powered clear to comfortably beat FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES, a proper Grade 1 horse in his own right, trained by Joseph O’Brien.

As expected, this sent Racing Twitter into a spiral of praise for the machine.

With a twinkle in his eye, jockey Paul Townsend explained why yesterday’s performance was so impressive for everyone involved.

The big question after race was which route would GDC head down - Ryanair or Gold Cup?

Analysing the performance yesterday alone, he was a bit ‘novicey’ at his jumps, but travelled extremely powerfully into the race and didn’t look like stopping at the finish.

Obviously, you can’t judge his Gold Cup credentials on just this performance because he’s yet to run the seven furlongs further, however, if you look back at his 3m hurdles win at the Punchestown Festival in 2021, he won that easily against some good horses showing that he defo does stay.

Surely the Gold Cup is his ultimate aim?

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Appreciates a fence

2021’s Supreme Hurdle victor APPRECIATE IT made his chasing debut a winning one yesterday as the eight-year-old danced in to beat TOP BANDIT.

Despite giving some fences too much air and guessing at others, it was hard not to be impressed by the performance - potentially a step up in distance would be preferable later this season.

Townsend has always been very sweet on this horse and the questions he asked his mount were answered impressively.

An hour earlier, stablemate SAYLAVEE won the mares’ novice hurdle to beat BELLA SCINTILLA by two lengths - the pair look to be nice animals and definitely ones to watch this season.

Cheltenham Festival glamping?

Soaring hotel prices and lack of availability around Cheltenham for the Festival week has inspired a new concept where racegoers can no camp in a purpose built ‘village’ at budget rates.

The pop-up units are set to be based on the Cheltenham Tigers training pitch, a 10 minute walk from the course, and will house up to 300 racegoers for roughly £95 a night.

Shared bathrooms and shower facilities are available on site as well - the same setup was used at Glastonbury and, if successful, could be used at the Grand National meeting and on Derby day at Epsom.

Brandon Weston, managing director of the organisers Cube Modular, said: “It's a great location and we feel offers something different and a great solution.

"The future benefits will come from expanding the offering, enhancing the experience and bringing the [overhead] costs down.”

What do you think? Good or bad idea? I think it’s a brilliant idea tbh but I don’t wonder if it’ll prove a dirty location for the ‘afters’ when the bars and pubs of Cheltenham kick everyone out post midnight.

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Plumpton bumper

Only looking at the Plumpton bumper today as the Ludlow one is shit.

This market is headed by slight odds on CAPTAIN TEAGUE for Nicholls who is 1 from 1 in Plumpton bumpers. This lad is a half bro to BGP hall of famer SKY PIRATE - that’s the best pedigree on offer today.

That said, any horse who has run to >100 rpr in a bumper has to be feared and there’s 3 that have in this so despite Nicholls’ being the pick, it’s not exactly a betting proposition, more one to note.

Risk on

13.05 INTHEPOCKET

Nice horse by super sire BLUE BRESIL. Should be best horse in race. Full bet at 7/4.

16.20 FALL IN LOVE 

Over in my second home, Deauville for this one who has showed some talent this year in hot company. Campaigned in Group 1s and a Group 2, she now drops into Listed class and marginally down in trip. Her 5th in the French Oaks reads well and so does her 6th in the Gr1 Prix Vermeille where she had Grand Glory in behind who has since ran 6th in a Japan Cup. Strong ew at 7’s.