18-1 DAQMAN STRIKE WAS BETDAQ 24.0: It’s another big weekend for the inimitable Daqman. After his winning supernap on Friday, he had a huge one-two in the Grand National Trial at Haydock with the 18-1 scorer and second at 16-1, made even bigger by the bounty of 24.0 BETDAQ offers taken about the winner.
WON 18-1 QUICK WAVE BETDAQ 24.0; Haydock Grand National Trial
(2nd 16-1 Snow Leopardess in the same race)
WON 10-3 IRISH HILL BETDAQ 6.3; Samarrive 3rd 12-1 same race
16-12 OVER PRICEWISE: 154 POINTS UP: Daqman v Pricewise has been close-run in the season so far but Daqman’s Saturday double sent him into a 16-12 lead, 154 points clear of his Racing Post rival to level stakes.
SNOW WARNING FOR WEIGHTS
Tricky Nicky strikes again. Trainer Henderson switched his labouring former two-mile champion, Shishkin, to 2m 5f yesterday, and he romped home 16 lengths in the Ascot Chase.
It was a blow to Paul Nicholls’ Ryanair Chase hopes with Pic D’Orhy, who did everything right in second, beating last year’s winner of the race, Fakir D’Oudairies.
But Shishkin seemed even better than his old self: powerful, jumping well, stamina packed.. Not bad for one who was suspect beyond two miles.
Pic D’Orhy will swerve a rematch at Cheltenham and run instead at Aintee, where we might also see Fakir D’Oudairies.
Venetia Williams’ Grand National Trial favourite, Fontaine Collonges, blew out but she had first and third with Quick Wave and Cloudy Glen.
However, Grand National punters should note the ‘whether’ warning for runner-up, Snow Leopardess, beaten less than a length.
She was returning to top-class form for the first time since winning the 2021 Becher Chase over the Aintree fences.
Leopardess would surely go to Aintree if she could be running off yesterday’s mark, 9lb below her last year’s National weight.
But whether she goes for the National depends on Tuesday’s weights conference; that’s the ‘whether’ warning’. Tuesday is her next big day!
DAWN OF A NEW STAYING MARE
⭕ 2.10 Punchestown (Grand National Trial) Of the last two winners of this, The Big Dog (2021) was barking his chances in the autumn with his Troytown win, followed by third in the Welsh Grand National.
He likes soft ground but not heavy, which may be why he weakened out of this Punchestown trial last year when it was won by Death Duty from Champagne Platinum.
The Big Dog had his revenge in the Troytown, beating Death Duty 18 lengths, Coko Beach fourth. That sets the scene for a lower-level renewal today.
Death Duty has to give age away now – he’s 12 – and his trainer, Gordon Elliottt, has four runners altogether.
The Punchestown card on the last day of the old year points up Angels Dawn, only seven that day, when she just failed to beat Notice To Close.
Cian Quirke retains the ride after he then landed Angels Dawn home at Down Royal (3m) last month, so he’s lower than the long handicap here!
Diol Ker, big-field runner-up in the Grade-2 at Leopardstown (3m) over Christmas, has twice tried a marathon trip like today’s 3m 4f and failed.
CAST-IRON MUSSELBURGH NAP
⚠️ HEADS UP There’s no super Sunday in England; two fairly substantial meetings have been ruined by the ground.
Newbury has three races of only two or three runners, the entry shattered by the firm going; Musselburgh has two similar ‘events’, the meeting sunk in the mud (going soft, good to soft in places).
⭕ 1.50 Musselburgh Gavin Cromwell hasn’t had a Musselburgh runner for nearly four years when he had a 50% record there.
He sends over the mare Clairmc, dropping back in trip, with Jonathan Burke booked for his only ride of the day.
⭕ 3.35 Newbury Fingers crossed for eight runners. I fancy a bit each way Sister Sophie (Betdaq Betting Exchange 13.5), suited by the ground and up in trip to 3m for the first time for Christian Williams, who won with Cap Du Nord at Ascot yesterday.
⭕ 3.55 Musselburgh Hard Iron has effortlessly found the pin for skilful placing by Nicky Richards. No sign of his run coming to an end.
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.50 Musselburgh (win 10)
BET 5.5pts win CLAIRMC
2.10 Punchestown (win 12)
BET 4.25pts win ANGELS DAWN
3.35 Newbury (win 12)
BET 1pt win and place SISTER SOPHIE
3.55 Musselburgh (win 10 nap)
BET 5.5pts win HARD IRON
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