6.5 POLITOLOGUE BEFORE SATURDAY’S FINAL CHELTENHAM TEST: BETDAQ ante-post offers this morning were 6.5 Politologue for his Champion Chase defence before Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot, which is his final stepping-stone to Cheltenham. Daqman previews the week.
MODEST MONDAY: It’s a modest start to the week so Daqman adjusts his stakes accordingly. His nap of the day runs at Lingfield.
PERFECT HAT-TRICK IN A NATIONAL
⚠️ HEADS UP: Neil King has been out of form – 22 days since a win – but Lil Rockefeller ran well for him (second) at Market Rasen on Saturday, and he plans to return Wincanton Boxing Day winner, Nearly Perfect, to the same track for the Somerset National on Thursday.
Nearly Perfect will be going for a hat-trick, after opening his season at Wetherby in early December.
Success in the National would also be a hat-trick of Wincanton wins. He is 2-2 over 3m 1f. He made all in both: last January and again on Boxing Day.
His progress is measured by the handicapper as 18lb from three wins in four chases from that day, his last as a novice.
⚠️ HEADS UP: Saturday’s Grade 1 at Ascot is the Clarence House Chase, won by the best two-mile chasers in recent years: Master Minded (2011), Sprinter Sacre (2013), Un de Sceaux (three times 2015-18), then Altior and last year Defi Du Seuil.
Defi was impressive in beating Un De Sceaux that day but weakened quickly behind Put The Kettle On at Cheltenham on his return in the Shloer Chase there in November.
He had run a similar lifeless finish when beaten at odds on by Politologue in the Champion Chase in March, yet had beaten him in the same Shloer Chase the previous November.
They’re betting even money Politologue remains kingpin two-miler at Ascot before defending his Champion crown and, unless they have found something to explain and correct Defi’s recent demise, the favourite is likely to cruise the final stepping-stone to the festival.
RIVER LOOKS THE CARD TO PLAY
2.20 Lingfield It’s a ‘Jumpers Bumpers’ card at Lingfield on Monday which wouldn’t ordinarily be my first port of call but Getariver should gain reward for her recent consistency is this decent class 4 event.
Trained by Dan Skelton, Getariver won a similar event at Wolverhampton last season and has generally been plying her trade at a higher level this season – her last two starts have come in class 3 events in which she has been placed – beaten less than 5 lengths at both Southwell and Fakenham in a handicap hurdle and handicap chase respectively.
She’s very headstrong, so expect her to lead and hopefully Harry Skelton will ensure there’s enough in the tank for the closing furlong.
Imphal won four races in a row on the flat back in 2017 seeing his handicap mark shoot up 23lb as a result but his recent form for Gary Moore has proved disappointing, including here at Lingfield over hurdles last time out.
Kitty’s Light is the form horse coming into this having won two of his last three starts but both came over fences and more pertinently over three miles. He’ll find this much more of a speed test.
TIMING IS RIGHT
3.00 Ayr A wide open mares handicap hurdle which will prove a real test of stamina on the prevailing heavy ground at Ayr.
Charm Offensive is up in trip having finished fourth on similar ground at Hexham last time out. She remains unexposed so is one of the more interesting runners but it’s a huge leap of faith to think the extra distance will suit.
Preference goes to Timeless Beauty who makes her handicap debut here after three runs in novice company. She’s a previous Point winner on heavy ground so I am hopeful the ground and distance will suit and a starting mark of 99 looks fair.
GOLD AT END OF RAINBOW
6.10 Wolverhampton (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier) The race of the night at Wolverhampton and includes a golden ticket to Good Friday for the winner.
Alan King’s Rainbow Dreamer should prove hard to beat again. He won this in style last year and comes into this race on the back of a good effort at Newcastle last time out when a close up third to Island Brave which will hopefully have put him spot on.
He holds chief BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE rival Mildenberger who was fifth in the Newcastle race.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
BET 7.5pts win (nap) GETARIVER (2.20 Lingfield)
BET 2.0pts win TIMELESS BEAUTY (3.00 Ayr)
BET 6.6pts win RAINBOW DREAMER (6.10 Wolverhampton)
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