Equinties - The Weekender

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Gm Equinauts

It’s Saturday. It’s the weekend. It’s BGP big race preview time.

Headline roundup

Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase 

Interesting contest this.

BOLD ENDEAVOUR is the odds-on favourite for Nicky Henderson. He’s gonna have a good day.

He’s a 3m PtP winner, but his only start at three miles caused him to pull up at Aintree in the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at the Grand National meeting last year - he has won his last two races, but jumped very right on his last start at Doncaster.

Back right-handed will see him to best effect, but is there someone to take him on with?

Potentially the most interesting horse running this weekend is KINONDO KWETU.

Six straight victories and two PtP wins for the Sam England-trained seven-year-old has seen him rise 28lbs in the weights since March 2022.

He won comfortably lto when fences were omitted and a continuation of that form could see him go close today.

JAY JAY REILLY NR leaving OSCAR ELITE to complete the three-runner lineup and if OSCAR ELITE returns to his best novice form, he’s a chance.

Our view: Hendo racks’em up today.

Grade 1 Ascot Chase

This looks to be a three horse race, but what a race it could be.

FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES. SHISHKIN. PIC D’ORHY. All between 2’s and 3/1. This is horse racing.

Starting with the latter, he comes into the race as this experienced Grade 2 chaser who has yet to break out into the Grade 1 scene.

He bolted up by 16 lengths and is seriously the form horse coming into today - can he finally break that wall into the top tier quality?

He isn’t the only British pretender in the race as SHISHKIN, fresh from a Tingle Creek disappointment, is stepping up in trip for the first time as his Ryanair Chase claims are put on the line.

It would be great for him to bounce back, but on his performance lto, it’s tough to see him back up to this level over an uncertain trip, especially against the horse we’re going to mention now.

FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES has been targeted for the race. Joseph O’Brien and Kevin Blake have had this race in mind for a while - he did win the race last year - and he will be 100% for today.

With the recent Allaho news, he looks the best horse for this year’s Cheltenham Festival contest, however, it’s only three and a half weeks till the race, so will he be able recover to full fitness for the event in March?

Our view: one to watch

Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle

We can’t lie to you, this is an awful Grace 2.

ITCHY FEET is fancied at 9/2, a horse who was unable to win in 13 starts before lto. It’s that bad.

As for the favourite, ERNE RIVER, he was a steady novice chaser and hurdler - the Nick Kent-trained 8yo is back over a hurdle today and is the same rating as ITCHY FEET, while being four pounds ahead of the others.

Looking at the rest, ASHTOWN LAD has National or Pertemps aspirations so he may be one for another day, and as for GREEN BOOK, he won off a mark of 134 having not been in the winner’s enclosure for a while, so off 139 he is one to approach with caution.

Our view: couldn’t give af tbh

Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle

Finally, we end with a race that GOSHEN bravely won last year as Wincanton hosts the Kingwell Hurdle.

The market is headed by FIRST STREET for Hendo - second in the County Hurdle to STATE MAN, his form is obvious, and if he wins today then he will head to the Champion Hurdle, however, if he doesn’t, the team at Seven Barrows will be a bit stuck with him.

The form from his races this season has also worked out, so he is a worthy favourite.

Looking for his third win of the season, KNAPPERS HILL finished behind FIRST STREET in the Relkeel on New Year’s Day over probably the wrong distance.

Not to be boring, but his form is a step below FIRST STREET’s and the market has this right.

And as for the third favourite, I LIKE TO MOVE IT, he won this season’s Greatwood Hurdle, which was pretty much a flat race, convincingly to beat the well handicapped GIN COCO.

Again, he also disappointed in the Relkeel, however, better ground is right up his street and he is a relentless galloper.

Our view: FIRST STREET is a knock in to continue Hendo’s Saturday pillage.

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Risk on

We have risk on the owners double going in to today but we pushing more chips in to make this a big weekend.

13.20 ATTACCA

15.12 FIRST STREET

16.45 BETWEEN WATERS 

Small 12/1 Hendo treble and a strong double on the first two.