6.0 OFFER SCORES IN DAQMAN ONE-TWO: Daqman was determined that Nicky Henderson’s paper-favourite Follow The Bear (last of four at 9-4) was a lay yesterday, opposing with Samuel Jackson (WON 11-4 from 6.0 on BETDAQ) and a saver on the new favourite, which was second at 5-4 for a 5.5-1 forecast.
YOU DO WIN, DON’T YOU! SUPERNAP 6-5: Daqman had three returns out of three from his individual bets, among them a 20-point supernap on Udontdodou (WON 6-5) at Chelmsford last night. The returns were:
WON 11-4 SAMUEL JACKSON (from 6.0 BETDAQ offers)
2ND 7-1 ARDEN DENIS (win and place from 8.8 on BETDAQ)
WON 6-5 UDONTDODOU (supernap)
ABANDONED: A depleted Wetherby card failed an inspection this morning and Lingfield’s mixed meeting had already been abandoned. So no Jumps racing survives, Southwell and Kempton AW remaining in England.
THE 15-POINT BIG-RACE PUNT
He’s going in heavy! Daqman has double-dared a 15-point bet on tomorrow’s Coral Welsh Grand National, if the race goes ahead.
He reckons the National’s abandonment on December 27 cost him a huge big-race double, initiated by Anibale Fly (WON 14-1 from 19.5 on BETDAQ) at Leopardstown.
But, with the Chepstow marathon race rescheduled for Saturday, he will resurrect the double, moving all in with the 15 points he would have won on the first leg via Anibale Fly.
Heavy ground again puts the meeting in doubt, including the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle, for which We Have A Dream has been punted all week.
Sandown features the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle and the final of the 2017 Veterans Chase Series.
Look out on Sunday for top-class sport from Naas, including a Grade-1 novice hurdle, plus the Sussex National at Plumpton.
TIMMY STEPS ON THE ‘GHAS’ AGAIN
2.40 Southwell It’s a slow soak of nearly eight hours today from the opener at Southwell (forecast ‘showers’) to the last at Kempton (forecast ‘showers’).
This class-5 sprint is the best of the Southwell card and Simon Crisford will be keen to prove that leaving his CD maiden winner, Ghaseedah, on the same mark is a mistake.
Timmy Murphy was pleased with her that day – ‘she won well’ – and he’s back on board this filly by Kyllachy out of an Exceed And Excel mare. Speedy breeding or what!
7.15 Kempton Nicky Henderson’s Bardd has never been out of the first four in 10 races, bumpers, hurdles and Flat. He travelled really strongly to win at Chelmsford (1m 5f) on the last day and could take a tactical race here, despite the drop in trip.
Night Of Glory should win it on the ratings but continues to disappoint (has lost four times from 5-2 to 4-1 SP including beaten favourite twice) and has won only his maiden, always a bad sign. Firmage Burg makes his English debut.
IVORY CAN COAST THIS SPRINT
8.15 Kempton The Hertfordshire family stable of Ken and now Dean Ivory have farmed the evening prizemoney at Kempton for years.
Tonight Deano celebrates last year’s beano in this race when Eljaddaaf cruised home four lengths and landed a gamble for his fourth course win, six in all.
Eljaddaaf was hiked 12lb by the handicapper but has shed some of his extra burden with six consecutive races up in grade from this class 4 to classes 2 and 3.
A run back over a trip too far and from a wide berth at Lingfield three weeks ago has set him up for tonight.
There’s not been a penny for him in his last three starts (at 20-1 twice and 33-1) but this ‘hidden horse’ will be on the bookies’ ’tissue’ tonight as a potential job horse.
Strictly on the official figures, it’s a very close contest, with three runners on 85 and three on 84, though the Racing Post base ratings had a clear winner with Kadrizzi on 108, six clear of Eljaddaaf.
The Post’s revised future ratings for tonight has them only a pound apart. But who trains Kadrizzi? Answer: It’s that man Ivory again.
The Shergar Cup Sprint winner of 2016 has been struggling with big weights in higher grades but, with Jack Duern’s 3lb claim, is now 19lb lower than last Spring for his Kempton debut, and his CV features AW successes at Chelmsford and Lingfield.
Temeraire, Kodiline and Clear Water haven’t won since their maidens, always a bad sign. I give no credence to a Clear Water revival in first-time cheekpieces!
Excellent George, nor any other in this line-up, can be expected to put two sprint wins together at this level.
Both successes for Rely On Me have come from the front and he may be ring rusty after 90 days off. He can be expected to run free from stall six, setting up a fast pace which is just what Eljaddaaf loves. Only Kadrizzi is in the way.
DAQMAN’S BETS
SUPERNAP: BET 20pts win GHASEEDAH (2.40 Southwell)
BET 6pts win BARDD (7.15 Kempton)
BET 5pts win ELJADDAAF, and 2pts win and place KADRIZZI (8.15 Kempton)
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