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Equinties - the going
BGP Capital
March 06, 2026
HEADLINE ROUNDUP
THE GOING
For a year which started basically under water, it’s hard to believe that this years Cheltenham will effectively be run in quicker than normal conditions (unless something dramatic happens).
We can’t believe we’re writing this but clerk or the course Jon Pullen has already started watering the New Course to maintain it’s good good to soft ahead of it’s racing on Thursday:
According to Pullen if he didn’t water the New Course, it could be ‘too quick’ to race.
This whacky weather changes EVERY THING.
It cannot be overstated just how important the going is to most of the horses who will line up next week, many of whom might never have encountered such conditions if the ground is good by race day.
One example of the top of our heads is the mighty KOPEK DES BORDES… the fastest going he’s ever encountered was the good to soft at Cheltenham last year, other than that it’s been slop for the horse who loves picking his knee’s up.
True good ground, which is effectively fast for NH horses, will really shake up the racing and it’s results. We’re immediately thinking about the Fred Winter which will display a really varied mix of pedigree’s, most ex-flat converts, some will love it, some will hate it. It’s our job to work that out…
Obviously, we are constant weather watch and the studying has started where we’ll be looking at the horses who need good ground. We will also be creating a separate shortlist in case it rains, for those horses who need it slow. It’s a lot of work…but it will be worth it.
INCENTIVE
We’re not really sure what to make of the new Grade 1 incentive scheme being introduced by the BHA during the months of March and April:
In short, the BHA are rewarding Grade 1 winning owners with training fee’s credit to incentivise owners to have horses owned and trained here in the UK.
It kind of makes sense to do it this way instead of simply upping the prize money but there is an argument to say that this leaves the small-time owners out of everything - the majority of British owners.
Unfortunately class 6 desert rats don’t bring in the viewing figures.
We think it’s a good idea if they can afford to keep it up. Our prize money is a f*cking shambles so it kind of goes a small way in addressing that (it’s still not good enough!).
What are your thoughts?
LANFRANC-OH!
Legendary jockey Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, who recently retired from horse racing (for the second time), has faced a fairly big setback in his ongoing financial troubles.
Yesterday a London insolvency court ruled to extend his bankruptcy by an additional 12 months, pushing the automatic discharge date from March 17, 2026, to March 16, 2027.
This development stems from Dettori's alleged non-compliance with court orders requiring full disclosure of his assets. Basically they think he’s hiding stuff.
Lawyers representing Dettori's bankruptcy trustees (those looking to take it all off him) argued for the extension, citing a "blatant failure" by the 55-year-old to provide necessary information about current assets he still owns.
Judge Briggs agreed, noting that the one-year extension was "not an unrealistic period" given the extent of the non-compliance. He further emphasized that criminal sanctions might be necessary to compel cooperation from Dettori, highlighting the severity of the situation.
During interviews in December 2025, he claimed not to own any properties abroad but subsequent investigations revealed undisclosed properties in France and Italy.
Come on, Frankie mate - you can’t do that!
Other hidden assets mentioned were a luxury Piaget watch, a wine collection valued at approximately £70,000, and investments worth around £365,000.
Dettori did not attend the hearing and was not represented by legal counsel, despite having the opportunity to contest the extension. Head in the sand anyone?
Now, this is very common for Trustee’s to go down this route and what it means is it simply gives them more time to ask the questions to which they don’t have the answers to. Very routine stuff.
Now we’re not in the EU, the Trustee’s are going to probably use the next 12 months to get his bankruptcy recognised in France and Italy for a forced recovery but with the those court systems as slow and useless as they are now, the Trustee’s might need more than 12 months!
It looks like those houses are safe for now Frankie lad!
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