SPOT THE BETDAQ BARGAINS AT KEMPTON PARK: The strongest card of the day is at Kempton Park tonight, when Betdaq sponsor four races, all analysed by Daqman, all available for exchange betting throughout the day. Be a bargain spotter with Daqman!
It’s not just me, then. Simultaneously, and presumably coincidentally, Frankie Dettori – ‘we are far too centred on Saturday’ – and Richard Hannon, talking about the ‘shambolic clash’ of Saturday fixtures, are telling the Racing Post that those who serve up our racing are draining all the gravy into one weekly dish.
There was a time, in the first year of this column, when I picked 100 winners a month: you can only do that when you have confidence in the form, and you can’t have confidence in poor quality horses in poor quality races.
You get the impression now that – apart from the few festivals- midweek racing is a desert with the oases of sponsorship the only greenery among the dunes of maidens, maidens, maidens and class-6 dross.
The other trend is to night racing and I find myself more and more drawn to an evening fixture. It’s noticeable today that there are just two races higher than class-5 this afternoon (one each at Catterick and Bath) but three on one card at Kempton Park tonight, when only the odd race is class-6.
It’s a useful situation for punters: you have plenty of time to price up (decide what odds you think each horse should be) and take a position as the early markets form on Betdaq, giving yourself ample elbow room for adjustment with more bets and lays later on, when the offers settle down.
6.20 Kempton (betdaq.com Every Wednesday At Kempton Park Apprentice Handicap) Peter Winkworth won this last year and his mare, Foxtrot Alpha, was in great heart in June, making all at Brighton last time and well drawn to force the pace again.
She has 7lb more to carry here but is still reasonably well handicapped on a line through Woolston Ferry, who was behind her over course and distance six weeks ago. Towy Boy, Tubby Isaacs, Valmina and Abriachan have never won beyond 6f and Yanbu has never won (full stop).
Paphos ran well here over shorter last time and now returns to his winning distance. I take him to beat Foxtrot Alpha and Anjomarba, a consistent sort but yet to prove himself on the Kempton surface.
7.20 Kempton (betdaq.com Exchange Price Multiples Handicap) Three-year-olds have so far dominated in this race – two wins out of two – and look well placed again this year.
Andrew Balding (King Ferdinand), Barry Hills (Squires Gate), Marco Botti (Firstknight) and James Fanshawe (Great Acclaim) are all in good form, while David Pinder, with the grey French winner Dream Catcher, is usually the man to be on in this type of race here (50% record).
All are reasonably well drawn, so no help there, then. King Ferdinand is in the worst position among the quintet in seven but he easily crossed over from eight (of eight) to score here last time and looked ready for this step up a grade, a move which has caught out both Firstknight and Great Acclaim, though that one now has the hood back on.
King Ferdinand may be joined in the lead by Dream Catcher and Squires Gate, who coasted in front on the soft at Haydock last autumn and had a fair run back in May.
Zip Lock is intriguing among the older horses, with David Elsworth suddenly popping one or two in. A Kempton winner over 7f, with Kieren Fallon riding again, though the partnership tailed off here last time.
7.50 Kempton (Lay Back And Win at betdaq.com Handicap) Money Money Money? Maybe; she hasn’t gone up much for her success but, strictly, the mare now has another CD-winner Kavaloti weighted to beat her, after their close battle last time.
However, so open do backers and layers think this is, offers started at 7.8 (Kavaloti) early doors, with three others then on 8.2, as I write. Open race or what!
I’m intrigued that Tim Etherington has brought consistent Boston Blue down from the North, dropped in grade and with Jamie Spencer booked. Red Courtier, who broke his maiden on this course, and Spice Fair are also dropped from class-4.
Red Courtier looked unlucky when hampered at Sandown last time and, since I first looked at the offers, has moved to head the market at 6.8. I’m dutching that one and Kavaloti.
8.20 Kempton (Betdaq Mobile Apps Handicap) Spyder might be worth a pound as a back-and-lay, taking the 15.5 or so I saw this morning and getting out in running if you can. Takes a keen hold.
But, now that he’s had a couple of runs, and should be ready, True To Form could revert to the tactics which saw him lead for the last mile at Wolverhampton in September.
Offers went haywire due to the sudden withdrawal of Haljaferia at the time of writing, when I was hoping to check out Conducting.
This one has slid down the grades from Listed class and might do better today.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 5.5pts win BATALEUR (2.10 Bath)
BET 0.9pts win and place RANGEFINDER (3.20 Catterick)
BET 1.6pts win EMRANI (4.10 Bath)
BET (to win 20pts): 7.8pts win (nap) PAPHOS and 1.9pts win (stakes saver) FOXTROT ALPHA (6.20 Kempton)
CHECK LATEST ODDS / PLACE BET ON BETDAQ BELOW
BET 1pt win and place SQUIRES GATE and 1.4pts win (saver) KING FERDINAND (7.20 Kempton)
BET 3.4pts win RED COURTIER and 3pts win KAVALOTI (7.50 Kempton)
