Equinties - Threesome in Clarence House

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Gm Equinauts

The frost is back!

All UK jumps meetings will be under threat this week as temperatures have plummeted below zero again.

Chepstow today was the first to go and Newbury already waving the white flag. Whomst next?

If like me you couldn't give af about the Kempton card (unless I'm told to back one), use this time to practice tools down. It's good for you...why?

Well, as mentioned in yesterday's newsletter, we have teamed up with a retired trainer turned pro-punter to follow his bets. Originally saved only for BGP Capital, the bets will now be posted in a new section of the newsletter called Risk on: Pro.

But... big but, he doesn't bet that often, meaning patience and caging the chimp is paramount when following his prog. He'll have three, maybe four bets a week (with a few lays in between but I shan't post them), quite contrary to what most of you reading this now will be doing given the evidence on racing twitter.

'but but but only 3 bets a week is no fun!?'

Yeh well, that's why only 2% of punters win.

Now, lets dive in.

Headline roundup

Three-runner Grade 1 

Entries for Saturday were released yesterday and it looks set to be a big-runner, highly competitive affair at Ascot as just three horses were confirmed at the five-day stage for the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. 

Last year’s runner-up ENERGUMENE is set to be joined by the Tingle Creek winner EDWARDSTONE and hat-trick-seeking AMARILLO SKY for the 2m1f contest worth £100,000 to the winner – when you look it that way, it will surely be a great race. 

Let’s get down to it - does Racing Twitter have a point to warrant complaining? Well, it’s tricky. 

On one hand, this farcical event adds more fuel to the fire that Cheltenham is too prominent in the season – the anti-Cheltenham brigade was out in full force yesterday and you can see why. An over-reliance on making sure that their horses make it to Cheltenham has plagued the national hunt campaign in years gone by and, unless something changes, it will continue to do so. 

However, and this is a big however, wtf would have actually run in the race? 

Bar the handicappers that were confirmed at an earlier stage who could have plodded around for £9,000, actually take a look at what ‘top class’ two milers there are currently. 

Notable omissions of horses who could have run considering conditions are soft currently: BLUE LORD, CAPTAIN GUINNESS. 

That’s it. That’s your lot. 

It’s obviously awful that we have a three-runner Grade 1 but take a look around before you mash the keyboard.

A new Bartlett contender? 

Gavin Cromwell unleashed a new contender for this year’s wide-open Albert Bartlett yesterday as LETSBECLEATABOUTIT comfortably won his three-mile maiden hurdle. 

Under a calm Keith Donoghue, the eight-year-old went from pillar to post at odds of 2/7 and danced in to secure a 22-length success. 

The FLEMENSFIRTH gelding had been second to AMERICAN MIKE in his debut over hurdles, fourth to the hugely impressive HIDDENVALLEY LAKE, second in a Grade 2 event at Christmas, second to both SIR GERHARD and KILCRUIT in his bumper days and actually won his first two bumpers, so his form is beginning to stack up. 

Trainer Cromwell believes the Bartlett will be his ultimate goal, a race he is 16/1 for, as he said: "I'll talk to the owners and see where we'll go next and I’d like to give him an Albert Bartlett entry, but he'll definitely go chasing at some stage. 

"Whether we go chasing now or we continue over hurdles I’m not sure. He's a proper three miler." 

More:

Ride of the month? 

And, before we finish, we should highlight what will probably be ride of January. 

Having lost his irons at the final hurdle, Richard Patrick “galvanised the mare” to get FAY CE QUE VOUDRAS up at Hereford and land the double for Kerry Lee. a sharp trainer/jock combo as mentioned in the stats yesterday.

If you haven’t already watched it, make sure to do that today, it is amazing. 

The trainer and jockey pair completed a nice double at Hereford yesterday, and Lee admitted that she had a dream on Sunday night that she had won the Supreme Hurdle – will her dream become reality in March? 

No.

So, who is our new sponsor?

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This newsletter is powered by UK Meds.

Today's best stats

SPICE RACK is bottom of the market at 22's in the 13.40 but trainer SImon Hodgson is 2 from 2 all time in 3yo handicaps at course. Note: Price says no but the pedigree suggests the step up will be a positive. I imagine in time the horse will need 10f.

AUTOLYCUS 15.15 runs for Perrett and Hornby who are 4 from 7 together at Kempton in recent years.

Fanshawe is 4 from 11 (nearly 40%) in 3yo+ handicaps at Southwell. He sends BLUEBIRD today for the 20.30 who has placed in all her last 3 starts at course.

Risk on

No bets today.