Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 13 January 2025

I was interested to hear Paul Townend talking with Lydia Hislop and Ruby Walsh about King George VI Chase winner Banbridge over the weekend.

The obvious impression from the horse’s style of racing and form is that he could struggle to stay the extended 3m 2f of the Gold Cup, and indeed Townend suggested the Ryanair over 2m 4f could be his best option at the festival, but a look at his pedigree may suggest otherwise.

The son of Doyen is the first foal of a maiden point-to-point sister to a 3m chase winning half-sister to Major Malarkey, a winner over three miles from the family of 3m 1f winner Valley Henry.

This is a strong stamina based bottom line and Banbridge was the only horse in the King George to find the resources to catch the pacesetting Il Est Francais.

He had only once tackled a trip of three miles before, when beaten over 100 lengths in the 2022 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree although there may have been mitigating circumstances on that occasion.

His other Grade 1 victories came over an extended two miles and over 2m 4f, but he appeared to have plenty left to offer in the closing stages of the King George and if the ground is suitable … he does not enjoy testing conditions … then there is a strong case for letting him have a crack in the big one.

He is available at 16/1 but with uncertainty over his participation and the underfoot conditions the 8/1 NRNB with William Hill is the wiser option for those interested in backing him.

I am keen on Sixandahalf for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

The daughter of Snow Sky is very versatile, having won a bumper by 16 lengths and then shown decent form on the Flat, winning a 1m 4f maiden at Cork last May and a 1m 6f 0-95 fillies’ handicap off 82 at Newmarket in August. She then ran third of 30 to The Euphrates in the Irish Cesarewitch off 88 and ended the flat campaign on a mark of 94.

She made her hurdling debut at Fairyhouse on Saturday and put in a slick round of jumping to beat Qualimata by 12 lengths, with Kimi De Mai three and three-quarter lengths back in third and the fourth a further 32 lengths away.

The mare is bred to stay further than two miles. She is a half-sister to a 2m 4f hurdle winner out of a winning three-parts sister to a 3m chase winner from a good family.

At 6/1 NRNB with William Hill she warrants an interest.

Our Weekend Card returns next week but you may be interested in joining my daily service (available through my Telephone/Text Service or via my Daily Bulletin which is email). From 33 selections since 1 December I have given the following winners: Gunship 22/1, Saint Xavier 9/1, Ribeye 15/2, Juby Ball 5/1, Salt Rock 9/2, Haiti Couleurs 9/2, Good Look Charm 9/2 and a handful of placed each-way advices, yielding a good level stakes profit.

Clients can join my daily services for the rest of the season, major meetings or just weekends. Please contact Rebecca for further details (rebecca@martenjulian.com). I’ll be back next week with more thoughts.

Bye for now

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Why Cartmel? Survival of a small racecourse, 1856-1998

Although we published this book back in 1998 we are still proud to have been part of this project and publish this beautiful book, by Rollo Pain, which offers a unique insight into Cartmel Racecourse. This book costs £7 including postage and packing.

 Client Review

—–Original Message—–
From: John <@hotmail.com>
Sent: 08 January 2025 15:23
To: rebecca <rebecca@martenjulian.com>
Subject: Re: Books received

“The Cartmel book is so good“