Equinties - weekends to remember

Gm Equinauts

The weekend wasn’t just for Gordon Elliott and Paul Nicholls, it was for every racing fan across the UK and Ireland too as all the best horses won, Cheltenham markets were shaken up and nearly every single person trying their luck landed a lottery acca. WHAT A SATURDAY.

The Weekender nailed 3 from 4 big race previews as KNAPPERS HILL, GESSKILLE and RUBAUD all obliged in their respective races, our bumper previews hit 7/1 winner and 10/1 place and our Risk On banker acca horses all won eased down:

Betting or not, some of the racing was a pure joy to watch, let’s review all the best action, let’s dive in!

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HEADLINE ROUND UP

GC x GC

Watch the Down Royal Champion Chase back however many times you want, you still won’t understand how GERRI COLOMBE won it.

It was mental. 

The 7yo traded at 99/1 in-running on the exchanges as it looked like a battle between ENVOI ALLEN and CONFLATED would ensue coming to the final fence but the Brown Advisory runner-up simply kept plugging on and plugging on in dramatic fashion get up in the final strides of the race and nail his first W in open company. 

After the win, he was shortened to 5/1 from 7/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup…justified?

Well, big GERRI COLOMBE showed great attitude to get back up against some race-fit rivals and although we haven’t seen the likes of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, FASTORSLOW or THE REAL WHACKER yet this season, you can’t not be impressed with that run. 

Granted, GC will need to be a touch quicker over his fences to win a Gold Cup, but as things stand he looks to have earned his place.

A big word needs to go to Gordon Elliott as he won 11 of a possible 14 races at Down Royal alongside two victories at Gowran Park on Saturday, so the team at Cullentra House will remember this weekend for a long time.

NICHOLLS’ NOVICES DOMINATE

Gordon Elliott wasn’t the only trainer pillaging his targeted race meetings as big Paul Nicholls recorded a memorable weekend at Exeter and Wincanton with six winners across the two tracks (that’s not including the bumper win he bagged at Kempton yesterday).

Paul’s West Country Weekend kicked off with a fine performance from INSURRECTION in the Betway Novices’ Hurdle before STAY AWAY FAY, last season’s Albert Bartlett victor, stayed on the best of all in the Future Stars Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase. 

Nicholls labelled him as a ‘Gold Cup horse’ for the future as firms cut his price to 12/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. 

On the Saturday, KNAPPERS HILL showed his true potential over fences in a glorious performance in the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton as predicted by the newsletter.

He is a very interesting type for Nicholls this season. Over hurdles, he was rated 153 at his peak and progressed to become a two-time Grade 2 winner. Over fences, he looks even better, his jumping foot perfect and although he only beat LADY ADARE, it was an oh so facile victory. Of course, a few will be needing their first runs of the season and he was race-fit (something crucial to keep an eye on) but with his ability, a nice stab at the two-and-a-half mile division shouldn’t be off the table.

Paul’s other weekend winners included MEATLOAF in a novices hurdle, HUELGOAT in a handicap chase, RUBAUD in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle and then TOUQUET in yesterdays Sandown bunker who looks an exciting one for fences down the line. 

CHRISTMAS FRENCH RAIDER 

The Kauto Star Novices’ Chase could be set to become an international affair as Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm’s IL EST FRANCAIS bolted up in the Listed Prix Fondeur at Auteuil. 

Under James Reveley, who also enjoyed success on Grand National seventh ROI MAGE at Compiegne on Friday, he bolted up by 11 lengths in what was his sixth from seven races for Noel George.

George says “he takes my break away every day in the morning” and a tilt at the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase is his big target, as he said: "That was his first time over those fences on heavy ground and he's done it very well. He's just got such a high cruising speed and it shouldn't be a problem for him adapting to Kempton. "From the first day of him jumping fences, he took to it like a duck to water. He's a natural."

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/he-just-does-everything-so-effortlessly-il-est-francais-books-grade-1-tilt-at-kempton-after-impressive-auteuil-win-axQkV0C5jFaT/

YOUNG BLOOD

15.40 FAKENHAM BUMPER

CHARMIANS PLACE heads the market at 13/9 having run respectably in her last two bumpers, the form of her last one the best in the race. Worthy fave.

PIC THE POWER reps Morgan who is 1 from 2 in bumpers here but the pedigree could be a little more desirable. Might just lack stamina.

MISTRAL BLUE reps Fergal O’Brien who knows how to train, especially for bumpers. Form limited but place chances.

MIDNIGHT STING’s pedigree suggests he is one for handicaps later down line as is KARMAN LINE and COOL STYLE.

AMI BONDHU for Gifford brings a nice enough NH pedigree to the table but yard not firing yet and not known for targeting bumpers.

Clare Hobson’s COOLEAGH is nicely bred and actually owns one of the best pages to follow from this race but she has never won a bumper.

Verdict: After a couple of decent runs previously, CHARMIANS PLACE can get her head in front third time lucky.

RISK ON

Nothing standout today.

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