Forget Frankie in the jungle – we’ve got a top class weekend of racing to get stuck into

FORGET about Frankie Dettori eating delights in the jungle for a moment, because in the world of horse racing this weekend the tasty dishes are much closer to home.

Over the next forty-eight hours sit back and enjoy the return of the Gold Cup hero Galopin des Champs, the King George victor Bravemansgame, the Aintree Bowl cracker Shishkin, Grand National romper Corach Rambler and Champion Hurdle runner-up State Man.

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And that’s not even to mention Equinox, the world’s Nr1 Flat horse who probably has his final career start in the Japan Cup tomorrow.

It’s hard not to go Yeeehaaatastic.

That said, all this goes on while injured jockey Graham Lee fights on.

We continue to wish him well. And also Jamie Moore, who misses Goshen today, Aidan Coleman, Dane O’Neill, Saffie Osborne and young Cieren Fallon who have all been hurt recently and are at various stages of recovery. Good luck people.

Where to start? Well I’ll be at Haydock for ITV, hosting the Opening Show and reporting in the afternoon, and it’s a belter of a card to be part of the team so let’s begin with the Grade 1 Betfair Chase.

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It’s hard to believe Corach Rambler will get involved on the back of his tame effort at Kelso, and while Royale Pagaille is never one to dismiss in mud, on paper he’s not quite good enough to trouble Bravemansgame and Protektorat.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame is a good horse, but there’s something about Daryl Jacob’s mount that means I’ve never really taken to him, for all that he was very impressive when landing the 2022 King George VI Chase, defeating Royale Pagaille fourteen lengths.

Of course on paper he should beat Protektorat, even though he was stuffed at Wetherby, as he was three places in front of the Harry Skelton runner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

But for me this is the one race Protektorat has most chance in at Grade 1 level in the season. He’s been laid out to defend his crown and will love the conditions. So he has to be the value under Dan Skelton.

I can’t wait to see Shishkin in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot, as he’s long been one of my favourite horses.

The former Supreme and Arkle winner oozes class, and proved his stamina at Liverpool, for all I think with him it’s more about ability than what trip he actually runs over.

I’ll be gutted if he doesn’t dispose of Pic d’Orhy, for all the latter is a talent for Nicholls and being lined up for a King George tilt.

It’s very odd indeed that stable rider Harry Cobden has seemingly been forced to go to Ascot rather than ride Bravemansgame.

ITV will show the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle over an extended two miles at Punchestown. This is not going to be a betting heat, but all eyes on State Man who remains a quality hurdler for Willie Mullins even though he was made to look very ordinary at Cheltenham when second to Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.

Paul Townend rides in a race he should be far too good for the opposition.

That should also be the case for Galopin des Champs, who is back for Mullins and Townend in tomorrow’s John Durkan Memorial, a race that remembers the fine man that bought Istabraq but suffered from leukemia and suggest Aidan O’Brien should have the horse.

John passed away just before Istabraq landed the 1998 Champion Hurdle for JP McManus.

Elsewhere on TV today Apple Away is a fascinating runner against National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard du Mesnil up at Haydock. The mare is not a forlorn hope on chase debut as she has plenty of point-to-point form.

And of course Goshen goes in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle over an extended two miles and three furlongs at Ascot.

It’s always scary tipping Goshen, the horse who tripped once at the last in the Triumph.

But, if he’s in good shape and in a fair mood he can easily win this for Gary Moore and Niall Houlihan, who takes the ride with Jamie Moore sadly sidelined.

Last year’s winner was impressive in this twelve months ago and while he’s a bit of an enigma he’s still a decent tool.

Don’t miss Equinox tomorrow in the Japan Cup, as he’s got a serious rival in Liberty Island who gets plenty of weight. Some believe this will be the Flat race of the year.

A tasty weekend indeed.

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