Equinties - Ricci eyeing riches

Gm Equinauts

No one has won the BGP Capital Golf Day yet so the comp will keep rolling over (see below)!

Let’s dive in.

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.

If we hit 100 stables today, top of the BGP private league comes golfing with BGP Capital - we’ll run the comp until someone wins!

HEADLINE ROUND UP

RICCI EYEING RICHES

Willie Mullins’ Triumph Hurdle winner and Irish Champion Hurdle winner-up, VAUBAN, is packing his bags for Australia as he won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes yesterday on his route to the Melbourne Cup.

Having been as big as 100/1 at some stage this year – some punters got risk on early - check this bet out:

He’s now 5/1 for the Grade 1 contest in early November however, connections of VAUBAN have a decision to make. Do they run him again?

He has entries for the Irish St Leger Trial, Lonsdale Cup, and Irish St Leger, and depending on what the Australian handicapper does – which isn’t decided until September – he may need another run to get his mark up.

It’s a tough decision to make, but one thing that is for sure is their hunger for the race as this hasn’t exactly been sprung upon us…

“SPECIAL LITTLE HORSE“

Irish jockey Robbie Geoghegan was handed a 50-day ban this weekend for failing to pull up the injured SOLE PRETENDER at Galway on Sunday who was later put down.

The nine-year-old gelding was sent off 15/2 for the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase on Sunday for trainer Norman Lee, and following the jockey believing that his mount “was not moving correctly”, he failed to pull the horse up.

Lee, who was obviously sad at the loss of his stable star, does not blame the claiming rider for the fatality, as he said: "It wasn't Robbie's fault. He just didn't realise the extent of the injury. He didn't know what was happening underneath him and didn't realise he was so injured. He didn't go very wrong straight away."

Thoughts with all connections.

LEGER MARKET SHAKE UP

Following today’s Ballyroan Stakes, one horse that was shortened for the race was the second, VALIANT KING, for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

From 40/1, he is now a 20/1 shot for the final British Classic of the year and has the form in the book to make you wonder his chances as he was second to DESERT HERO, a Group 2 winner since and a 6/1 shot for the same race, at Royal Ascot and he won impressively at Navan earlier this year.

39 still remain in the 1m6f Doncaster contest with GREGORY the 5/2 favourite, TOWER OF LONDON at 6/1, and CASTLE WAY in at 10/1 – all three are entered for the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York, which could be a great race to watch.

YOUNG BLOOD

15.05 FFOS LAS

DEVIL’S POINT cost 475k as a yearling, ran well on debut, the form doesn’t look particularly strong but the 3rd has won since. Solid contender in this race and Oisin booked to ride is telling.

GOING THE DISTANCE cost 160k, he’s by gun sire LOPE DE VEGA and o/o a mare who was a Gr3 winner and Gr2 placed. Slightly weak pedigree behind that but a good looking individual as you would expect

DARING LEGEND cost 150k as a yearling, by DARK ANGEL o/o a three parts sister to SWISS SPIRIT. He’s made a slow start to his career coming 11th/12 and 4th nto, needs to build on that again. His experience will help him today.

CASTLE IN THE SAND is a homebred by NEW APPROACH and o/o a mare who was Listed placed (also won on debut). Yards runners normally improve from the run and interesting Oisin rides the Menuisieur horse.

MIAMI HEAT by hot shot British stallion HAVANA GREY, price increased from 25k as a yearling to 125k as a breezer. Came last on debut but the form looks pretty solid and after running green wasn’t far away. Better run nto at Ascot, he’s the dark horse in the race.

VEER is a homebred for Lady Bamford (husband owns JCB) by CARAVAGGIO o/o a GALILEOmare, he’s shown little on both his starts to date. One for handicaps after getting a mark today.

WOOF by CHURCHILL who has sired VADENI, THE FOXES, SPREWELL and LADIES CHURCH to name a few over the past couple of years. Dam is by FASTNET ROCK so the cross is the potent GALILEO over DANEHILL line mares.

SPACEPORT by US NAVY FLAG cost 58k as a yearling, he’s a half brother to RESTORER who was a listed winner and Gr3 placed. Good looking horse, betting to guide.

SUB THIRTEEN by TERRITORIES, cost only 6k but it’s a good page. His dam is two winners from 2 runners, dam is a half sister to Gr2 Mill Reef winner GALEOTA and plenty more group winners/placed horses. Market to guide.

BAJAN NEW MOON by PROCONSAL who wasn’t a good racehorse but a full brother to FRANKEL. BNM is a homebred for Mickley Stud, he needs to improve a lot from his debut to figure today.

WESTON COURT cost 9k as a yearling, was last of 13 on debut. Big improvement needed but not expected.

Verdict: Competitive maiden, DEVIL’S POINT made an encouraging debut but form looks mixed but there are serious whispers for this nag. Trainer a big negative though in our opinion. DARING LEGEND and MIAMI HEAT are two horses improving with each run. GOING THE DISTANCE could be smart and is the ew play at 5’s to hedge the fave if playing and ground isn't too bad.

STATS OF THE DAY

A couple of trainer jockey combo’s to look out for at Ffos Las:

Rossa Ryan and Beckett are 3 from 5 when teaming up at Ffos Las and are repped by GOING THE DISTANCE in the 15.05 and Becky Smith is 2 from 3 for Scott all time at have CAPTAIN KANE in the 14.35.

RISK ON

Really strong whispers for the Menuisier horse in Young Blood. He’s the likely winner with some size movers maxing but we just can't get onboard with the trainer - play at your own risk.

Bad, bad racing elsewhere but we’ll be at Ffos Las today and tweet any bets from the ring.