TODAY: THE THYESTES AT GOWRAN: The Thyestes Chase and the Galmoy Hurdle are the feature races at Gowran Park this afternoon, with Huntingdon stealing the lunchtime limelight with the first run over hurdles for Nicky Henderson’s new recruit, Palladium.
TOMORROW: Sandown Military Gold Cup
SATURDAY: Cheltenham Trials Day
IT’S THE PALLADIUM SHOW
⭕ 12.47 Huntingdon Derby-winner Palladium is reckoned to put yet another Nicky Henderson show on the road to Cheltenham in this hurdle for maidens this afternoon.
The last Triumph Hurdle winner to come from the Flat – Vauban (2022) – lined up at Cheltenham with a hurdles rating of 146.
Palladium achieved 112 when winning last year’s German Derby by a neck from the Italian Derby winner in second, which equates to a hurdles level of 135-145.
Vauban was part of the prevailing Triumph hat-trick for Willie Mullins, with Nicky Henderson winning twice in the previous decade.
All that pure guesswork and flawed corollary is as far as we can go in assessing this Huntingdon debut of ‘the next wonder horse.’
The best you can say about today’s race is that taking the odds on Palladium, or laying them, look equally problematic.
You might want to consider one of the outsiders for a place. Wolf Moon at 26.0 on BETDAQ? Related to Whisper who won and was placed in Graded races at the Cheltenham Festival for Nicky Henderson.
⭕ 1.20 Huntingdon Here’s another three-year-old scorer on the Flat in Germany, Koenigsstern, a Fontwell winner over fences the last day.
The eight-year-old is trained by Nick Gifford at Findon. Going way back, the Gifford family has a strong connection with Huntingdon.
⭕ 2.30 Huntingdon A rival to the Gifford record at Huntingdon but from a small number of runners is Gordon Elliott, who has 13 at Gowran Park today and just the one here.
Staffordshire Knot is one of nine Gigginstown runners today; very lightly raced, he did well upped in trip the last day in a big field at Leopardstown and this is a further rise in distance. Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.0.
THYESTES LAUNCHES ROCKETT
⭕ 2.13 Gowran Park (Galmoy Hurdle) Gordon Elliott, who won this with Teahupoo (2023), saddles Maxxum who has done best in handicap company.
This is one of Mouse Morris’s races; he’s won it twice since 2016, and Franciscan Rock is not without a chance, going for his hat-trick.
But this is most likely a match between Hiddenvalley Lake and Asterion Forlonges, runner-up to Teahupoo in the Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown last Spring.
But at aged 11, he has to give weight to Hiddenvalley Lake, winner of the Boyne Hurdle at Navan around this time last year before Grade-1 places wide apart in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and the Long walk at Ascot.
⭕ 2.48 Gowran Park (Thyestes Chase) Willie Mullins has won this with some useful sorts – Djakadam (2015), Total Recall (2020) – and has chosen 5-1 Nick Rockett to represent the stable today.
The six Gordon Elliott contenders don’t worry me as much as Gavin Cromwell’s Yeah Man, winner of the Grand National Trial at Haydock last February after a break
THE AW RACE OF THE DAY
⭕ 2.56 Newcastle This is the race of the day on AW. William Dewhirst is currently four out of five at Newcastle, going for a hat-trick today off an overall 18lb higher.
The snag for devoted fans who have seen him defy the burden of favourite three times out of four since November is that success was all over 7f.
But connections believe he is a bigger, stronger horse this year and he is 2lb well in on future handicaps.
Pals Battalion and Mondammej were a neck apart here after a furious finish over the 6f at level weights (the same day William Dewhirst won), with Bright in third.
Pals Battalion has the edge on better terms today but there is another danger, Modern Times, just a neck off Pals Battalion after ‘not clear run’ and ‘bumped’ twice in the final furlong.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
12.47 Huntingdon (win 25)
BET 1pt win and place WOLF MOON
1.20 Huntingdon (win 12)
BET 4pts win KOENIGSSTERN
2.13 Gowran Park (win 10)
BET 5pts win HIDDENVALLEY LAKE
2.30 Huntingdon (win 12)
BET 3pts win STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT
★ 2.48 Gowran Park (win 20, nap)
BET 4pts win NICK ROCKETT
2.56 Newcastle (win 12)
BET 4pts win WILLIAM DEWHIRST
BET 1.25pts win MODERN TIMES
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