ANOTHER BIG-RACE WIN FOR DAQMAN: Daqman was spot on with his prediction that Fakir d’Oudairies (WON 7-4) would win the big race in Ireland yesterday, though it might have been a close-run thing had the leader, Haut En Couleurs, not fallen at the last.
JUMPS BACK AFTER MISSING A WEEK: Ffos Las is on today – first jumps card for a week – and the only problem is fog at Kempton (abandoned), so there is hope of milder weather and stronger racing at Gowran Park, then Doncaster and the Cheltenham Trials. Previews every day.
MARK-YOUR-CARD PREVIEWS
⭕ 2.15 Gowran Park, Thursday (Galmoy Hurdle) Second in the Mares Hurdle (Benie Des Dieux 2020); second and third in the Stayers Hurdle (Mourad 2011 and Alpha Des Obeaux 2016).
That’s the best of the Cheltenham hurdles results in the decade by winners of Thursday’s Galmoy Hurdle.
But Presenting Percy, who landed a Galmoy double (2018-19), used the first of those wins as a prelude to his RSA victory at the festival.
Winning trainers (10 years): Mouse Morris, Tony Martin and Patrick Kelly 2 each. Jockeys: Davy Russell 3, Bryan Cooper and Paul Townend 2 each.
Graded winners have a 75% strike rate, which boosts the chances on Thursday of Beacon Edge, Darasso, Delta Work, Summerville Boy and Teahupoo.
⭕ 3.25 Gowran Park, Thursday (Thyestes Chase) Longhouse Poet, who is nominated for the Galmoy, won this Thyestes last year. Runner-up Franco De Port is a likely starter in the Thyestes.
Djakadam ran second in the Gold Cup after winning it in 2015; On His Own (2012), who doubled up in the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse a month later, was also runner-up in the Gold Cup.
At the start of the century it was the launch pad to Grand National glory, with Hedgehunter (2004) and Numbersivalverde (2005) winning in consecutive years.
Winning trainers in the last 10 years: Willie Mullins 4, Gordon Elliott 2.
CHELTENHAM TRIALS DAY SATURDAY
11.40 Cheltenham (Grade-2 Triumph Trial)
12.40 Cheltenham (Cross-Country)
1.15 Cheltenham (CotswoldChase)
2.25 Cheltenham (Grade-2 Cleeve Hurdle)
3.15 Doncaster (Great Yorkshire Chase) (3m)
3.35 Cheltenham (Grade-1 Clarence House Chase, transferred from Ascot)
Daqman previews every day
FOLLOW BIG-HITTER BILLY
⭕ 4.20 Wolverhampton today The 16-year-old jockey find Billy Loughnane is heading for America in February and trainers are so anxious to use his talent – and particularly his claim – he has six booked rides on the Wolver card today.
He will surely want to teach the other boys a lesson on Hit Mac in this apprentice-only race.
Billy was beaten a short-head on Hit Mac at Southwell by Mehmo, a winner since, and missed a winner when the four-year-old scored here at Wolver a week back. So a lot riding on Hit Mac here.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.31 Hit Mac
NEW TRIP SUITS EQUINUS
⭕ 3.30 Ffos Las Rocky Man was held over the CD in the mud here in December, after scoring at Wetherby on good to soft; not even in his French career could he win on soft-heavy.
No Tackle likes plenty of cut but beat nothing well on heavy ground here in December, and must improve.
Whitehotchillifili has chance of a place. She has raced in higher class, and is now 10lb below the mark she earned for scoring in a Sandown Listed just over a year back.
In late 2020, she was giving 15lb when runner-up to Emmpressive Lady at Sandown. But Emmpressive Lady has scored twice since, while Whitehotchillifili has struggled.
The lady may not be so impressive today after almost a year off and following wind surgery, so may need the run. Sabbathical’s best form is at 2m.
Amid all this negative stuff, it may be worth taking a chance on Equinus. Outpaced runner-up at Chepstow (2m), Equinus is related to quality horses who needed 3m and more.
BETDAQ value 4.8 Equinus
MAKE MINE MATERIAL GIRL
⭕ 4.30 Ffos Las Prince Des Fichaux has never been out of the first four but never really threatened to win a race. That he has top weight in this says a lot about the others!
Navegaon Gate is a similar, but more long term, loser and the dual heavy-ground winner at Ffos Las, the mare Pageant Material, is preferred, with Isabel Williams in the saddle.
Can she catch Shot Boii, who is raised 11lb for landing a hat-trick? His good form actually started over Ffos Las CD a year ago but he was running off 86 then; now he’s on 102.
BETDAQ value 9.6 Pageant Material
DAQMAN’S BETS
3.30 Ffos Las (win 10)
BET 2.5pts win EQUINUS
4.20 Wolverhampton (win 10, nap)
BET 7.5pts win HIT MAC
4.30 Ffos Las (win 15)
BET 1.75pts win PAGEANT MATERIAL
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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.
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