THE CLASSIC FORECASTS FOR 2025: Look out next week for Daqman’s Three-Year-olds of 2025, a ratings compilation of the 2024 season’s top two-year-olds. Last year’s winter list produced Classic winners months in advance, including in the Epsom Derby and Irish 2,000 Guineas (see below).
🇺🇸 BREEDERS’ CUP STARTS TOMORROW: The Breeders Cup juvenile events tomorrow at Del Mar could affect the final table. Daqman will be looking for his usual daily winners, like Catch Him Derry (won 9-4) at Newton Abbot yesterday.
TROY WAS ALWAYS ON TOP
CLASSIC DAQMAN ratings for 2023 had City of Troy rated 8lb higher for this year than was dual Derby winner, Auguste Rodin, when he started his 3yo season.
City of Troy is by US Triple Crown winner Justify out of a Galileo mare, so appropriate he ends his career this weekend in the Breeders Cup Classic at Del Mar.
A right-pointing arrow (>) shows a rise in the rating; left-pointing (<) a fall.
Two-year-old colts of 2023 (for 3yo of 2024)
126>128 CITY OF TROY (Aidan O’Brien) Epsom Derby, Eclipse, International.
115<114 ANCIENT WISDOM (Charlie Appleby) Bahrain Trophy
113>122 ROSALLION (Richard Hannon) Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes
111>113 BIG EVS (Michael Appleby) King George Stakes
109>119 DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (Aidan O’Brien) Meld Stakes, Solonoway Stakes
Two-year-old fillies of 2023 (for 3yo of 2024)
119<115 OPERA SINGER (Aidan O’Brien) Nassau Stakes
113>114 RAMATUELLE (Christopher Head) Prix de la Foret
SUD SET TO SHINE FOR SKELTON
⭕ 2.05 Stratford Dan Skelton has won this twice with big weights, in each case prepping future Cheltenham chase winners, and L’Eau Du Sud looks next in line.
Twice runner-up in major hurdles, the Newbury Hurdle and the County Hurdle, he is the right age to beat old-timer Envious Editor and walking-wounded No Risk Des Flos (wind op and tongue-tie).
Walking On Air, who has left Nicky Henderson, was a useful hurdler but his best form was around 3m and his second in a Newbury chase (2m 6.5f) last December also suggests this is a bit short for him.
THE DAY’S PREMIER PLACE BET
⭕ 2.58 Bath Marcus Tregoning hasn’t had a winner since Tap Dancer scored at Bath three weeks ago and the winning jockey that day, Kieran Shoemark, now has a full book of rides at Chelmsford.
The ground is still in Tap Dancer’s favour but the handicapper was not impressed and he stays on the 70 mark.
Meanwhile, Premier impressed in heavy at Salisbury and when raised to class 2 at Kempton, so much so that the handicapper thinks he is a 70 for his very first handicap! Betdaq Betting Exchange 9.7.
WARFARE ON THE HANDICAPPER
⭕ 3.45 Newcastle The grey King Turgeon went into my horses-to-follow notebook when eased down by Harry Cobden (not too far, Harry!) on a rare ride for David Pipe at Chepstow last week.
Now here’s Harry taking over on Chemical Warfare (four from six) as the seven-year-old climbs 12lb from a Sedgefield double but still able to sneak under the class-4 ceiling.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.05 Stratford (supernap)
BET 20pts win L’EAU DU SUD
2.58 Bath (win 30, place win 6.58)
BET 3.5pts win and place PREMIER
3.45 Newcastle (win 20)
BET 10pts win CHEMICAL WARFARE
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