CHELTENHAM DAY ONE: On day one of the big weekend meeting, Daqman today has a nap and place bets to cover his Cheltenham picks of a short shot and an outsider in each of three terrestrial-TV races
CHELTENHAM DAY TWO: There’s another top trials day at Cheltenham tomorrow, with a 15-runner Winter Gold Cup, Albert Bartlett and Triumph tests plus the International Hurdle.
THE TRIP SUITS COURT
⭕ 1.50 Cheltenham Nine of the 11 runners in this 2m 4f mares chase are within a 10lb spread, with Vienna Court and Fontaine Collonges deemed exceptional. Are they?
Vienna Court has never won a chase; never even been second, and her 123 rating is a slide from the 131 awarded after her second hurdles success in February last year and subsequent third in her first chase.
In her favour, the pedigree: related on the dam’s side to Denman and other middle-to-marathon runners, and with the right stable to exploit those potential abilities.
Fontaine Collonges has won bumper, novice hurdle and novice chase. She’s from a stable in form; she gallops on and is brave, as she showed when getting back up at Warwick to beat Precious Eleanor (now 4lb better off).
Timeless Beauty has improved a stone this year, scoring first time for Fergal O’Brien recently, after switching from Warren Greatrex.
Colin Tizard connections clearly think a lot of hurdles winner Rose Of Arcadia; so much so that she’s been favourite for six races in a row!
Her first chase is a tough one but she is bred to be a stayer, and her family goes back to one of my great old favourites, Suny Bay. First-time hood today.
BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE 3.95 Rose Of Arcadia, 12.5 Vienna Court
SANTINI HAS THE CLASS
⭕ 2.25 Cheltenham A 3m 2f Grade-3 chase won twice by that tough guy Cogry (2018-19). His stable now saddles Rocco, nicely placed in the handicap after a step forward at Wincanton last month. He needs to improve again on a line to form through Potterman.
Rocco was receiving 17lb at Wincanton from the two-lengths runner-up Potterman, who in the Spring gave 4lb to Enrilo and was beaten threeparts of a length but was awarded the race in the Stewards’ room.
It’s third time lucky for Enrilo today: he was well fancied for the Ladbrokes Trophy, going well when he fell at the 14th.
After his Cork Grand National place, I picked Mister Fogpatches for the Troytown at Leopardstown. He travelled so well throughout that he was raised 5lb for finishing third.
Commodore has won twice after a break. Going back just over a year, he was second to Snow Leopardess, the recent Becher Chase winner, and would have won at Cheltenham next time out but for unseating at the last.
Santini has been placed at the Cheltenham Festival in the Albert Bartlett, RSA and Gold Cup, but he struggled last year and has slipped 13lb in the ratings. He’s won six times after a break, and Harry Skelton has been booked.
BETDAQ value 5.8 Commodore, 9.8 Santini
DIESEL READY THIS TIME
⭕ 3.00 Cheltenham (cross country) This race opened with FOUR horses offered in the BETDAQ orange over a range of less than ONE point.. Tight or what!
Back On The Lash won the November heat of the three Cheltenham cross-countrys which culminate in the big one at the festival.
Singing Banjo was second, Diesel d’Allier was third, Plan Of Attack fourth, Balko Des Flos fifth, Potters Corner sixth, Fox Pro seventh, Alphas Des Obeaux eighth (Talkischeap UR).
Back On The Lash is raised 3lb, Singing Banjo 2lb; Potters Corner and Alpha Des Obeaux drop 2lb, both claimed off; nothing that would make a big difference, though the experience of newcomers in that race could shuffle the pack today.
The grey Diesel D’Allier was caught out by a long absence when jumping the last in front, weakening on the run-in but Back On The Lash fans will argue that it was his first banks run and he found more.
Plan Of Attack came from the rear and not for the first time the 2020 Kim Muir fourth looked like an out-and-out stayer.
You could say Potters Corner might have more finish if he doesn’t front-run; Plan Of Attack likewise if he doesn’t lie too far out of his ground.
Potters Corner won the 2019 Welsh Grand National with 10st 4lb off 143. Now off 132, he’s going to have to win this today and get at least a 7lb penalty, just to get a run at Chepstow after Christmas.
BETDAQ value 6.1 Diesel d’Allier, 18.0 Potters Corner
BALKO THE DAY’S BANKER
⭕ THE NAP The grapevine and the market agree: Admiral Balko (12.55 Bangor) is poised for victory in the mud at Bangor. Another four-year-old taking advantage of the allowances, a good hurdles winner well prepared for this after his chasing bow at Hereford. BETDAQ 4.3.
DAQMAN’S BETS
12.55 Bangor (win 10, nap)
BET 3pts win ADMIRAL BALKO
1.50 Cheltenham (win 12, place 5)
BET 4pts win ROSE OF ARCADIA
BET 1pt win, 2pts place VIENNA COURT
2.25 Cheltenham (win 20)
BET 4pts win COMMODORE
BET 2.25pts win SANTINI
3.00 Cheltenham (win 20, place 6)
BET 4pts win DIESEL D’ALLIER
BET 1.2pts win and 1.8pts place POTTERS CORNER
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.
