HE’S THE NAP DESPITE CHASING DEBUT: As ever, Daqman spots the smart preview to the days ahead – 20 runners scheduled by back-to-form Venetia Williams before the Christmas break – and analyses the Catterick card, in which his nap is 4.1 for his steeplechase debut.
VENETIA PLANS TO LAND SOME SILVER
Back on the winning trail. After a very quiet season, with just seven winners, Venetia Williams, should now be followed as her Herefordshire squad shows strong signs of a revival.
Among high hopes this week is Otago Trail, who beat Bristol De Mai and Definitly Red in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle two years ago.
Otago Trail returned to form in the same race three weeks back, a close third despite a long absence, and should be a force in the Ascot Silver Cup on Saturday.
Venetia’s lean spell has suddenly produced a streak of fat, with her last seven runners showing returns of 222121, still standing.
Her stable won over £1m in Mon Mome’s Grand National season (2008-9) and again in 2013-14, with its best winners tally 90 in 2012-13.
Pity there isn’t an Ascot race suitable for the yard’s fine servant, Tenor Nivernais – he’s won there twice – with tomorrow near home at Ludlow or the Tommy Whittle at Haydock on Saturday (Calipto also engaged) as a choice of targets.
Grand Annual runner-up Gardefort is a likely contender at Ascot on the same day. With 20 runners in the final four days before the Christmas break, this is clearly a time when Venetia hopes to be celebrating at last.
DANCE TUNED UP FOR FAVOURITE RACE
12.10 Catterick BETDAQ 4.6 offer this morning, Danceintothelight is 0011- in this race, unplaced twice for Micky Hammond but back-to-back winner for Donald McCain.
He’s dropped a stone down the handicap in the last year or so, and will have been prepping for this for obvious reasons.
12.40 Catterick Mark Johnston has had just two hurdles runners in five seasons – both unplaced – and it will be interesting to see whether Gemologist sparkles.
Dan Skelton has four runners here today, two of them in this race. It’s not easy to see why Harry seemingly prefers Lifeboat (0-14 record), a bigger price this morning than 17.0 chance Lyford, who won quite easily at Chelmsford.
Fabianski won very easily at Wetherby but it was first run after a break and completely out of the blue at 20-1.
ADDRESS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT
1.10 Catterick Sam Twiston-Davies is here just for the one ride on Gettysburg Address. This is his chasing debut after a lay-off but he was 3211 over hurdles for Richard Newland after leaving Noel Meade, and is 4.1 on BETDAQ as I write.
The Skeltons run Marley Firth in first-time cheekpieces. Hadn’t shown much since scoring about a year ago but, after he looked promising before being badly hampered at Chepstow, was made favourite at Newcastle on the last day only to fall early on.
Manwell is bridesmaid extraordinary, after running eight times second, including his recent form of 2022222.
CHIEFS CHANCE FOR 100% SHARON
1.40 Catterick Harry Whittington (Djin Conti in first-time cheekpieces) has won with three of his last seven starters, and Jamie Snowden (Our Reward) is still celebrating his big cross-country win at the weekend with Fact of The Matter.
Sharon Watt (Too Many Chiefs) is getting 100% from her horses but the fact of the matter is she’s getting 100% of not a lot, with zero NH success this season; she does better on AW.
Having said all that, her seven year old, Too Many Chiefs, 8.4 on BETDAQ, landed three wins out of four around the turn of the year, between last November and this January, which shows that both horse and trainer are capable when on song.
Colby has never been out of the first four, but has never won! Our Reward took a hit of 8lb for scoring at Fakenham and I’m not sure about the rain. That main also be the downfall of Djin Conti, a fast-ground winner at Wincanton in the Spring.
But soft ground would suit Rainy City, another McCain runner today with a good chance today, 12lb below his original hurdles mark and with the same rating as his winning chase mark in the Spring.
BACK TO THE DAYS WE REMEMBER
2.40 Catterick McCain appears to have an odds-on chance with Morraman (2.10) but it’s hard to see his Middlebrow reversing Carlisle form with Halcyon Days on worse terms in this one.
Midnight Chill’s Sedgefield success has since been boosted by a win for the runner-up, but Halcyon Days looks big at 5.9.
He was a really solid performer a couple of seasons back with figures of 1211313112, returning to form in October but finding another half mile too far on the last day.
DAQMAN’S BETS
12.10 Catterick (win 20)
BET 5.5pts win DANCEINTOTHELIGHT
12.40 Catterick (win 20)
BET 1.25pts win and place LYFORD
1.10 Catterick (win 30)
BET 10pts win (nap) GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
1.40 Catterick (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win TOO MANY CHIEFS
2.40 Catterick (win 20)
BET 4pts win HALCYON DAYS
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.
