ABC GUIDE TO SATURDAY’S CESAREWITCH: Daqman got it in the neck at Kempton last night when his nap, Blue De Vega (2ND 4-1), led 75 yards out but was mugged a neck in a duel to the line. Today he checks out all the Saturday Cesarewitch runners in an ABC stats guide.
ULYSSES CHAMPION STAKES CHALLENGE: It was announced this morning that Ulysses will take on the favourite Cracksman in the Champion Stakes. He was given the green light after working well at Newmarket.
CESAREWITCH: VIVA LASS VEGAS!
A Carrying 8st 11lb or less (8 out of 10)
B Has already won at 2m or more (8 out of 10)
C Top-line jockey (13 out of 17)
D Last raced in September (8 out of 10)
E Dual-purpose trainer (10 this century)
ABCDE Lagostovegas
The mare has improved 19lb on the Flat and 21lb over hurdles since joining Willie Mullins in the Spring, including placed in two Flat handicaps at the Galway Festival and winning the Ladbrokes Ireland Hurdle last month. Ryan Moore booked for this improving Irish lass.
ABCD Withhold
Big gamble during the week. Winner twice for Charles Hills and promising after almost a year off on first run for Roger Charlton. Silvestre De Sousa booked.
ABCE Digeanta
One-time Irish Cesarewitch winner, 10 years old now but comes out only a head behind Lagostovegas on this year’s Galway Festival form.
ABC Dubawi Fifty
Three wins out of four, creeping up the grades (raised 11lb since July), all under Graham Lee. Related to Leger and Derby winners.
ABC John Constable
Fell at the last or would have been placed in a big handicap at Aintree. Made up for it since over hurdles (2-2) at Graded and Listed level but last ran on the Flat in 2014 for Aidan O’Brien (one win in 12 starts).
ABDE Cape Caster
Comes to this after 15 months chasing. Last scored on the Flat for Ralph Beckett in the summer of 2014.
ABDE Duke Street
Placed 11 times out of 13 Flat starts for Mark Johnston two and more years back and similar consistency up to 2m 5f for Dr Richard Newland (3132300221403), mainly over hurdles.
ABDE Oceane
Last year’s big-field Goodwood Stakes third came out quickly to score at York, but has disappointed since, including when gambled on in this race last year (5-2 favourite, only ninth off same mark as today) and eighth in a visor for the Cesarewitch Trial last month. Sound surface essential.
ABD Arthur McBride
Flat successes (two) only at Goodwood, where he beat Aurora Gray in the summer (penalised) but down the field in the HQ Cesarewitch Trial on the last day.
ABD Aurora Gray
Up 19lb for ultra-consistent run: a hat-trick in lower class followed by five consecutive places as he climbed the class ladder, third in the Pontefract Cup, second in the Goodwood Handicap, and runner-up again there in September (5lb better with the winner Arthur McBride).
ABD Swamp Fox
Graded winner over hurdles who was second twice in four days at the Galway festival, once over hurdles and once on the Flat (6lb worse off with Lagostovegas who was a head behind him). Digeanta was fourth.
ABD Taws
Returned to winning form more than two years on at Chepstow in the summer, before sixth in Cesarewitch Trial.
AB Euchen Glen
Ascot win in August, first time stepped up to 2m, and only third time raised to class 2, repeating his likening for the trip at York, though the race came a bit soon after Ascot.
AB Frederic
Back-to-back wins at a lower level in the summer but well held raised to class 2 in the Goodwood Handicap (behind Aurora Gray, Arthur McBride and Taws).
AB Star Rider
Eighth in last year’s Cesarewitch off 91, after winning the Goodwood Stakes. Poor year so far but now down apound below that to his last winning Flat mark.
ACDE Landsman
Tony Martin has not been pulling rabbits from the that this year and certainly needs a magic wand for Landsman, who has own only a couple of small-field races.
AD Poyle Thomas
Eleventh in this race in 2014 but 9lb better with the winner Star Rider and 10lb better with Oceane (third) on last year’s Goodwood Stakes. Modest form since left Ralph Beckett.
AD Time To Study
Swerved the Cesarewitch Trial to run in – and win – the Mallard over shorter at Doncaster. Runner-up Byron Flyer is now 4lb with just a head to make up but this is almost six furlongs more to travel.
Others: BCDE Laws Of Spin, Who Dares Wins, BCD Byron Flyer, Fun Mac, BC Watersmeet, BDE Mirsaale, BE First Mohican, BC Snow Falcon
Plus: Endless Acres, Friday Night Light, Getback In Paris, London Prize, Magic Circle, Shrewd, Swashbuckle, Tawdeea
‘DIAMOND’ SUPERNAP TONIGHT
4.05 Ayr The Caledonian Racing Society intend to have their day today, when King Of Scotland makes his first foray over the border, the 720-mile round trip from Hughie Morrison’s Berkshire yard, with Daniel Tudhope booked, first time on turf the horse has been ridden by a senior jockey.
6.45 Chelmsford Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Striker has done a lot of work and won most of his gallops, including under Ryan Moore. I took 6.8 on BETDAQ early mouse, with place cover.
8.15 Chelmsford We don’t see many Prescott sequence horses these days but Kohinoor Diamond fits the pattern of exploiting the lowest class the handicapper allows where he can carry his penalties easily and then slide into a comfortable position at the next level.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20 points at morning BETDAQ offers but the supernap is 20 to win at SP.)
BET 8pts win KING OF SCOTLAND (4.05 Ayr)
BET 3.5pts win and place RED STRIKER (6.45 Chelmsford)
SUPERNAP: 20pts win (nap) KOHINOOR DIAMOND (8.15 Chelmsford)
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.
