Equinties - National hero's out out

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Gm Equinauts

The risk on double landed in good style yesterday as the two proper horses did what proper horses should do and trotted up.

The racing looks quite tricky today so won't be too quick to delve into the bank but there might be a bet if the right signs are there (i.e someone telling me to back it).

Let's dive in.

Headline Roundup

Manning retires 

Following his victory onboard VOCAL STUDIES at Galway yesterday, the two-time 2000 Guineas-winning jockey Kevin Manning announced his retirement from the saddle with immediate effect.  

The 55-year-old rode the three-year-old son of VOCALISED to victory on the fourth time of asking in the seven-furlong maiden, beating RACING ROYALTY by two lengths at odds of 4/6.  

As expected, the racing world came out to wish this legend of the game farewell, a true coming together in the sport. 

Happy retirement, Kevin. Before we move on, let’s leave you with two successes from his career on the biggest stages: POETIC FLARE and NEW APPROACH 

A Shark and a horse walk into a bar

John ‘The Shark’ Hanlon’s American Grand National hero HEWICK returned home yesterday to a warm welcome from the locals. 

As a treat, what do you think The Shark gave to HEWICK for all of his successes? A few days off work? Nice little groom and pamper? No, the larger than life trainer decided to bring him into the pub for a pint of Guinness.

Racing Twitter (obviously) was divided and I get both sides. The pub to me looked a tiiiiiiny bit too small for that horse and with his ears pinned back, he clearly wasn't enjoying it, bless him. I'd have tied my lad outside and brought the Guinness out to him. I have tried feeding Rocky Guinness (some horses love it) but Rocky thought I was trying to poison him... never again! The other side of the argument is that Shark knows the horse well enough to feel comfortable bringing him inside the pub... that's fine.

I trust HEWICK didn't take enough of the black stuff down to be hung over this morning, not sure our sponsors MYRKL would have worked for the lad.

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From one National hero to another 

As one Grand National winner returned home to a pint of Guinness, another one was sent over to Wexford for the Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase as NOBLE YEATS made his seasonal debut a winning one under Sean Bowen. 

The 50/1 Aintree Grand National-winning seven-year-old beat the useful HURRICANE GEORGIE and last season’s Grade 2 National Hunt Chase runner-up RUN WILD FRED comfortably to claim success on his first start in Ireland since he pulled up in a Grade 3 won by STATTLER at Naas last season. Good horse.

Warwick bumper

This is the hardest bumper I've looked at so far this season, not least because it's a mare's race. The market will organise those who are ready today, so if playing, play late according to the preview and market.

Olly Murphy runs Magnier owned, SILENT APPROACH (is this Magnier's first horse with Murphy?). She cost 90k and is a half to JOURNEY WITH ME and DRUNKEN COUNSEL, both good bumper winners. Defo on the shortlist.

Fergal is double-handed in this and out of the two, HARD AS NAILS would be my preference on pedigree. She's a full-sister to SAM BROWN who was unbeaten in bumpers. Only cost 20k though so that's bearish and she's a drifter.

Fergal's other filly, STOWAWAY JESS, is being backed after winning well in April. Some of the pen is negated but Harrison's claim but I don't think the race she won was any good so tentatively drawing a line through her.

LADY CARO is interesting for Lavelle. Both of her half-siblings (trained by Hendo) have won bumpers, FIRESTEP being a particularly good bumper horse. She's v.high on the shortlist for a trainer who isn't afraid to ready them in bumpers.

Greatrex is a shit trainer, I think he'll be finished in 2 years but his horse is still interesting at a bigger price. He trained the dam who won a bumper, so this girl today SHOULD have ability too... but it's Greatrex.

At the bigger prices, the only other one I quite like is Symonds' MILAN ROUGE. She's a half to SIMPLY THE BETTS who won his bumper before going on to be rated 160 over fences. Symonds is another trainer on my 'bin list' but he has had horses show up in bumpers before (think MORIKO DE VASSY and his home bred, LANDINOBO LAD).

The money horse in this bumper is Fry’s QUEEN ANNIE. She’s a full sister to the unbeaten BONTTAY who sluiced up in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham. Money expecting this girl to be just as good for a trainer who targets these races.

Our view: Info will be needed for this race. You have the preview, I'll tweet ahead of the off once markets start moving and I've made a few calls. My preference at the moment is for three -Lavelle's, Murphy's and Symonds'and I think the market move on the Easterby horse is a fake gamble.

Risk On

Any bets will be posted on Twitter.

13.20 CANTORA

Should be able to use this horse as leverage for another bet at 11/10.