Equinties - Sunday is Saturday

Gm Equinauts

We’re struggling for content today, echoed by the fact we’ve had to engage and spend time with our loved ones over the last few days since the jumps have been abandoned.

We desperately need the jumps back.

There is hope. Sunday is looking BULLISH. We’ve therefore improvised today. We have previewed one good race on the all weather today, plus found a good bet but have added some of the big races tomorrow for you to get stuck into.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

CLASSICS > CHELTENHAM

Before we get stuck into the previews, the biggest news of yesterday revolved around the Clarence House Chase as, like last year, the contest will take place at Cheltenham on Trials Day. 

JONBON is set to go to Prestbury Park, but, as assumed, EL FABIOLO will likely stay at home for the Dublin Chase at the DRF. 

It is a shame that he won’t be coming over as extra Cheltenham experience and the race being a week earlier would be a positive to his Champion Chase plans.

Nicky Henderson gets his fair share of stick for not sending CONSTITUTION HILL on the boat to Ireland for pre-Cheltenham clashes, so should Willie Mullins here.

But in all honesty, we’re just glad these two horses are nearly out the news. It feels like we’ve been talking about them every day for the last two weeks, more it’s quite sad we only have these two to talk about. 

RANT TIME.

Racing needs a serious overhaul of the NH race program. They need ‘Classics’ with proper prize money and a proper field of runners. 

Cheltenham is good and all, but it’s a massive obsession where the entirety of a horses life is focused on one race. It’s boring. 

Nothing like the Flat where they have Guineas, the Derby, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, York Ebor, Newmarket’s July and the St Ledger. The flat is more akin to Formula 1’s travelling circus. We love it. 

National Hunt has the best fan base. They need to start to use it. Bring in ‘Classics’ and actually have the horses competing. Force trainers and owners to target other things than Cheltenham. 

Imagine ditching Boxing Day’s Kempton card for a three or four day Christmas festival at Ascot or Aintree.

We’d be in favour of that. 

Rant over, let’s dive in.

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