Equinties - Varian’s early start

Gm Equinauts

Well, it’s as if Christmas day has come around twice this week as our man Maxwell is back AGAIN.

David Maxwell will line up in 15.42 on odds on IN D’OR - the pair absolutely hacked up last time out, here’s the interview (another Maxwell classic):

As a result he’s been shoved into 4/5, which, is unbelievable price gifted by the bookmakers with the increased risk of the magic man onboard priced in.

You’ve got to enjoy him. If you back him and he doesn’t win - mirror talk for you. If you don’t back him (often wise) - applaud when he wins, because what he’s doing is mad, and move on quietly when he loses.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

GODOLPHIN VS JUDDMONTE

Juddmonte and Godolphin unleash two very well bred newcomers in the 17.30 at Southwell today.

Juddmonte owned CADOGAN PLACE is a 3yo by FRANKEL and trained by Andrew Balding. A full brother to QUADRILATERAL who was unbeaten as a juvenile culminating in the Fillies Mile. She was then placed in the Guineas behind LOVE, who she had got the better off as a 2yo.

HIDDEN LAW from Charlie Appleby’s stable is bred on the famous DUBAWI GALILEO cross that the likes of HENRY LONGFELLOW could enhance this year. By their King Pin DUBAWI, this bay colt is out of SECRET GESTURE who was placed in the Oaks. His full sister FINAL GESTURE was a dour stayer, so not surprising we’re seeing this lad start off over 1m3f.

Others to note in the race might be Middleham Park’s runner, GREBASTARKY. By WOOTTON BASSETT champion ALMANZOR. ALMANZOR has been a little bit disappointing since retired to stud, although he has some nice progeny coming through in New Zealand. This lad is a half brother to WATCH ME who won the Coronation Stakes and Prix Rothschild.

As if the article was a young blood preview, we’ll finish with our verdict for the race and the boys in blue hold a 39% sr here. 5/4 HIDDEN LAW to win is the bet but no doubt it’ll be an interesting race.

VARIAN’S EARLY PLANNING

As we all know, Roger Varian’s CHARYN bolted up in Donny’s opening meeting of the season and the man behind the success has eluded to clues as to who else might be in the same vein of strong form.

Due to the same early training programme, both CHARYN and ELDAR ELDAROV are ahead of the pack given their early holidays last season.

Varian stated: “One’s a miler and one's a stayer so they haven't been working together, but when you see one win nicely, it gives you a degree of confidence what you've been doing isn't wrong. Horses don't always follow so it isn't black and white, but if Charyn had finished 4th looking like he desperately needed the run then you'd be questioning it if we'd done enough”

ELDAR ELDARIV lines up this weekend in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup in Meydan.

TWEETS OF THE DAY

RISK ON

No big prices like last week, one shortie single today with a small double:

15.07 GETAWAY DRUMLEE

This horse has clearly had a lot of issues but the money (rarely wrong for Pauling’s these days) suggests they done a good job in getting him back. Clearly well touted having been chucked into hot water after bolting up in a novice hurdle. Could progress to be better than the rest. IN THE AIR has halved his price and it would be typical of the owner to want to land one in front of Gary Moore at his home track and that is a huge scare which the market will heighten if he shortens, but he hasn’t done anything for a while now and could be playing for second.

Smaller stakes on single and 5.5/1 double with COPPER COVE in race before who could leave his lowly hurdles mark behind - especially in these conditions.

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