Equinties - no Moore

Gm Equinauts

Racing celebrated the brilliant career of Jamie Moore yesterday as he announced his forced retirement from race riding yesterday.

In a revealing and heart felt interview with Matt Chapman, Moore also goes into THAT moment in the Triumph hurdle onboard GOSHEN.

The fall, up there with the most unfortunate in Cheltenham history, has probably haunted the yard to this day, but my lord is has made for some great internet content:

Jokes aside, Jamie Moore will be sorely missed from the weighing room but a huge addition to his dad Gary’s training set up.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

NO MOORE 

If you want a short video to bring you back down to earth, this interview with Jamie Moore following yesterday’s announcement that he was retiring from the saddle will do just that. 

Three cases of being knocked out in eight months, a scattering of brain bleeds, and advice from doctors are just some of the reasons why Moore has called time on his illustrious career, one that saw him provide top-class action and entertainment for our viewing pleasure.

SIRE DE GRUGY in the 2014 Champion Chase, BARON ALCO in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2018, and that unseat in the 2019 Triumph Hurdle while onboard GOSHEN are just a few of the key memories we in the racing community have of Moore. 

Speaking to the Racing Post yesterday, dad Gary is hopeful he can become a bigger part of the training team, as he said: “He and Josh work really well together; Josh needs Jamie and Jamie needs Josh. He was in Newmarket last week doing his modules so I’d love to think that they will both be able to take over from me when they’re ready to." Best of luck to the rest of your career, Jamie.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/gary-moore-jamies-come-out-in-one-piece-which-is-more-important-than-riding-a-thousand-winners-a6aGW5I4TxGB/

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Fergal O’Brien is set to have two darts in this year’s Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after SPRINGTIME PROMISE got the better of CHERIE D’AM at Sandown. 

The success made it five on the bounce (including PtPs) for the FAME AND GLORY 7yo and on the face of it, she has put in a good performance as CHERIE D’AM has probably run to her level.

O’Brien already has one strong contender for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival with DYSART ENOS – who will carry 5lbs less than her stablemate due to the penalty structure – but the boss of Ravenswell Farm now has another to go to war with if conditions are correct.

Assistant trainer, Sally Randell, said: "Her confidence is sky high, all she wants to do is win races, and we just thought we needed that Cheltenham entry in case it came up soft. If the rain comes, she could be there."

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/cheltenham-dream-is-alive-for-springtime-promise-after-gutsy-grade-2-success-aOVwV8d2vsZ7/

APPRENTICE TO WATCH

We don’t do this very often, but due to the lack of news we thought we would highlight a Flat apprentice on the up. With four winners to his name from his first 37 rides at the age of 16, Jack Doughty is a young lad riding for Tony Carroll in Worcestershire and has plenty of experience on the all-weather to date. Wolverhampton. Kempton. Lingfield. You know the deal here. 

With experience alongside last year’s champion apprentice, Billy Loughnane, and a good teacher with David Crosse, he will get his fair share of rides on the Flat when the turf season comes into full effect. 

He seems to be full of ambition and with still a few areas to work on we wish him the best of luck.

MEYDAN MUSINGS

Death, Taxes and William Buick winning at Meydan; BEAUTIFUL LOVE, NATURE WATCH and FIRST SIGHT are Buicks rides this afternoon. All of them are short favourites, 7/1 treble anyone? 

The 14.40 is dominated by NATURE WATCH, it’s pretty weak race. Buicks mount was gelded before running and went backwards after his first start. NYAAR is his main danger, he is 0 from 8. MEZZOTINTO is next in the betting and he is 0 from 20. Very uninspiring!

In the 15.15, the boys in blue again hold the ace card looking at the market. But this time trained by Saaeed, OLYMPIC CANDLE is the 3/1 fave but MOLAQAB might give him something to think about. He was second to the reopposing CHANGING COLOURS but that horse has gone up 8lbs, which gives the previous Shaggas inmate MOLAQAB a chance at around 10/3.

YOUNG BLOOD

Two bumpers today but we’ll only preview the Kelso one because Fakenham appear a bit of a non-event.

KELSO BUMPER

YAKALEO heads the market in this for Nicky Richards. He was well backed last time out but beat into third by two fairly useful looking sorts. He wasn’t stopping at Musselburgh so there is no reason he shouldn’t be in the mix today in more favoured, slower conditions.

DEDICATED HERO was third lto but well beat in the end. An okay NH pedigree should see him in the mix too but wouldn’t be backing him for first.

SANTAPIETRA is a mare so gets weight from the boys. Very average dam side but did fetch £40k…was that more for broodmare prospects? Take on in our opinion.

CUSHENDUN has a very average NH pedigree but his last run was promising. Will go in the ground. Should finish in front of the Lucinda Russell horse mare for place chances in ground he’ll appreciate.

THEONETOWATCH probably isn’t one to watch? Got well beat by CUSHENDUN last time and should be tough to reverse that form.

BLUE PLAN has been backed into 16’s from 50’s. Small change will do that but obviously someone thinks he can get close to placing. Was a £1700 foal, by an unknown sire… tough to read. Leave for us.

CALEDONIAN PEARL runs with a feather weight due to fillies allowance but she should still have too much to do in this.

We liked MALICASH on debut when placing at a price. That run offers some of the best form here but he needs to leave his second race behind. Price says he won’t - handicapping now? if not, in with a small squeak.

AUTHORIZED MISSION looked slow as a boat last time, will need deep conditions over 3 miles in time?

BALKING, on pedigree, is way too big at 25/1, although price means everything in bumpers. Arguably one of the better bred in this race -by BALKO meaning he’ll love the mud and the dam won in heavy going in France. Loads of winners dam side. £36k 3yo means he has to look useful physically but maybe doesn’t have the engine at 25/1?

The others can’t win.

Verdict: Let’s be clear, on last time out form and money direction, YAKALEO should be winning this. But this is about pedigree’s so so we’ll stick by our guns and go with BALKING. 38.0 on the machine says he ain’t winning and one to take note of for the future but you now for sure we’ll boom it if he wins!

RISK ON

We had eyes on PRIMOZ in the 14.25 all morning but the books simply can’t sell him. 11/10 out to 2/1 suggests there is something wrong with this horse/perhaps he’s not delivering the hype that came with him when bought for £150k. He looked so good on rules debut for Lucinda but stopped quickly in Listed company next time. The market is taking him on today. We wouldn’t be surprised if he bolts up in this race, it’s not deep, and if he hadn’t have run last time out, he’d be 2/1 on for today. But the market is shouting NO. Watch the exchange before the off. If he gets clipped back in he could be a bet.

Todays bets:

15.25 EMPIRE STEEL

Running for old sly Sandy who loves Kelso. They won this race together in ‘22, one of three times the horse has won here. 2/1 a bet.

17.10 SOUTHBANK

Stinky. Been smashed and is near top on ratings even with the pull from the gates last time. He was 5’s now into 5/4 which some of you won’t like so either play as a single or add to another as a bit of ‘try your luck’ lev. You could lever HERMES LE GRIS in the 15.40 to 3’s.