IT’S ONE FOR DAQMAN AT 5-1: Daqman was again in the money yesterday with two winners: One For Harry (WON 5-1) and Audacious Plan (WON 5-2).
DOUVAN OUT OF TINGLE CREEK: Yet another big chase which is not a handicap has cut up with the defection of Douvan. The race was left with just four runners but boosted to seven when the race was re-opened to connections.
PUNTERS ARE LEFT UP THE CREEK
Is there any tingle left? Saturday’s big race at Sandown, the Tingle Creek Chase, won in the past by Kauto Star, Master Minded and Sprinter Sacre, cut up to just four probables when the declarations were made this morning but was later boosted to seven when the race was reopened.
I’ve complained several times in the last month how much money goes to small fields for this type of race.
You only need a big-name ‘attraction’ (my quotation marks) like Douvan and they fall away like ninepins. Then the big name drops out (yes, Douvan’s gone) and, in fact, we are left with seven pins but not much of a market for the punter to bowl at with Fox Norton set to go off odds-on.
I expect Ar Mad to tear away and create a match between Fox Norton and the improver, Politologue (both in my horses to follow).
Let’s hope the hot horses don’t decimate the King George. I’d hate to be writing about the madness of King George…. I don’t create the headlines; the planners do.
THIS ONE STICKS OUT AS A PLAN
12.50 and 2.25 Market Rasen Nicky Henderson sends two to the Lincolnshire track, in each case challenged by Dan Skelton.
Henderson’s Sunshade (12.50) should be able to maintain her unbeaten record – one bumper, one maiden hurdle – at the expense of the Skelton pair, Black Sam Bella and Bucky Boy .
But the one I like is Skelton’s Stick To the Plan (2.25) to turn over the Henderson hope, Christmas In April.
Stick To The Plan is a ‘hidden horse’, much better at this level than the bare form so I’m not worried about his weight.
He was winning on his reappearance when his rider lost her irons twice and then, reunited with Harry Skelton, was not disgraced in a much harder race, a class-2 at Cheltenham. Offers of 3.4 in the BETDAQ orange this morning.
1.35 Wincanton (Silver Buck Chase) I’m hunting for faults – because it’s hard to eliminate any of these – so I will declare Wizards Bridge a Fontwell horse and Gorsky Island a Ludlow lover.
Gardiner’s Hill and Pink Gin have scored only in class 5, so I’m with the top weight again, Jenny’s Surprise, back to form at Uttoxeter last month.
1.45 Leicester Thankyouverymuch has a big chance of repeating last year’s success in this race after a neck second at Musselburgh a week ago. Sharpened up with first-time hood.
Minella For Me likes to go haring off in front and could well last out. Hasn’t won in bumper, hurdles and a chase but heavily backed this morning for first-time handicap.
Diamond Rock beat nothing well at Bangor on the last day and was a drifter early mouse.
3.50 Wincanton Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden in combo are striking at 59% on this course.
Harry rides for Colin Tizzard there today but stays on for the last, a bumper in which Nicholls has put a first-time hood on Grand Sancy, not disgraced on the debut in October. Tasty at 6.0 on BETDAQ early doors.
7.00 Chelmsford They’re punting two in this: Bowerman and Sibilance (4.7 offers). You can get odds against the both of them on BETDAQ, 9.8 bar in the orange.
DAQMAN’S BETS (singles are staked to win 20 points; savers are staked to cover the cost of the main bet)
BET 8.5pts win JENNYS SURPRISE (1.35 Wincanton)
BET 6.5pts win MINELLA FOR ME, and 1.5pts win (stakes saver) THANKYOU VERY MUCH (1.45 Leicester)
BET 8.25pts win (nap) STICK TO THE PLAN (2.25 Market Rasen)
BET 4pts win GRAND SANCY (3.50 Wincanton)
BET 5.5pts win on each SIBILANCE and (stakes saver) BOWERMAN (7.00 Chelmsford)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 4pts win double SUNSHADE (12.50 Market Rasen) and STICK TO THE PLAN (2.25 Market Rasen)
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