YOUR RIGHT-HAND MAN AT EXETER: Daqman declares that two of his bets today are ‘hidden horses’. One of them his nap at Wetherby, much better than the bare form; the other a specialist going right-handed who could make all the running at Exeter, with the ground in his favour.
DON’T FALL FOR THE BETTING BAIT: Daqman, who produced some sensational success at Cheltenham with his ante-post bets, including a 100-point winner, attacks the deliberate lure to punters money, markets baited by the bookies for the Classics, even for Cheltenham next year.
DAQMAN NEWS WRAP: ANTE-POST FARCE
Don’t let them fool you 1: Cheltenham horses most likely to win next year will be repeaters – Annie Power, Don Cossack, Douvan, Thistlecrack – but you hesitated about backing them during last week. So why should you back them a year in advance?
In fact, the dust has only just settled on complaints that Annie Power and Vautour were switched to different races at this year’s festival, yet the mugs are willing to give money to the bookies about specific events in March 2017.
They are aided and abetted by wild tipping at big odds in the Racing Post. They had a winner this year, you say! Yes, 4-1. Not the 33-1, 16-1, 12-1 they were guessing about yesterday, just to get you spending with the bookies.
Don’t let them fool you 2: The one they want you to back is Thistlecrack for a World Hurdle repeat, with the Racing Post Ratings claiming he’s the best hurdler in 30 years, not just over Big Buck’s at 3m but over Istabraq, the multiple Champion Hurdle winner at 2m.
First of all, they have only one season on which to judge him. Second of all, as far as ante-post betting is concerned, he may switch to chasing and be prepared for the Gold Cup. So it’s evens you get the right race..! Are you seriously going to take 2-1 for the World Hurdle?
Don’t let them fool you 3: Next objective by bookmakers? In this quiet week before the AW Championships (Friday) and Irish Grand National (Sunday), and then the in-between before the start of the Flat next week, there will be ‘hot news’ about Guineas and Derby horses.
It’s another fill-their-satchels campaign to get you to part with your money on horses that might not even line up at Newmarket or Epsom. Many who won’t survive the trials for the Derby are hot property right now.. for the bookies!
Just cause for ante-post betting: We have to wait patiently while Gordon Elliott decides what’s next for Cause Of Causes. He is this column’s horse of the year.. this year so far and last year for sure!
He landed 100 points for us ante-post in the Kim Muir, but we’re hoping for another crack at the Grand National, after his staying on eighth last year following a massive 44.0 coup for the Daqman column when he won the NH Chase at 8-1.
Tempus fugit. Frankie Dettori, now 45, and looking for black gold – a share of $10m dollars from Saturday’s Dubai World Cup – sees the Lincoln Handicap is one of his final targets.
And Tempus Temporis could quickly re-establish the formidable 2015 Golden Horn partnership with John Gosden in the Doncaster race on April 2.
A decision will be made today – Tempus is also in Saturday’s Magnolia at Kempton – but all other Gosden Lincoln entries have been withdrawn. Gosden has already decided on just one representative in Friday’s AW Championships at Lingfield: James Doyle rides Maverick Wave.
JUST SCHOOLING FOR LESSONS IN MILAN
3.40 Exeter Long-time bridesmaid Thomas Crapper could enjoy this stiff track – has won at Cheltenham and Towcester – but November, 2013, was the last time he saw the winner’s enclosure.
Henryville has had a holiday, waiting for for good ground, but he’s never won going right-handed, and his trainer, Harry Fry, may get a lesson from his old master, Paul Nicholls, whose Port Melon is the hidden horse here and gets his ground.
Port Melon led for a long way when the Kempton Silver Plate winner, Might Bite, won at Cheltenham last Spring, and was well in touch all the way to score at Kempton in November, his second success right-handed.
Blinkers first time today make him a bet at 5.9 on BETDAQ, and he’s dropped in class after taking on last week’s NH Chase runner-up, Native River, and the Ultima Chase winner, Un Temps Pour Tout.
3.50 Wetherby Fascinating one. The first battle between last-day-faller Ballyculla and Lessons In Milan is in the BETDAQ market.. only 0.49 between them.
But there’s a huge difference in trainer form: Warren Greatrex is three out of three at Wetherby with chasers but his Cheltenham hopes were dashed and he’s had only a couple of bumper winners this month, nothing from jumpers.
Nicky Henderson pulled off a magnificent feat with Sprinter Sacre, has had three more winners since, and the word from the long grass is that this is just a schooling for Lessons In Milan, yet he is the one at odds against, as I write.
4.20 Wetherby Sarah Humphrey is 100% with chasers at Wetherby but not a sniff of the prizemoney from her hurdlers here (0-8). In fact, she’s scored only 10 wins from 160 hurdles starters since 2012.
And, ironically, Chambord Du Loir has been a flop over hurdles in both England and France, winning just one chase in the French Provinces.
Jonjo O’Neill’s ‘return to form’ turned out to be a one-day wonder with Minella Rocco and Holywell at Cheltenham a week ago. Since then? 26 straight losers; interestingly, many at huge prices; only one or two fancied since that day.
Arthurs Secret is prone to jumping errors, and was well adrift of Weapon of Choice here when favourite for this race last year.
Weapon Of Choice (6.2 on BETDAQ this morning) was runner-up that day and was brought back at Southwell recently to prep for this. James Bethell had the same idea for Thankyou Very Much, who has a place chance (3.2 place and 11.5 the win on BETDAQ).
DAQMAN BETS (stakes as stated)
BET 6pts win PORT MELON (3.40 Exeter)
BET 8pts win (nap) LESSONS IN MILAN (3.50 Wetherby)
BET 4pts win WEAPON OF CHOICE, and 1pt win 3pts place THANKYOU VERY MUCH (4.20 Wetherby)
DAQ MULTIPLES: The four above in 5 x 1pt win doubles and 2 x 1pt win trebles
£25 IN FREE BETS
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