Equinties - Sandown showdown

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BGP Capital
April 23, 2024

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

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HEADLINE ROUNDUP

DOWN TO JONBON

Last week, Nicky Henderson was still sitting on the fence as to where JONBON would finish his season as both Sandown and Punchestown were on the cards.

However, a decision was taken yesterday as the boss of Seven Barrows confirmed that this weekend’s Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown is the plan, and so a duel against EL FABIOLO is all but set in stone. This should be a proper clash, and one that will likely see a lot more people turn up to Esher-based track to see some star performers.

And that’s not all! At the five-day stage, Willie Mullins has also confirmed GAELIC WARRIOR for the Celebration Chase and both EDWARDSTONE and CAPTIAN GUINNESS remain. That’s before you start to look at the likes of DYSART DYNAMO, BOOTHILL, or even NUBE NEGRA!

As for the other Mullins-entered horses at Sandown, IMPAIRE ET PASSE could run in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle, APPRECIATE IT is a possibility for both the Celebration and Oaksey Chase, and he has four entered for the Bet365 Gold Cup. That is a strong team!

Away from the master of Closutton, both Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls will be firing their best horses at Sandown this weekend, though it could be worth keeping an eye on LE MILOS in the Bet365 Gold Cup.

Skelton told the Racing Post: "We had a few in the bet365 Gold Cup and could have run Galia Des Liteaux if the ground was on the slower side. This has been the target for Le Milos for a long time. He's had some nice runs over hurdles without winning and it's time to go back over fences. He had surgery after the Grand National last year, which set him back a little.”

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

Alan King flew the flag for the British trainers at Ayr on Saturday as he fended off Willie Mullins’ BIALYSTOK in the Scottish Champion Hurdle with the improving FAVOUR AND FORTUNE… which he’s only gone up 3lb for!

He has some nice form in the book – notably that Supreme form and his second to JANGO BAIE – and King is happy to keep him to the smaller obstacles next season to try out a few of the big handicaps.

He said: "He's finished for the season now and I'd imagine we'll train him for the Greatwood. He'll jump a fence but we won't go chasing yet, he's not had a lot of racing and I think he could do with another season to harden him a bit.

"I hope he'll continue to improve after Saturday. The handicapper can't be ridiculous after what he did, so there could be another big handicap in him."

In fairness to Alan, it’s almost refreshing to see some of these novices kept to hurdles for a second season to contest the big handicaps, rather than letting some of the older brigade battle them out.

Let’s see what he can do next season.

A FORGOTTEN ONE?

Horses in Shadwell colours tend to grab a bit of attention on the track, though one who could be going under the radar after an injury-plagued season is ALFLAILA.

The DARK ANGEL 5yo only raced on the track twice as a four-year-old due to a few injury problems having raced six times as a three-year-old. However, he won after 294 days away from the track in the Group 2 York Stakes in July 2023 and then finished fifth to AUGUSTE RODIN in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.

Burrows will be hopeful for a longer season this year, as he said: “In the last couple of weeks he's started fast work and it'll be good to get him back.

“He obviously didn't have the longest of seasons last year, but he won well at York on King George Day and then it didn't go to plan in the Irish Champion Stakes. That was the case for a lot of the English horses and then, unfortunately, he had a little setback and that finished him for the season.”

“Touch wood we can get him back soon - I was hoping to start him in the Brigadier Gerard, but that may just come a fraction too soon.

“It all depends on how the next few weeks go, but he looks as well as ever, he's filled out and strengthened up again.”

BIG RACE PREVIEW

14.45 EPSOM BLUE RIBBAND STAKES

CHIEF LITTLE ROCK holds obvious favourite claims being by Galileo o/o Gr1W Amicus, trained by Aidan, ridden by Ryan and was placed in a Gr2 and Gr3 as a 2yo. He’d be a few rungs down the pecking order at Ballydoyle so won’t be great for the others if he wins! 

ARABIC LEGEND was trained by Andrew Balding last year as a 2yo where he won on debut and then placed second in a nice Listed race of which the winner went on to land the Group Zetland Stakes (see below). Balding lost form at the end of last year so probs best to put a line through his last run and if you saw the way Burke improved CAVIAR HEIGHTS last week, then this lad could quite easily do the same being by DUBAWI o/o a Gr1W SHAMARDAL mare. Yard have just come into top top form.

DEFIANCE looks to be Highclere’s big Derby hope this year, they’re normally not far away from the target with their purchase. This lad won on debut and then ran well for a long time in a Group 2. That looked a throw at the stumps at the end of the season. Needs to improve but entirely plausible.

FEIGNING MADNESS won both his starts as a 2yo, hopefully he has learnt to break from the stalls better than both his starts last year. Form is solid without being amazing to be honest. But could have improved over the winter.

BELLUM JUSTUM by SEA THE STARS broke his maiden tag at the 4th time of asking as a 2yo. Considering his size and pedigree you’d expect him to take a step forward this year as a 3yo, the question is how much forward?

BUR DUBAI’s owner has a lot of luck at the track but he’ll have to be rubbing his genie bottle pretty hard today if his horse is to win this on his seasonal return. 

Verdict: Tough race to come up with one selection as a few of these could have really improved over the winter. It’s probably a race to sit back and enjoy with the notepad for future engagements unless you’re playing fun stakes but the one we’re most keen to see is ARABIC LEGEND. If he had stopped before his last run he’d probably be joint favourite so looks overpriced.

RISK ON

Our NAP should have won yesterday, he was in front past the line! Money back on the Fellowes horse who is one to keep an eye on. We like a couple today plus the selection ARABIC LEGEND in the above Blue Riband preview who should be an ew to nothing.

16.30 MIDAIR

Should be hard to beat given anticipated improvement. Drifting fave INVOLVEMENT carries a pen. 11/10.

16.55 CERVARO DELLA SALA

Purely a pedigree bet here so only small stakes. This girl is bred only for fast turf and this is the first time she’s got it. Despite being fave, she’s still not top on figures but we think the field will appreciate more dig in the ground. 5/2.

UPDATE

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