BETDAQ VALUE IS THE KEY TO A WEEK OF RACING PARADISE: It’s not all Punchestown this week. It’s Guineas week, too. A racing feast under both rules, which Daqman remembers two years ago not only for Punchestown, not just for Newmarket, but for Ascot on Wednesday in, appropriately, the Paradise Stakes, a Queen Anne Trial, in which he landed Zaaki (WON 9-1 from 14.0 taken on BETDAQ). And that show of BETDAQ value is what he’ll concentrate on this week. Join him in his value search at all three meetings, off these winning platforms:
DAQMAN 10, PRICEWISE 6
LAYS LOGIC 5-6
NAPS 5-10
SUPERNAPS 2-2
TODAY: Early start and late finish for DAQMAN with his first bet running in the 1.35 at Ayr and the third selection going tonight at Windsor in the 7.50pm. His NAP runs in-between in the 2.10 at Ayr.
HOME WIN WILL GO WILLIE’S WAY
Feast of champions! Punchestown Jump starts the week tomorrow with a glittering five-day meeting which overlaps the high-gear Newmarket 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas on the Flat, Saturday and Sunday.
All main meetings return to their due dates for the first time since 2019, including the Royal Ascot Trials on the Berkshire course on Wednesday.
Ireland’s Cheltenham champions defend their titles with very little response from the English teams they thrashed by a rugby score last month.
🏇 Nube Negra (Dan Skelton) in the Champion Chase tomorrow will be newly crowned champion jockey Harry Skelton’s only ride at the festival.
🏇 First Flow (Kim Bailey) was just sixth in the Champion Chase when Nube Negra was runner-up, but all is not lost on different ground and a different track, as Greaneteen (fourth in the championship at Cheltenham) showed in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
🏇 Clan Des Obeaux (Paul Nicholls) in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday is the champion trainer’s sole raider.
🏇 Epatante (Nicky Henderson) is the only one of five Henderson probables quoted at the front of any market, second in to odds-on Honeysuckle for the Champion Hurdle on Friday.
But main talk of revenge at Punchestown is between rival camps in Ireland, as Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore put their astonishing Cheltenham record on the line.
It all happens with Blackmore chasing Paul Townend’s 95-91 jockeys’ title lead, as he returns from injury.
The trainers’ title already belongs to Willie Mullins, who goes into the meeting 163 to 155 for Gordon Elliott (aka Denise Foster). De Bromhead has 97.
Willie’s total earnings of 4million euros dwarf those of Elliott (2.8m) and De Bromhead (1.8m).
Mullins, first-day leader at Punchestown in the last decade, is determined on a flying start with three of the six runners in the Champion Chase tomorrow, headed by Chacun Pour Soi (Paul Townend). He has 19 probables all told on Tuesday.
The Champion Novice Chase has just four runners but three of them are Willie’s – headed by Monkfish (Paul Townend) – and the fourth is Envoi Allen for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.
Kemboy, who was robbed of a Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup double bid by the lockdown last year, tries again for Willie two years on, and is joined by four stablemates, including former Cheltenham Gold Cup star, Al Boum Photo.
But none has so far dislodged from favouritism this year’s Cheltenham gold hero, Minella Indo, for Henry de Bromhead. Can they take his crown in the race itself?
HENRY NOT A SLOW-MO
⭕ 1.35 Ayr Gunnerside is out for a quick follow up after winning at Wolverhampton last week but his best form has come on the all-weather and the 5lb penalty is likely to prove a steadier.
The same comments really apply to the hat-trick seeking Deevious Beau whose all-weather form is, so far, a class apart from what he has achieved on the turf.
With question marks against the BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE market leaders, there might be some win and place value about Mo Henry (still three places on BETDAQ despite the seven runner field).
The Adrian Keatley trained runner is the only course and distance winner in the field and whilst it’s been a long time between drinks he hinted that another win might be around the corner with a good effort at Thirsk when a 33/1 third. He had previously been pulled up over hurdles at Wetherby which was hardly surprising for a sprinter!
BIELSA THE NAP FOR KEVIN x2
⭕ 2.10 Ayr Another six furlong handicap which looks good for Bielsa representing the strong axis of the Kevin’s Ryan and Stott.
This is the first class 3 the gelding has contested since 2019 when he won at Thirsk after a break and he should outclass his rivals here. He seems versatile ground-wise – his four wins have included the full spectrum: Good To Firm, Good, Soft and Heavy !
He starts the new campaign off a pound lower mark and can prove too strong for the likes of Commanche Falls (who definitely seems to prefer give) and George Bowen who still looks badly handicapped – despite his string of defeats.
BANKING ON RANCO
⭕ 7.50 Windsor David Pipe sends Ranco to the Windsor well again in a bid to follow up on his course and distance win of last week under the statutory 5lb penalty.
He was value for more than the official two lengths he was beaten by, given that he was eased close home and should be able to stage an action replay under Callum Hutchinson who is riding again.
Goldie Hawk will be a tough nut to crack. Chris Wall’s filly is going in search of a four-timer after handicap wins at Lingfield (turf), Wolverhampton and Kempton last season. She is unproven on quick turf ground and up another 5lb so that tempers enthusiasm – although her stable are in good form.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points including place bet)
BET 1pt win and 5.5pts place MO HENRY (1.35 Ayr)
BET 6.5pts win (nap) BIELSA (2.10 Ayr)
BET 4.5pts win RANCO (7.50 Windsor)
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
