A FAMOUS DOUBLE AT FAIRYHOUSE: Daqman checks out the Fairyhouse trials yesterday, featuring a famous double in the Hattons Grace and the Drinmore for the Gordon Elliott stable, and finds one to follow for his Fortune Cookies, which will be reviewed later in the week.
TODAY: A quiet day with just Wolverhampton keeping the show going. Daqman’s first bet runs in the 6.00.
VALUE IS YOUR CUP OF TEA
Will they ever learn. Punters who ignore the new form and stick with the old don’t get value and they don’t get winners.
Though Fastorslow had ousted Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs from his throne at Punchestown in April at 20-1, Fastorslow still had few friends at 9-1 SP (11 in the morning on BETDAQ) to beat him again over the same course last month. In fact, the form was confirmed to within half a length or so.
Yesterday Teahupoo, who was 20-1 when he soured the career of 11-4 ON Honeysuckle in the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse a year ago, returned to the same course for the same event and inflicted the first ever defeat on 5-4 ON favourite, Impaire Et Passe.
It was a huge strike for Gordon Elliott, his second big winner of the day after Farren Glory took the Royal Bond, also ridden by Jack Kennedy, and also a case of big value at 11-2 as punters ignored his nine-lengths big–field maiden win a month back.
Farren Glory was short of room and lost his position before two out, and was not fluent when pushed up to renew his challenge.
But the Fame And Glory six-year-old ate up the ground again, once balanced by Kennedy, and I shall nominate him for my Fortune Cookies horses to follow.
Willie Mullins took the other recognised trial, the Drinmore Novices Chase, but his winner, I Am Maximus, scored in a slow time and his jumping needs to improve.
The quietist of quiet starts to the week after the cards at Plumpton and Ayr have fallen victim to the weather and inspections have also been announced for tomorrow’s card at Southwell (inspecting 7.30am), Thursday’s card at Leicester (inspecting 8am Tuesday) and Wincanton on Thursday where they will take a look on raceday at 8am.
It all adds up the first race on Monday not coming until 5pm. Christmas shopping anyone?
The other thing to note is that ALL of the races at Wolverhampton tonight are restricted to jockeys who have ridden under 30 winners so far in 2023.
FAV MAY HAVE MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
⭕ 6.00 Wolverhampton No bet for me here but I was shocked to see Smoky Mountain trading quite so short on the Betdaq Betting Exchange for this maiden. A son of Frankel he brings the best form into the race but doesn’t set the bar overly high for the debutants to aim at. He’s also been off the track for 220 days and in all three of his starts has shown an aversion to the starting stalls. The Sportsbooks were going around 1/3 which might be the worst value I’ve seen for a long time – win or lose.
ARAMIS THE CLASS DROPPER
⭕ 7.00 Wolverhampton I will leave it even later to get involved with the best race on the card (by far) this class 3 fillies handicap. Just the four runners and I am sweet on the chances of Aramis Grey who has run her last 11 races in class 2 and class 1 company. She should welcome the drop in class and returns to a course she does well at. Today’s pilot George Rooke won on her over course and distance last year and she comes into this on the back of a good run at Kempton.
First Of May is 2-2 over course and distance including a win here last time out. That came though in class 5 company and she’s up two rungs of the ladder to a level she’s never competed at before.
Cuban Breeze was ending a long losing run when winning at Chelmsford last time out when scraping home in a bunch finish – neck, neck, neck, neck (how often do you see that?!) to collect a class 4. The five-year-old has plenty of miles on the clock but so far at least has never managed to go back to back.
That leaves Shades Of Summer who hails from a stable in good form (Jane Chapple-Hyam three winners from her last five runners). She needs to bounce back to earlier career form here but is by no means without a chance and I would rate her as the main danger to the selection and nap.
IDOL FAR FROM IDLE
⭕ 7.30 Wolverhampton My final two selections on tonight’s card can only be described as speculative – I thought Ultramarine was opposable here having gone up 4lb for his first win in 21 races last time out.
Brazen Idol looks overpriced. His course and distance record is 122 and he comes into this on the back of an easy win at FFos Las. He’s up the weights and back after a break but I still think could be competitive in this company.
ALI FOR KNOCKOUT BLOW
⭕ 8.30 Wolverhampton Plenty of ‘Placepot’ horses here – ones that you would be confident of putting in for a place but not confident about winning. Problem is there are at least eight in that category and they can’t all be placed 🙁
Prince Ali was only beaten narrowly over course and distance last time out and looks the narrow pick to gain reward for his recent consistency.
DAQMAN’S BETS:
6.00 Wolverhampton (win 10, nap)
BET 5.5pts win ARAMIS GREY
7.30 Wolverhampton (win 20, place 10)
BET 2pts win and 5.0pts place BRAZEN IDOL
8.30 Wolverhampton (win 10)
BET 2.5pts win PRINCE ALI
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