TODAY: DAQMAN BEHIND THE NEWS: Daqman today turns gossip-columnist as he casts an eye over current talking points, and takes his pick of four English racecards this afternoon.
TOMORROW: CAN HE MAKE THE NEWS? Tomorrow he brings you the form and facts on the two big weekend cards at Ascot and Haydock, with another bull’s-eye bet and banker, returning to the attack on Pricewise.
THE BOOTS THAT WALKED ALL OVER A JOCKEY
A bootless appeal. Is it old-school tie to object? Is the game afoot against jockeys, who already suffer indignities because of the whips rules? Or is it an Achilles heel for racing’s authorities?
In this story – Racing Post today – lie some home truths and hidden truths among the absurdities in Seb Sanders ‘mountain out of a molehill’ and its ‘bonkers’ reaction, after he rode a race on Tuesday without riding boots to keep his weight down.
Firstly, why is Sanders being snubbed by trainers, a former champion jockey whose winners have crashed from 77 or 78 in two of the last three years to only 12 this time around, just two on turf? Bootless appeal for rides?
And what about James Fanshawe’s comment on the bootless ride which suggests that it would be ok to go without boots on an outsider but not on a favourite?
As a punter, I’m all for that, just as long is it’s declared in advance, as is a tongue-strap or blinkers. No riding boots today? Not off a yard!
The girls can’t help it. Talking of authority (it’s a nanny world), why aren’t girl jockeys better promoted with a view to racing’s shop window?
Yes, you get ladies’ races, but you also get races for veteran horses, races for grey horses, races for military men, races for amateurs, and ‘married men’s’ races for retired riders who should know better.
Sammy Jo Bell, Hayley Turner and Emma-Jayne Wilson won the Shergar Cup for the girls, bringing some glitter to an otherwise drab day for punters, who have little form and notion to go on.
But why not cash in on the girls’ success story: an invitation race to the world’s lady riders; can you beat the Shergar girls? As ever, a missed opportunity by sponsors, authorities and inept PR men.
Cat out of the bag? My phone still rings occasionally with a word ‘from the long grass’, where the old touts used to watch the gallops in the good old, bad old days.
My favourite was an old boy at Newmarket, who got gout. He developed a shorthand (for instance, dash for a white sock, dot for a white star on the horse’s head) so that his wife could watch from the bedroom window, while he propped up his leg on a pillow.
‘Dash-dash both fores is beating big dot and dot-dash by a mile!’ Really? That means Cecil’s got a nice two-year-old out early, then!
I rarely get such tips these days, with most of the lads terrified of being ‘done’ for ‘inside information.’
I’ve had just four ‘bits of news’ from the gallops this Flat season: two winners and that Johnston loser the other day. But yesterday’s ‘whisper’ may still turn out to be the best.
That a two-year-old of Willie Mullins’s should deserve a mention already had me intrigued enough. But the race-readings for Laws Of Spin’s performance in a maiden at Gowran Park yesterday even more so.
The on-line Sporting Life results service says: ‘Kept on under hands and heels, eased inside final furlong.’ Just what I’d hoped for, with the future in mind.
But the Racing Post records: ‘Ridden and no extra 2f out; one pace.’ Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.
I DO WANT THAT…
SALISBURY The Group 3 Poole Fillies Stakes at 3.45 is the main race today. A decent looking field, down to seven now with the defection of the Irish raider, Dolce Strega.
Mayfair Lady and Whatdoiwantthatfor set a strong standard. La Rioja is next best following an easy win in a decent Newbury maiden in July.
Mayfair Lady was impressive in winning a Nursery at the Ebor meeting a couple of weeks back. That was following an easy 7 length win in July in a Pontefract Maiden. She’s the jolly and deserves that label but I fear the Hannon horse could have more to offer, especially on the softer surface.
Whatdoiwantthatfor has three wins by her name with her only two defeats coming at the hands of dual Group 3 winner, Besharah. On her latest start, she won a Listed race at Newbury in good style, leading inside the final furlong and winning readily.
Her overall form with Group placings and already with ‘Black Type’ by her name, she is an intriguing runner and she’s the one for me.
HAYDOCK Over at Haydock sees the return of Royal Ascot winner and one time Classic hopeful, Richard Pankhurst.
He is without a doubt the one to beat and given that the weights are in his favour by at least 12lbs, this shouldn’t pose too many problems to the son of Raven’s Pass. Fitness is unlikely to be an issue either but he’s so well in, it’s near impossible to oppose and he is the Nap.
Thirty five minutes later and there is a decent handicap over just short of a mile and a half.
Chancery, Master of Finance and Penhill have all run in some good races this summer but all three may be at the limit of their Handicap marks, all in the mid-high 90’s.
It’s hard to know what to expect from Salieris Mass after he won on his debut in good fashion but failed to improve next time out.
Following three wins early in his career, Fractal hit a high mark of 97 but he’s slowing dropping down and running today off 93 could be just what he needs to be competitive.
He ran well in fourth last time in a strong race at Newmarket, despite the small field and he should be able to improve for that run. Trip and ground shouldn’t provide any issues.
CHELMSFORD One selection for the All Weather meeting at 7.15. Sky Cape should give Godolphin, Appleby and Buick a cross card double.
This one has been touted as one of the better two year olds in Appleby’s care this year. He won very easily last time out and the word on this one is that they expect him to progress to a much higher level. He should have plenty in hand in a weak race this evening.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Staked 1-9pts on strength, 10pts for a Banker)
BET 6pts win WHATDOIWANTTHATFOR (3.45 Salisbury)
BANKER: BET 10pts win (nap) RICHARD PANKHURST (4.05 Haydock)
BET 4pts win FRACTAL (4.40 Haydock)
BET 6pts win SKY CAPE (7.15 Chelmsford)
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