Equinties - the review

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Gm Equinauts 

It was a brilliant Saturday for the newsletter. Let's dive in.

Headline roundup

Skelton Saturdays 

Saturday success for the Skelton's continued this weekend as the Warwickshire-based team secured a memorable across-the-card treble. 

As predicted in the newsletter, the party began with GALIA DES LITEAUX in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick as the seven-year-old mare bounced back from her Christmas disappointment. 

She is now 16/1 for the Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, though other options are being explored. 

35 minutes later, GREY DAWNING completed the Graded Warwick double for Team Skelton and a tilt at the Albert Bartlett could be on the cards. This win in particular annoyed me as I had Moores to finish infront of GREY DAWNING for a 10/1 slop acca.

With Dan and Harry at Warwick, duties were left to Bridget Andrew’s to bring up the treble, something she did thanks to a gruelling battle with Paul Nicholls’ RED RISK, as she guided WEST BALBOA to success in the £100k Lanzarote Hurdle.

The seven-year-old holds a Mares Hurdle entry, but that isn’t the ultimate aim - Dan will want to utilise her handicap mark before going down the Graded route with her. 

National or naaaa(tional)

Following a 383-day layoff, Sam Thomas’ IWILLDOIT powered home to land the Classic Chase at Warwick in what was an emotional win for connections.

The 2021 Welsh National winner had been off the track for more than a year coming into Saturday, but with conditions on his side and under a strong Stan Sheppard ride, the 10-year-old performed wonders in the gruelling long-distance handicap. 

Before he could even make it back to the winner’s enclosure, people began to talk about the Grand National in April for him. 

HOWEVER, hold off on your ante-post bets, as he has only ran in five steeplechase contests and he will need to run in a sixth to be qualified, 

It was certainly an emotional day for the owners of IWILLDOIT, Diamond Racing, due to an awful situation involving the head of the group, Chris Morgan. 

Morgan’s son, Dylan, has suffered a bleed on the brain and had experienced life-saving surgery following a blow to the head during a rugby game.

Anyone who was near the parade ring Warwick on Saturday after the Classic Chase could feel the emotion.

We wish Dylan a speedy recovery.

Back to the horse, Thomas has highlighted the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris as a potential option for his Classic Chase hero if his Grand National plan falls through. 

IMPERVIOUS to all challengers 

It seems JP McManus knows how to buy a good one as IMPERVIOUS continued her unbeaten record over fences to secure the Grade 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase at Punchestown yesterday. 

The seven-year-old mare is 3/3 over the larger obstacles and is a general 15/8 for the Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but will she go there? 

Post-race, trainer Colm Murphy said: "I'd imagine the mares' race is the target but you wouldn't mind in one way taking on geldings as we'd be getting 7lb. We'll see how she comes out of it."

It will be interesting to see where connections go with her, but whatever they choose, she looks like a very nice mare for the big races.

Ballymore or Supreme? 

The Grade 2 Moscow Flyer opened the card at Punchestown yesterday, a race that saw Willie Mullins’ IMPAIRE ET PASSÉ stake his claims for the Cheltenham Festival. 

The five-year-old is 3/3 from all of her career starts and looks to be well regarded within Closutton - yesterday’s Moscow Flyer doesn’t look a vintage renewal, however, he beat what he had to and looks to have a nice turn of foot. 

With the presence of stablemate FACILE VEGA in the opening race of the Festival, it looks like the Ballymore could be the race of choice - he won his maiden over 2m3f on soft at Naas and has now shown himself over 2m, so it’ll be interesting to see how his season goes. 

Personally, the Supreme looks fragile atm and Willie could easily walk out of race one with a 1-2 if he send his Simon Munir-owner gelding to the race (remember, he tried to do this in 2021 with APPRECIATE IT and BLUE LORD before the latter fell at the last).

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Today's best stats

Richard Patrick has a near 40% sr when riding for Kerry Lee at Hereford. They team up for the 13.10 and 15.40.

Dan Skelton is 5 from 17 in handicap hurdles at Hereford and sends MISSED TEE today in the 13.40. 

Harry Cobden is 2 from 3 all time for Daly and is booked for him on GUILLEMOT in the 16.10.

The market will be key for this race but eyes on BUSINESS 17.30 owned by the gambling Power Bro's. Trainer 4 from 8 in claiming races at Wolves. 

IMPERIUM 18.00 goes for Charlton, yard 3 from 3 (100% sr) in these types of races at course. 

Risk on 

BGP Capital owners have been following the bets of a pro. 

The bets are few and far in between but rarely miss. He’s in ‘the 2% club’. His bets will be now appear in a new section of the newsletter called *Risk on: Pro* Todays bet is CITY CHIEF