FRENCH KINGS OF CROSS-COUNTRY: Daqman named 5-1 Sweet David to win the cross-country at the November meeting. Now he goes for a French double in the same event at the December meeting with a 7.0 nap on BETDAQ bidding to follow up Thursday’s NAP Mr Hope Street WON 11/10 but 2.54 on the Betdaq XSP.
TOMORROW: December Gold Cup day at Cheltenham
POWER THREAT TO CLASSICO
⭕ 1.50 Cheltenham (3m 2f handicap chase) Dual Grade-3 handicap chase winner Chianti Classico attempts to strike over the Gold Cup distance here.
Trainer Kim Bailey has hinted that ‘something better’ – the Cheltenham gold – would be on the cards if he wins it.
Today is a redirection of the original plan to go Becher Chase and Grand National, though he could still go to Aintree, wherever his interim destination.
Chianti Classico has been hiked a stone for winning on heavy (the Ultima at the Festival) and good (the November Gold Cup at Ascot), still only seven.
His 157 rating means that he has 12st, giving up to 26lb all round but the ground will not be deep; nor will the opposition.
The loss of the Becher means that the six-year-old King Turgeon won the last race over the National fences, the Grand Sefton five weeks back.
That was only 2m 5f but King Turgeon (David Pipe) did win 10 lengths at today’s trip (went clear, eased) at Chepstow in October, though his rise from 118 to 133 only just gets him in today’s handicap 2lb above the minimum.
Our Power (Sam Thomas is in form) has won Grade-3 chases at Kempton and Ascot when fresh after long breaks in 2022 and 2023.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.64 Chianti Classico, 4 King Turgeon, 18 Our Power
CASE OF SHAKEM NOT STIRRED
⭕ 2.25 Cheltenham Shakem Up’arry won the Plate at the Festival in March over today’s CD on the soft, going clear. The stable is in form, and ‘Arry has won twice after breaks. BETDAQ 8.5
Torn And Frayed, who usually explores Grade-3 territory, beat Eldorado Allen at Warwick and stays in this veterans’ division, so can score again. BETDAQ 6.1
I SEE ICEO IN FRENCH DOUBLE
⭕ 3.00 Cheltenham (Crystal Cup cross-country) Eight out of 10 winners of this were between 5-2 and 8-1 SP, which validates my point that there are few surprises in the banks game.
Enda Bolger, Gavin Cromwell and Gordon Elliott have won with cross-country stars which scored at Graded level, famously Grand National winner Tiger Roll.
Latenightpass took the race last year off 140, Diesel D’Allier in 2021 off 137 but the quality horse today is 2024 Grand National runner-up, Delta Work.
Delta Work beat Tiger Roll in the 2022 Cross-Country at the Cheltenham Festival, and won it again in 2023, with a third in the Grand National in between.
Gavin Cromwell saddled Stumpton to win two banks races at Punchestown to end last season and begin the new one (Coko Beach 5th). Stablemate Vanillier was runner-up in the 2023 Grand National.
Mister Coffey has placed in top company but has never actually won a chase from 14 tries.
Iceo Madrik is 16lb out of the handicap for David Cottin, who is saddling his first runner in England since Cheltenham 2021 but the French won the cross-country at the November meeting when Sweet David was 17lb ‘wrong.’
The six-year-old has won twice at Compiegne on his way here in the manner of Easysland before he won this cross-country and then went on to play acey-deucy with Tiger Roll at the Festival (one-two in 2020 and 2021 but with the positions reversed)
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.50 Cheltenham (win 12, win 20)
BET 7.5pts win CHIANTI CLASSICO
BET 1pt win and place OUR POWER
2.25 Cheltenham (win 20, win 12)
BET 4pts win TORN AND FRAYED
BET 1.6pts win SHAKEM UPARRY
3.00 Cheltenham (win 30, nap)
BET 5pts win ICEO MADRIK
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