Gm, Equinauts

Punters who study form are creatures of habit, both in the tools they use and the way they find bets. We’re no different — we have our morning routine, our tools and our own list of criteria; the boxes we need to tick to identify a bet.

So when we opened the Racing Post desktop site today and saw what they’d done to it, it’s safe to say we were a little put out.

It is horrible.

We know they won’t change it back — it’s done now — but it’s just another thing, alongside the increasing difficulty of actually getting bets on, that is dampening enthusiasm for the sport.

It’s a good job we bloody love the horses so much.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

🟣KIA PUTS KIBOSH ON AGUIAR SPLIT CLAIMS

Amo’s Kia Joorabchian has DENIED reports of a major split with breeze up consignor turned new trainer Robson Aguiar after claims emerged that around 10 horses had been removed from the yard.

Aguiar revealed on Monday that several Amo-owned runners, including BULL SHARK and OCEAN CLUB, were leaving for either America or Britain, although he stressed that a number of leading horses — including POWER BLULE and EDWARD THATCH — remain in his stable.

Kia, however, rejected suggestions of a fallout and insisted only a small number of horses had been relocated as part of an already existing plans AND explained that some horses had been sent to the United States on Aguiar’s recommendation, while others had gone for rehabilitation or to continue their careers elsewhere.

Kia did say that his only concern related to potential conflicts of interest arising from horses in Aguiar’s yard being owned by the trainer and his wife alongside outside clients but even with that public exchange, Joorabchian emphasised his long-standing SUPPORT of Aguiar.

🤧FLU OUTBREAK

British racing has tightened biosecurity measures in response to the growing equine flu outbreak but suspending all hunter chases from Wednesday to reduce contact between horses from licensed and unlicensed yards.

The move means Stratford’s big hunter chase meeting on May 29 — a key fixture at the end of the point-to-point season — has been cancelled, a decision which has obviously p*ssed off Cheltenham winning trainer Joe O’Shea (think BARTON SNOW (delivering one of the most devastating Cheltenham wins…ever)) who labelled the move an overreaction.

But is it an overreaction?

It makes sense on paper, but many will still question the logic given the sheer scale of the racing industry and the number of horses outside hunter chases moving between yards every day. We know of 2yo’s that will be going into training soon who aren’t from BHA licensed yards, which is totally normal and happening every day, and younger horses are most vulnerable to flu!

But this flu could genuinely cause major long-term problems for racing yards. It is highly contagious — although luckily rarely fatal in healthy adult horses — with symptoms appearing within one to three days of exposure, while infected horses can continue spreading the virus for up to ten days. Younger horses are considered most vulnerable, and complications such as pneumonia can occasionally become serious in foals, elderly horses or those with weakened immune systems. A bit like humans!

Equine flu is no good for anyone and can seriously disrupt yards, so trainers may need to be more supportive of the measures the BHA is trying to introduce.

With Royal Ascot coming up, the BHA might need to even reconsider the royal procession too!

🐎OXTED

Dual Group 1 winner OXTED is set for one of racing’s most wild comebacks after almost five years off the track!

Always the underdogs, big Roger Teal hasn’t sent OXTED to a track since finishing third in the July Cup… all the way back in 2021.

Can we even call him Big Roger anymore? He’s looking more like Medium Roger these days.

Back to the horse. Initially retired following a series of injury setbacks, OXTED had been living the quieter life as a hack for Roger’s wife Sue but now the 10-year-old is showing so much enthusiasm for running fast, they’re bringing him back!

Teal has openly admitted the comeback is far from conventional, with OXTED originally ruled out of an intended return at Newmarket after suffering a minor stone bruise, they’re targeting a lower-level comeback race as they carefully manage the veteran.

OXTED remains one of the standout sprinting stories of recent years, rising from handicap company to top-level success with victories in the July Cup and King’s Stand Stakes. We just hope he has a safe and happy return to racing life.

He is set to return this Saturday in Listed company at Salisbury!

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