ANTE-POST CAR CRASH OF ‘UNKNOWNS’ IN THE IRISH DERBY: The ante-post book for the Irish Derby goes out of the window as, with one or two exceptions, a squad of unknowns is declared for Saturday’s Classic which this year comes before the Epsom Derby. Thereby hangs a tale, says Daqman. A new market was formed last night.
FOUR BETS: In three races for DAQMAN on Wednesday including a NAP at Haydock and place bet on the card too.
O’BRIEN’S SECOND-CLASS DERBY
Which did you fancy? From Aidan O’Brien’s 35 of the 71 entries for Saturday’s Irish Derby, which star name grabbed your attention? Innisfree or Vatican City; Russian Emperor or Mogul? All were strong at the front of most ante-post markets.
Forget them. None will run on Saturday. Not a one. In a move which suggests that Ballydoyle will bombard the Epsom Derby with its top brass, their lemming punters have had their own ‘brass’, both plastic money and nickel coins, flushed down the drain or flung right back at them if they were lucky enough to be on ‘with a run.’
Santiago (rated 111) and Arthur’s Kingdom (107) appear to be the top O’Brien colts on parade. There are eight others.
So, with 19 declared, 10 in the field are Ballydoyle. With three others trained Joseph O’Brien and one for Donnacha, some 74% or so of the runners make up a family party.
It would seem the thinking is that the Second X1 – rather, fourteen! – are good enough; no point bringing out the first team.
The trio of O’Briens so dominate that most of the social distancing will not be necessary. There’ll be a huge acreage to go round!
Santiago and Arthur’s Kingdom are followed in the betting by Crossfirehurricane (Joseph) and Ibera (third in line for Aidan).
At this point Fiscal Rules (Jim Bolger) and Gold Maze (Jessica Harrington) break the monotony, although those names – both maidens – do nothing for me.
ACCLAIM THE FRONT RUNNER
1.40 Haydock A competitive sprint handicap in which Acclaim The Nation should again put in a good spin. The Eric Alston trained runner was only beaten a 1/2 length over course and distance two weeks ago in a similar class 3 event and should again make a bold bid from the front. The more fancied recent runners from the Alston stable have been running well – including Fox Hill a recent winner at Thirsk.
There are plenty of dangers, as you might expect. At the top end of the BETDAQ market Orvar has come in for plenty of morning support following on from a good reappearance run at Doncaster. He was staying on really well in the closing stages but the feeling is that he might just need a longer trip to show his best and hopefully Acclaim The Nation can get first run on him.
She Can Boogie is very short in the market for a horse that hasn’t won since May and that came on bottomless ground at Chester. She also has some ground to find with the selection on their Haydock comeback form.
At bigger prices, one that is of interest and which I will have a win and place BETDAQ interest on is Diamond Dougal who ran surprisingly well over this trip at Newmarket last time. I always thought his best form has come over longer but it’s interesting to see that Robert Cowell has kept him over the minimum and he could easily run on into a place again.
CARE TO OPPOSE FAVOURITE
5.25 Windsor There might be some value here in taking on the market leader Vitare who was a 100/1 runner-up at York following his debut here at Windsor when failing to beat a single runner home.
He has since been a beaten favourite at Leicester and there didn’t appear to be any excuses.
He faces a potentially interesting rival in Due Care who is stepped back to what could be an optimum six furlongs and a reappearance of his debut effort at Kempton could get him involved.
KING TO STRIKE THREE WITH MIDNIGHT
5.50 Haydock Midnights Legacy can continue the stellar recent flat form of Alan King. Four winners over the last two weeks including Who Dares Wins – winner of the final race at Royal Ascot.
Midnights Legacy comes into this bidding for the hat-trick after wins at Bath and here at Haydock last time out over 1m 2f. Whilst he is up a further 7lb for that success, with the step-up in trip he should be able to continue the progression. He only got up in the final strides to win last time and should love the extra distance.
The dangers look to be Bucephalus and Indigo Lake.
Ed Walker’s Bucephalus should also relish the step-up in trip after finishing fifth over 1m 2f here last time out and is also up in class.
John Gosden’s Indigo Lake was a winner on his turf/handicap debut but doesn’t look a world beater. He also carried his head high when winning at Doncaster and off a higher mark might not be one to take a short price about.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
1.40 Haydock
BET 1.3pts win ACCLAIM THE NATION
BET 1.0pt win and 3.9pts place DIAMOND DOUGAL
5.25 Windsor
BET 4.0pts win DUE CARE
5.50 Haydock
BET 5.0pts win (nap) MIDNIGHTS LEGACY
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