BACK-TO-BACK DAQMAN NAPS UP: That was the week that was! Despite so many meetings frozen off, and the better horses kept on ice, Daqman had a dramatic run of success:
* A profit on six days out of seven (total 106.45).
* Four naps up in the week.
* Winners at 14-1, 9-1, 4-1 and 3-1 (twice).
WON 10-11 AL AGAILA (Saturday nap)
WON 11-10 RUN TEDDY RUN (Friday nap)
HE IS AHEAD OF PRICEWISE 9-7: Jumps racing at Lingfield and Fakenham has been abandoned. AW only is left in England on the Newcastle Tapeta but there is a strong card at Thurles which may be a Cheltenham guide, with so few horses able to race. Daqman (9) v Pricewise (7) has produced just 16 winners in this lean season.
FAKIR CAN BEAT THE OLD BOYS
⭕ 1.40 Thurles Formerly the Kinloch Brae Chase (Grade 2), this is a 2m 4f+ test which has been won on the way to Cheltenham Gold Cup victory by Don Cossack and Sizing John, and to a Ryanair double by Allaho.
As you’d expect, improvers win it, rated 160 or so. That’s a strong pointer to Fakir d’Oudairies (163).
In the decade 15 horses of double-figure age have tried and failed, which doubles down on my selection.
Fakir d’Oudairies was second in the race last year to Allaho. They had been 1-2 in the Ryanair the previous March.
Chacun Pour Soi beat Allaho that April – in the Punchestown Champion Chase – but that was over 2m and, in stepping him up to 2m 4f+ for the first time ever today, is hoping that Chacun now lacks pace not enthusiasm at age 11.
Fakir d’Oudairies was runner-up on his return in December after 236 days off, connections admitting he’d been difficult to ready, though they had not entertained hopes of getting much closer to the winner, Galopin Des Champs!
Lifetime Ambition (3rd) and Haut En Couleurs (4th) finished behind that day.
French Dynamite is 4-4 at Thurles but is rated 11lb inferior to Fakir, and receives only 6lb.
Fakir already owns a 15-lengths verdict over the other Willie Mullins’ 11-year-old today, Royal Rendezvous.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.82 Fakir d’Oudairies
GALLYHILL: ROW IN WITH DAVY
⭕ 2.10 Thurles This handicap chase just short of 2m 6f is not a brilliant race for favourites (2-10) but the winner is always well fancied, never more than 7-1 at SP.
Thurles is one of Davy Russell’s top four home tracks for winners. He’s won this race off top weight before and now rides a big galloping sort in Gallyhill.
After Gallyhill failed to finish three times in a row for Nicky Henderson, he moved to Gordon Elliott, who has had him in the frame for four consecutive starts over shorter and now moves him back up in trip.
Galon De Vauzelle, Broomfields Jeremy, Carrolls Cottage and Stumptown are all maidens over fences.
The veteran R’eveyln Pleasure has won only once in the last two years but likes the course (Thurles form: 322).
BETDAQ value 4.1 Gallyhill
POPOVA AND OPPOSE JOHNNY!
⭕ 3.40 Thurles Things rarely go right for Hey Johnny (he’s 1-9), though he did race as if back to himself in the Moscow Flyer last week.
New Ross fought hard for his CD strike in December. Has his ground again today after a break but is up in the weights.
The ground also suits another CD winner, Popova, and Rock On Cassie, who couldn’t handle the mud in better company after scoring at Punchestown a year or so back.
BETDAQ value 6.8 Popova, 9.8 Rock On Cassie
ANOTHER BOOST FOR BOUGHEY
⭕ TODAYS’ NAP: Princess Nieve (2.15 Newcastle) Stepped up in trip for man-of-the-moment George Boughey. Short of room when well backed at Kempton last week.
Going Underground is 1-18, with his best form over shorter. Liberated Lad scooted home at Southwell on Friday but was entitled to, getting a stone from the runner-up, an eight-race maiden.
BETDAQ value 3.3 Princess Nieve
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.40 Thurles (win 12)
BET 6.5pts win FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES
2.10 Thurles (win 12)
BET 4pts win GALLYHILL
2.15 Newcastle (win 12 nap)
BET 5.4pts win PRINCESS NIEVE
3.40 Thurles (win 20, win 12)
BET 2.25pts win ROCK ON CASSIE
BET 2pts win POPOVA
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