SUPERNAP NOW SET FOR NATIONAL: Daqman landed a rare supernap yesterday when Any Second Now (WON 5-4) won his third consecutive stepping-stone to the Grand National. It was his second Webster Cup success after taking the Navan path before finishing third at Aintree in 2021; he was runner-up in the National last year after taking the Bobbyjo as his prep race.
LINCOLN TRAINER IS FLYING HIGH: Four Jumps meetings today – three in England, one in Ireland – and a reminder from Chantilly that the Flat season gets under way this week, with the leading English trainer Michael Appleby absolutely flying. He has four Lincoln handicap entries.
EARLY-BIRD STABLE ON 41
FLAT COUNTDOWN As the Flat gets under way with two Lincoln handicaps – in Ireland on Saturday and Doncaster next week – trainers in form will be paramount for your betting.
Always the early birds, Andrew Balding, William Haggas (both on 28%) and Team Gosden (27%) have shared 42 AW races already this year.
But Rutland trainer Michael Appleby has scored 41 times on his own account and his better horses start to hunt up black type as soon as today in France.
Appleby is leading on AW winners at home but also on prizemoney won. Success in a Listed on turf at Chantilly (3.10) today with Michaela’s Boy would take him past the £400,000 mark.
But others hungry for Spring corn, George Boughey (14 AW winners) and Karl Burke (10), are also in the hunt at Chantilly. Burke is testing juvenile Group form with Lady Hamana, fifth in both the Cornwallis and the Flying Childers in the autumn.
But Proverb for Boughey has already won a Listed in France, at Longchamp in October, beating Lady Hamana two and a half lengths into fourth. Can she turn the tables, 4lb better because of Proverb’s penalty?
Joining his Newmarket party are Love Affairs (Amy Murphy) along with Rogue Lightning (Tom Clover).
But Boughey has pinched top riders for the day, with Mickael Barzalona on Proverb and Maxime Guyon booked for his second string, Perdika, who has had four races in Meydan this year.
Lincoln Handicap entries for the Chantilly raiders are: Fame And Acclaim, Laredo, Lion’s Dream and Zealot for Appleby.
Air To Air, Baradar, Koy Koy and Totally Charming for George Boughey. Eilean Dubh for Karl Burke and Magical Morning for Amy Murphy.
Meanwhile, the big yards in England and Ireland are laying plans for major May targets in France.
Would you believe that the first five Group-1 races over there for the whole of last May were won by English or Irish runners.
STICK WITH LILITH
⭕ 3.15 Market Rasen disappointing single digit field sizes in all the races at Market Rasen today and quick ground can’t be blamed as it’s soft! Too much racing?
Just a quartet of mares here but it does at least look competitive on the Betdaq Betting Exchange.
Lilith is in a nice patch of form and loves the soft ground. She’s up three pounds for her latest success at Carlisle but the form of that win (also in a four runner event) has taken a huge boost with the subsequent wins of runner-up La Renommee and the fourth Haute Estime.
That looks good enough but as I said it is still competitive. Hawthorn Cottage has done most of her racing on better ground and despite the juxtaposition of a heavy ground win her overall form does seem better on a quicker surface.
Similar comments can apply to Whatsdastory who was a good to firm winner on her first start of this season but comes from the Dr Richard Newland stable that are doing well at present.
Beware the outsider of four they (don’t) say but Lady Of The Night could be our biggest threat. Her last win came on soft ground at Fontwell but after a 276 day break she only got as far as the fourth at Southwell last November before unseating her rider and has been off the course since.
NEW HEIGHTS FOR SUBLIME
⭕ 3.35 Plumpton Sublime Heights can land what is now also a four-runner race with Eureka Creek being a non runner.
The seven-year-old is bidding for a course and distance hat-trick after wins in January and February with the visor seemingly bringing about improvement.
He now needs to do it again off an eight pound higher mark and on softer ground too which isn’t so much of a concern as he does have bits and pieces of soft ground form.
He was value for more than his 11 length win here last time and can see off Old Painless (unproven over trip), Innisfree Lad (up in weights after recent second looks harsh for the 11-year-old) and Tommie Beau (gets help from handicapper and many be the biggest danger).
RAFFLES WORTH A TICKET
⭕ 4.35 Wetherby Great Raffles looks the safest bet given his recent consistent form, all with give in the ground.
Micky Hammond’s runner was a close up course and distance third last time out in what looked a stronger heat and Sean Bowen takes over in the saddle today from the conditional pilot Emma Smith-Chaston.
Heritier De Sivola was a beaten favourite over course and distance last time but ran well enough to take second and should go close again but the overall current form of the Kirby stable is a slight concern.
DAQMAN’S BETS
3.15 Market Rasen (win 10, nap)
BET 5pts win LILITH
3.35 Plumpton (win 10)
BET 4.4pts win SUBLIME HEIGHTS
4.35 Wetherby (win 10)
BET 3.3pts win GREAT RAFFLES
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