Equinties - weather causing havoc

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Gm Equinauts

I found the winner of every race at Nottingham today,

but the bookies found out and left the hosepipe on - meeting cancelled. Never mind, there’s always another bet.

Let’s dive in.

Headline Roundup

Another European winner of Australia's biggest race

British-born David Eustace, alongside his joint-trainer Ciaron Maher, took the spoils in this year's Melbourne Cup as GOLD TRIP won at odds of 14/1 (we would have included this story in yesterday's newsletter, but the Intern was asleep…fml)

The top-weight runner in the field kicked clear at the 300m marker and saw off late challenges from EMISSARY and the staying-on HIGH EMOCEAN to win by a length - DEAUVILLE LEGEND was the best of the British-trained runners as he finished fourth while WITHOUT A FIGHT could only muster 13th.

The five-year-old by OUTSRIP was fourth in the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind SOTTASS and won the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe as a three-year-old.

Delighted at winning £2.5 million for connections (obviously) Eustace said: "Gold Trip was so unlucky in the Caulfield Cup – we were gutted when he was beaten – so it's quite incredible for him to go one better here.

"It was an inch-perfect ride from Mark [Zahra]."

More:

Matt Chapman picked the winner if you didn’t hear him shout about it all day yesterday.

FROD'OFF' to Wincanton  

Paul Nicholls revealed yesterday that the three-time Grade 1 winner FRODON would not make the journey to Down Royal in search of back-to-back victories in the Gr1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase and will instead head to Saturday's Badger Beer Handicap Chase.

Nicholls' 10-year-old beat GALVIN, the 7/4 ante-post favourite for this year's renewal, by three-quarters of a length 12 months ago and had been targeted for the race, however, soft conditions in Ireland have forced the Champion Trainer to switch directions and send FRODON to Wincanton's feature event this weekend - he will run in the Badger Beer off 158, six pounds below the mark he was beaten off in March's Ultima at the Festival (how tf was he dropped six pounds for that).

Nicholls said: "The ground is soft there at the moment and there's more rain coming. It's a very stormy forecast and he's got to make the crossing as well, so we just decided this was the better option - he doesn't like soft ground, so it's pointless making the journey. We went on soft ground at Leopardstown and it didn't work out and the ground will be better at Wincanton."

This is a sensible move imo. He’s a small, fast ground horse who’ll just get wrecked in a bog.

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No rain causes more issues 

The serious lack of downpours recently has claimed another victim as Cheltenham Racecourse have had to cancel their Cross Country Chase this month and put on a 2m4f veterans' handicap chase as a replacement.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country is a regular in the three-day November meeting at Prestbury Park and was won by BACK ON THE LASH in a good renewal last year. As the course is unable to water the cross-country track, they have unfortunately been forced to postpone this year's race.

This particular race will now take place at Trials Day on January 28th but the venue also hosts a cross country race at their December meeting, an event won by DIESEL D'ALLIER 11 months ago.

Chester is back home 

And finally, brilliant news was released yesterday as it was confirmed that Chester Williams had returned home following his schooling fall on September 13th.

Chester was taken to the intensive care unit in Plymouth due to a bleed on the brain - in a statement released yesterday, the IJF said: "While he is now back at home, he is far from recovered and has a long rehab road ahead of him to help with his movement, memory and speech.

"He would like to thank everyone for the incredible support he has received both medically from the doctors, nurses and physios, and personally from his family, friends and the wider racing fraternity."

Get well soon, Chester.

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Chepstow bumper

I must start this preview with the fave – a 100k euro purchase by Sir Alex Ferguson, this lad’s mum is a half-sister to big CLAN DES OBEAUX. Nicholls unleashed monster, LIME AVENUE last week at Chepstow, could ISAAC DES OBEAUX be the next one?

Honeyball’s is next in the betting with point winner, DOYEN FOR MONEY. Honeyball is often good at targeting bumpers but a few of his gambles have gone astray this season however I imagine this lad will run well, being by DOYEN – they’re hard bastards.

Keighley’s carries a pen having won a bumper in September – will be fit from that but average bumper so drawing a line through him.

Fergal wins bumpers when he can and there’s nothing wrong with the ped of his one today. His dam is a half sis to a few good bumper winners. Expect him to be there.

At the slightly bigger prices, I quite like HARVIE WALLBANGER to run well. He pissed up in a point and both his bumper runs have been above average. His fitness will do him well today.

Our view: Nicholls’ ISAAC DES OBEAUX could (obviously) be a monster with HARVIE WALLBANGER to go close and fill a place.

Risk On

13.22 LIBERTY HUNTER

Owners have won this race twice in recent years and this lad is clear on numbers from his bumper form. Full bet at 11/4.

13.52 PEMBROKE

Small play here as there are some good horses in this. Nicholls’ holds the bumper form and Edmunds’ is defo no slouch, but I actually prefer what Skelton’s did in his bumper. He’s by demon sire, BLUE BRESIL and looks a nice prospect. Small play at 11/4.

15.22 CAMEMBERT ELECTRIC

We gambled this girl heavily when she was let go at Wetherby. I think she’s still well ahead of her mark. Should be a good bet at 5/4 OR leverage for another bet.