Equinties - Police cottin on

Gm Equinauts

Our hot streak was halted yesterday as Shaggas’ couldn’t quite get it up in front.

The market told the story with the newsletter’s only bet TO CATCH A THIEF. He drifted out to 10’s (20/1 was seen in places, a trading mistake surely?) and finished third.

He’s one to watch out of for when stepped up in trip:

Other sections in the newsletter still banged though as our Young Blood selection PACKARD was subject to a huge gamble before the off (6/4 into 4/7) and our stats horses ran well too for Equinauts to take some sizeable yield home. It’s been a good week.

Chimp management: Now don’t give it back to the bookies. The Fantasy numbers have been down recently - are you betting less and not playing the game at all or is the chimp out of control with the bigger pot?

Read below and understand the importance of using something like the TOTE Fantasy league to be enjoy horse racing more and be a better punter.

Let’s dive in.

MERCH

We’ve got merch coming and yes, Finndog themed tee’s will be available …and of course, very limited edition.

Stay tuned.

BGP FANTASY LEAGUE COMP

We’ve been hyping up the TOTE’s new Fantasy game since we found it. Why? Simply because there is nothing else out there now which can help people cage the betting chimp while maintaining an emotional interest in the big races of the day.

People bet way too much and the Fantasy allows you to get limited risk on, fill your brain up with the dope it craves and still be in the mix for a big win.

It’s bad racing today - perfect time to play it. If we hit 250 stables, top of the BGP private league get’s a new ‘GM’ cap.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

Appeal lost post-drugs bust

In March '22, before this newsletter existed, huge headlines akin to cycling's Festina affair in the 90's, broke and hit French racing...hard.

80 police officers raided a number of yards in South-West and Southern France with the intention to attack the entire doping network in French racing. Dozens of arrests were made including none other than David Cottin, trainer of Cheltenham winning EASYSLAND in 2020 when he beat Tiger Roll BY 17 LENGTHS in the Cross Country.

Cottin was found guilty of using Dexamethasone (commercial name DexPak or Decadron) and was given a year ban from training race horses.

But what does DexPak do?

Dexamethasone has a number of medical benefits and is commonly prescribed to patients suffering from severe inflammation such as chronic tendonitis, joint swelling or side effects from chemo. DexPak will act quickly to reduce inflammation and stop pain - quite beneficial for injured athletes who want to continue their hard training programme. Lots of athletes might take it with a therapeutic exemption form but it is BANNED in competition.

DexPak has also been found to improve airways. Back during lockdown, it was proved to increase the life expectancy of anyone hospitalised by covid. Boris Johnson was on it.

You can see now why it would be given to a horse. Got a big race coming up? Give them some DexPak, they'll stay sound and race hard and fast pain free with the added bonus of more efficient airways.

Whether they got a whiff of the pending police investigation or not, JP quickly and abruptly moved EASYSLAND to JJ's yard after the 2021 Cheltenham festival. EASYSLAND raced 8 times for JJ, only completing 3 of them, the rest PU. He has been nowhere close to winning a race since being with Cottin.

Stinks doesn't it.

This week Cottin lost his appeal and will indeed carry out a 12 month ban from training race horses. A scandal on the family that has been so embedded in french racing history.

The rematch

MAWJ and TAHIYRA are set to clash again in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. There was only a head between them in the English 1,000 Guineas, with MAWJ triumphing under Oisin Murphy. TAHIYRA made little fuss to go on to win the Irish equivalent with MAWJ absent.

It will be interesting to see which one improves throughout the year and who can claim the next scalp.

Dermot Weld reported yesterday, “She came out of the Guineas well. It was a little bit quick to run her back after the English Guineas, but she's taken it well and at the moment we're all set for the Coronation. We'll play it by ear with the weather. We'd hope that they'd water it well, it's very dry, quick ground but it was lovely ground at the Curragh. She's got a wonderful turn of pace. She's in good order and the current plan is that we're all set for the Coronation.”

Saaed Bin Suroor commented, "Mawj worked last Thursday on our Chippenham gallops, her first serious work since the 1,000 Guineas. She's doing good and it was always the plan to miss the Irish 1,000 Guineas and go to Royal Ascot as she needs time between her races to show her best form."

Amazingly Godolphin have never won the Coronation Stakes.

Meditate is third favourite and Electric Eyes, who had a lot of ante post market support before the 1000 Guineas is sitting at 12/1, could be the fly in the ointment.

It looks like a belter.

Foley out of Royal Ascot

In quick fire news today, Shane Foley will miss Royal Ascot after breaking his collarbone at Gowran Park monday.

He'll be out for the best part of six weeks. DexPak might help!

NEW FEATURE - YOUNG BLOOD

Notes on pedigree, attractive crosses and sales trends

 14.50 Nottingham

The second highest priced lot at Goffs UK Breeze Ups is entered, BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND. Trained by Karl Burke and cost an eye watering £360,000, some good business considering she was found at £30,000 as a yearling. She’s by TWILIGHT SON and out of a LETHAL FORCE mare. Ped leaves a bit to be desired but she was one of the quickest at the breeze ups and that is above colts as well! Richard Brown bought her and we think he is one of the best judges

MANTRA was a 10k yearling and flipped into a £160,000 breezer. By TAMAYUZ, she has had a run when she completely fluffed the start. She should come on for that.

ZIGGY’S QUEEN is by Invincible Spirit and cost €200,000 as a breezer. Went through the ring twice before, 32k foal and a 30k yearling. Her mother was quick, she won as a 3yo. Maybe one to just watch on debut even though she's being squeezed - could just be over ambitious owners.

MISS SHOW OFF is trained by Clive Cox and looks the part as a yearling. Purchased for 65,000gns at the Somerville Sale. She’s by SHOWCASING, her mother won in Italy and her back page includes 3 champions from South Africa. Was second at Sandown in a blanket finish, no reason why she can’t come forward from that.

GAME BREAKER is by first season sire SOLDIERS CALL and she is a half sister to LAST CRUSADER who was second in the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy. Her mother was all speed, she’s by IFFRAAJ and was placed at Gr3 level in France. A €120k yearling and looks a sharp type.

Verdict: BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND recorded a faster time at the breeze ups than MANTRA so there is reason to believe that she is the better filly of the two although MANTRA has the experience of a run (important). Richard Fahey and Ralph Beckett have won this in the past so keep an eye on them but the selection would be Karl Burke’s at 9/2each way who will like the ground and comes here with high expectations.

TODAYS RACING

Today’s best stats

Loads of stats for a load of racing today but we try to pick the most powerful data to match our views on the race, hence the high strike rate this section has. Three qualify today:

14.25 THRONE HALL will be better back on quick going and has Sheehan steering who operates close to 1 in 2 for Watson.

16.45 CHIEF BLACK ROBE Fergal has a near 50% strike rate when running horses within 7 days of their last win. CHIEF BLACK ROBE goes again and looks leverage at 4/5.

18.10 ROGUE SEA. Tudhope and Clover land 1 in 3 together and this horse today hasn't got much to beat.

These stats do not constitute financial advice. Use to either play the Fantasy league or create a ‘chimp acca’ to allow you to practice good habits and play singles with conviction.

RISK ON

The management behind BGP Capital are racing at Newbury today but the risk on is at Nottingham.

16.00 FUNNY STORY 

Best horse in the race and will love the ground. Beckett landed us a good one on Saturday and this girl should do just the same. Full bet at 5/2.