THREE OUT OF THREE AND NO LOSERS: Guineas or gaffe tracks, Daqman is unbeatable! After three consecutive weekend Classic winners, including a 9-1 best bet, he launched the new week with three winners in a row, no losers, including a fourth successive nap:
WON 5-2 JONNY DELTA
WON 10-11 ALNAAS
WON 4-7 HAVANA GREY (nap)
IT’S FOUR WINNING NAPS IN A ROW: They’re all kinds of prices but one thing Daqman’s naps have had in common for four days running now is that they’re all winners! Here’s the sequence:
WON 2-1 SILENT ECHO
WON 6-4 CHURCHILL (banker)
WON 9-1 WINTER
WON 4-7 HAVANA GREY
‘SEE HOW THEY WON’ DERBY GUIDE: Today Daqman checks out the Derby trials from the Guineas through to the Dante Stakes at York next Wednesday and beyond. Somewhere the Derby winner is named: can you spot him from the coded entries?
ABC OF THE DERBY CONTENDERS
A dozen days of Derby deciders. From the Guineas to the Dante Stakes, one of these eight races will reveal the Epsom hero of 2017.
My Early Bird horses to follow yesterday put up four for these vital tests: Cliffs Of Moher, Cracksman, Mirage Dancer and Peace Envoy.
But where do the Derby winners usually come from? What shall we look out for and when? Here’s my trials guide.
SEE HOW THEY RUN: Key to the trial contenders:
A Churchill, B Eminent, C Cracksman, D Rekindling, E Mirage Dancer, F Rivet, G Akihiro, H Sir John Lavery, J Waldgeist, K Exemplar, L Tamleek, M Venice Beach, N Frankuss, O Finn McCool, P Tartini, Q Atty Persse, R Cliffs Of Moher, S Mirage Dancer, T Taj Mahal, U Peace Envoy, V Douglas Macarthur, W Yucatan, X Capri
2,000 Guineas (was run on Saturday, trial runners AB) Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012) did the Guineas-Derby double and a placed horse, Australia (third in the Guineas in 2014), went on to score at Epsom.
Churchill sent out mixed messages on Saturday. Composed yet sweating up. Dominant yet given the run of the race. Al Wukair was the one running on at the finish but his trainer, Andre Fabre, sent out two more for the Prix Greffulhe yesterday.
Leopardstown Derby Trial (was run on Sunday, VWX) This race had a sensational winning run of Sinndar, High Chaparral, Yeats and Dylan Thomas (between 2000 and 2006) but needed another ace after picture cards at best since then.
In fact, Sunday’s renewal saw a blanket finish, which is always suspect: Douglas Macarthur beat Yucatan and Capri a head and a short-head. The winner made virtually all but the time was slow, despite good to firm ground.
Prix Greffulhe (run yesterday, GJ) The Greffulhe threw up two great horses in Peintre Celebre (1997) and Montjeu (1999) but the only English Derby winner of recent times was Pour Moi (2011), trained by Andre Fabre, in a moderate year.
In yesterday’s Greffulhe, the Fabre camp (Waldgeist second, Akihiro third) was outpointed by Recoletos (Carlos Laffon-Parias).
Like Barney Roy, Recoletos would have to be supplemented for Epsom (hence not in my key). He is likely to go for the French Derby or the King Edward V11 Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Chester Vase (Chester on Thursday, HKLMNOP) Ruler Of The World (2013) won this six lengths before scoring at Epsom.
Last year’s winner, US Army Ranger, was favourite for the English Derby but was beaten a length and a half, second to Harzand.
Vase winner Treasure Beach (2011) also finished second at Epsom but went on to win the Irish Derby.
Dee Stakes (Chester Friday, ENQLPRST) They were moderate years for the Derby when winners of this, Oath (1999) and Kris Kin (2003) ,went on to win at Epsom.
Lingfield Derby Trial (Saturday, HKOLMNPQ) High-Rise (1998) was the last to do the Lingfield-Derby double, following Teenoso (1983) and Slip Anchor (1985). Since 2013 reduced to Listed level, so of doubtful consequence these days.
Dante Stakes (York Wednesday week, BCDKOMNQRSTLUW) The Dante has been the kingmaker of the last decade and more, with North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) doing the York-Epsom double in three years out of four.
Workforce was second in the Dante before winning the 2010 Epsom Derby but the York trials biggest star since St Paddy (1960) was Golden Horn (2015).
The race has also recently produced Derby winners in France (The Grey Gatsby won 2014 Dante) and Ireland (Jack Hobbs second 2015 Dante).
French 2,000 Guineas (Chantilly Sunday, F) Shamardal (2005) and Lope De Vega (2010) went on to win the French Derby but the best winner in recent years was Daylami (1997), who was to find glory in the Eclipse, King George and Breeders Cup. I should Brexit at the Dante Stakes!
Cocked Hat Stakes (Goodwood, Friday May 26): Traditionally the old Predominate Stakes at Goodwood is the last-chance saloon for staking a claim to the Derby but is staged only eight days before Epsom this year.
There have been a few very decent winners – Dubai Millenium (1999), Asian Heights (2001), Rewilding (2010) – and Masked Marvel (2011) but none has won the Derby since Troy (1979), who paid for a large part of my life (and one wife).
ANOTHER REWARD IN THE 2.00 AT AYR
2.00 Ayr The same race yesterday was won in style by the NAP Havana Grey who scorched home and again I’m relying on the Ayr opener for the best bet of the day. I’m also hoping it’s not a case of going back to the well and it running dry !
Poet’s Reward looks a standout bet here for trainer David Barron. He enjoys a fitness advantage on his main rivals having had two runs at Newcastle in the last two months and can strike gold today having finished second in both those starts over five furlongs.
The extra trip should suit. He was only beaten a neck by Marseille last time out but was noted as staying on inside the final furlong. The form from that race isn’t exceptional but horses further down the field have run well enough since (Angel’s Acclaim 4th, went on to finish 4th at Thirsk and Barwell 6th, went on to finish 3rd at Thirsk) to give the form a solid enough stamp.
Main danger on the formbook is Dalton but this one has been off the course for 341 days and the David O’Meara stable isn’t firing on all cylinders at present. Dalton was a little disappointing when a well beaten fourth at Ripon in a race he went off 11/8 favourite for.
At just over evens on BETDAQ at the time of writing, Poet’s Reward is my nap of the day.
2.30 Ayr Should develop into a match between the experienced Archibelle and Fiendish with Sketch Book Venue now a non runner.
The Mark Johnston trained Fiendish was third over this trip at Chelmsford but then disappointed when dropped back in trip at Bath.
She might have a tough battle though to beat Archibelle who was only piped a nose at Doncaster in a handicap last time out and her form reads better than Fiendish to me.
7.00 Leicester Just six runners but a competitive 10 furlong handicap and preference is for Wapping with the blinkers on for the first time. He shaped well enough on reappearance at Yarmouth to finish third and has ticks in the distance, ground and recent outing boxes.
The Alan King trained Burguillos is the obvious danger if she is fit after a 200 day absence.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 9pts win (nap) POET’S REWARD (2.00 Ayr)
BET 6pts win ARCHIBELLE (2.30 Ayr)
BET 4pts win WAPPING (7.00 Leicester)
