10-1 DAQMAN! YES, HE’S THE ONE: Daqman spotted a ‘job horse’ yesterday, ‘plotted’ with a prep run, the fitting of aids and with a top jockey booked. He was Strictly The One all right! Strictly had his supporters dancing at Bath with a 10-1 success at his 13th attempt.
A LEGEND CAN LAND A DOUBLE: Daqman is at Newmarket today for the start of the July Meeting, with an opening double tipped for that man Frankie Dettori, newly installed a Legend Of The Turf in the town.
BETDAQ HAS SIX AT DONCASTER: Daqman is also off to Town Moor, where Doncaster now features six out of seven races sponsored by BETDAQ, with some big fields to get your betting teeth into.
DETTORI AT THE DOUBLE TO MAKE THEM SINGH
2.10 Newmarket (Bahrain Trophy) The first two races are likely to see lightly-raced improvers step up from maiden success into the frame in Group races.
John Gosden is 1113 in this and Frankje Dettori’s ride, Mr Singh, just pipped in the King Edward V11 Stakes (Royal Ascot Derby), is a level or two above these on form.
He could have too much class and experience at this stage for maiden winners Horseshoe Bay and Monotype, but they are the likely lads to take out of the race. Gosden’s Masked Marvel won this in 2011 before taking the St Leger.
2.40 Newmarket (July Stakes) A similar situation to the first race, with a Royal Ascot Group-2 third, Eltezam, taking on Listed level at best.
Again the colt is ridden by Frankie Dettori; again it’s with the top stable for the race: team Hannon has recent form in this of 14111, including last year with Ivawood, subsequently third in two Guineas.
Even more so than in the first race – because two years old – these horses can make any amount of improvement at this time of year.
In fact, Eltezam himself had won only his maiden before taking a mighty leap into the frame in that Royal Ascot race, the Coventry. He had no fewer than EIGHT winners immediately behind him in the huge field.
Areen and Steady Pace were second and third at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes, but that was only Listed level (two rungs below the Coventry) and, though there were also plenty of winners behind them, the benchmark for me was the fourth horse home, Soapy Aitken, who has again been beaten at Listed level since.
And the Hannons should know all about that race through the sixth to finish, Orvar (badly drawn), who also runs today.
This is not a case of Richard Hughes sticking with him, as the papers, say: Dettori is on a retained ride. So, in fact, the neglected horse is Shalaa, rejected by Frankie in favour of Eltezam.
The jigsaw seems complete. But we’ve left out Elronaq, who hadn’t raced until running second to Eltezam before that one’s Ascot place, and has been an easy winner since.
Seven horses are separated by only 4.1 points in the orange BETDAQ market, early mouse as I write. Open race or what!
Sixth Sense drops back in trip from his third in the Chesham (7f) so is likely to ‘do a Johnston’ and try to make all. But that should set it up for Eltezam, who is expected to enjoy the extra furlong after the Coventry (5f).
IT COULD BE A STEP TOO FAR FOR MAHSOOB
3.15 Newmarket (Prince Of Wales Stakes) Sir Michael Stoute’s record in the decade is 1214112. He runs, Hillstar second last year, a King George entry and expected to improve on his seasonal debut behind stablemate Snow Sky in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.
But Gospel Choir, another from Freemason Lodge, is unbeaten in four outings on top of the ground at 12 and 14f and he, too, has had the one run (one win) this year.
When a third Stoute top-liner, Telescope, made his seasonal reappearance back in May, he was beaten by Second Step, who was improving 25lb on his autumn Listed win at The Curragh, and Telescope had beaten Hillstar seven lengths a year or so ago.
With this Group-winning gang of three against him – Gospel Choir, Hillstar and Second Step – Mahsoob has it all to do.
He just does enough in his races and clearly has a gear or two higher than he has required to win his handicaps. Nevertheless the one he beat at Royal Ascot, Sennockian Star, would be a laughable runner in today’s field, a stone and more behind these.
Mahsoob is stepping up two furlongs against established performers at the trip, and five of the opposition have had only one or two starts this term, suggesting normal improvement is on the cards.
The race looks like a gritty final-furlong grind. Hillstar and Second Step – goes exceptionally well fresh – have both come from key races for this.
Second Step may have been flattered by his defeat of an underperforming Telescope, and he has to give a 3lb penalty away today for the privilege.
It will be a sensational success for John Gosden if Mahsoob can score and justify his entries in the King George and the Arc, made BEFORE he won at Royal Ascot.
Niceofyoutotellme, another handicapper, only two lengths behind Mahsoob at Ascot, could also improve for the step up in distance but you need twice his price for a six-year-old to suddenly find his right trip and win a Group 2. Nice of me to tell you.
EXPECT FIESOLE TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
2.20 Doncaster (Betdaq.com Serious About Horses Handicap) Stalls 3, 4 and 5 have won this in three years, and Richard Whitaker took a Beverley handicap on Saturday with a 25-1 shot.
Totally Magic is first time in a handicap for the same yard, getting the three-year-old allowances and coming out of stall 3.
2.50 Doncaster (Betdaq.com £20 Free Bet EBF Maiden Stakes) The top stables love this race to prep for the two-year-old contests at Goodwood and York in August.
Ribchester has a Gimcrack (Group 2) entry and Melabi targets the Phoenix at The Curragh (Group 1). Melabi aims higher, and also has the benefit of a run.
3.25 Doncaster (Download The Betdaq+ App Maiden Stakes) Strath Burn drops back to a maiden for the first time in a year after aiming at the top as a two-year-old (Robert Papin and Mill Reef), and running well in a Listed on the last day.
The one to keep an eye on is Tap Shoes, running around a mile below what is potentially his best trip. Tell us, Henry, when can we expect to collect the candy?
4.35 Doncatsre (Betdaq 50%. Com First Three Months Handicap) Is there another lurking in this, like last year’s winner Quest For More (Northumberland Plate)? I think there is.
Master Of Speed and Fiesole are making their handicap debuts, with Luca Cumani (Fiesole) on a hat-trick mission after two out of two since Saturday, and Roger Varian (Master Of Speed) laying his stall out with 10 runners from today until tFriday.
Fiesole is related on the dam’s side to Luca’s 1998 Derby winner, High-Rise. He was injured in the Spring (slipped on the road) and has been looked after.
5.10 Doncaster (Betdaq £200 Games Bonus Handicap) With the race having cut up, Balliol could be unleashed early. He made all at Windsor and, despite joining the ranks of senior sprinters here, hasn’t an awful lot to beat.
DAQMAN BETS (each staked to win 20 points, except the banker, charged to the account at SP)
BANKER: BET 20pts win (nap) MR SINGH (2.10 Newmarket)
BET 3.5pts win ELTEZAM (2.40 Newmarket)
LAY 5pts MAHSOOB (3.15 Newmarket)
BET 3pts win TOTALLY MAGIC (2.20 Doncaster)
BET 8pts win MELABI (2.50 Doncaster)
BET 5pts win FIESOLE (4.35 Doncaster)
BET 6pts win BALLIOL (5.10 Doncaster)
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