14-1 SCORER AS DAQMAN HITS 71 POINTS AT ONE MEETING: It was all there in black and white in yesterday’s column, as Daqman put four into the back of the net at Newcastle, including a 14-1 winner, for 71 points profit on the day.
TWO WINNING DAYS OUT OF TWO: His four-timer in the Tyneside romp consisted of Toby Tyler (WON 14-1), Damascus Symphony (WON 13-2), Flameoftheforest (WON 9-2) and Moonlight Mystery (WON 5-2). Daqman’s profit this week so far is 84 points after another winning day on Monday.
Silvestre De Sousa must be keen. Only two behind Kieren Fallon but 10 behind the leader Paul Hanagan, he’s even taken a ride for Peter Grayson at Kempton Park tonight.
I don’t know the man but I can safely say that Grayson trains for pleasure rather than profit: his three winners on AW this year have been achieved at the expense of 94 losers.
That’s par for the course for Peter, training near Formby, Lancs., whose eponymous hero, George, used to sing ‘Count Your Blessings And Smile’ and – only an occasional signature tune for Peter – ‘It’s Turned Out Nice Again.’
Grayson has appeared in the Racing Post ‘cold trainers’ list more often than Liam Fox has taken his mate to meetings.
But wait just a minute! Peter seems to have turned over a new leaf, or unstuck the pages in the training manual. He’s currently on 100%.
In the last 14 days, taking a break from counting the losers – 867 of them on AW in the last five seasons – Grayson has had one runner, one winner, Vhujon, and it was at Kempton on October 5th.
Garn! Or should I say Dingaan (9.10 Kempton Park). Clearly, Silvestre De Sousa knows something we don’t.
5.40 Kempton (Free Entry For Betdaq Members Handicap): But it’s actually Vhujon, himself, who has to carry the 100% record into the Kempton arena tonight, though seemingly not – on past performance – very well placed by our Mr Grayson.
Vhujon races over 7f here: his win on October 5th was over 5f and he’s never won this far; in fact, his record beyond 6f is P000000300.
Of the two other last-time winners in the race, Dichoh’s record suggests that he is most unlikely to follow up, but Genes Of A Dancer, very lightly raced, might have it in him; we simply don’t know until he’s more exposed.
If I had to have a bet or shoot myself in the foot, I’d choose between Tudor Prince – they obviously mean business booking Richard Hughes – and Beneath, from a stable in hot form. Both are well drawn.
It will be interesting to see the crowd’s reaction to Kieren Fox’s appearance in this. While Hughsie can afford a short spell in the ‘sin bin’, the 15 days’ whip ban for a struggling jockey like Fox is vicious, even venal.
I’ve had one ‘unofficial’ official reaction to my remarks yesterday, to the effect that hitting down the neck is a ‘different offence’. I’m glad they said that (but I’ve learned long ago that bureaucrats and petty authority in their zeal are never able to hear the absurdity of their own words).
6.10 Kempton (Betdaq Multiples Claiming Stakes): Here’s Hughsie on Avon River, a combination which landed the money in a similar claimer last month.
The others are running badly unless Kishanda can prove that her close second at Windsor is her form and that her failure there a week later was because the race came too soon.
6.40 Kempton (Back Or Lay At betdaq.com Claiming Stakes): Mr Knightley didn’t need Mr Hughes when he won a 7f claimer here last month but certainly does tonight on account of dropping back to 6f.
I can see the famous drive from long, tall Richard (does he have a sister called Sally?) being put to good use on this front-runner. He has to manoeuvre for position from stall 8 but he’s been drawn 8 and 9 here the last twice for a win and a third.
Multi Blessing and Redair are also fast trappers and this race may well be over before the others can find stride. Those two have won only at the minimum, so it’s hard to see Mr Knightley giving way.
7.40 Kempton (Betdaq Mobile Apps Conditions Stakes): It could be more than twice Knightley for Hughes. After three rides this afternoon, he has eight at this evening meeting, of which – as I write – seven are among the three market leaders in each race.
Graphic is 7lb clear in the official ratings for this one, though his two wins, including here last time out, were both over 7f.
Kinglet and Samuel Pickwick are both unexposed and both from good yards, so this is a hard race to call.
Whatever happens, it requires some conserved stamina, since Storming Bernard could live up to his name, and repeat his Ayr performance, by haring off into the lead.
If Ghostwriting can settle down, he’s the wrong price at 11.0 offers, as I write, having won a class-2 handicap and starting favourite the last twice.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 14pts win MR KNIGHTLEY (6.40 Kempton)
BET 2pts win GHOSTWRITING (7.40 Kempton)
BET 15pts win DECEPTIVE (8.10 Kempton)
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
