100-30 NAP UP FOR DAQMAN: Cape Explorer (nap, WON 100-30) at Leicester yesterday was enough to continue Daqman’s winning weekend.
93 POINTS PROFIT IN TWO DAYS: Following five winners on Saturday, his profits total crept up a few more points to 92.90 in the two days.
Frankel’s not a bad horse. That’s me, catching up (I’m finally giving him his due). You see, I’m not one for hype, unless it means I can lay the horse with impunity.
And, once Frankel got beyond both backing and laying, at ridiculous odds like 20-1 on, he no longer retained any interest for me as a punter.
As a spectacle, yes: but I’d much rather see Mo Farrah’s 5,000 metres than Usain Bolt cantering all over them in less than 10 seconds.
The public wants shooting stars. I don’t.
I want something a bit short on rocket fuel but full of grit and courage. Preferably something the other tipsters don’t write about. At around 100-30. That’ll do me fine.
As I was saying, Frankel’s not bad, is he. But it is Excelebration’s victory yesterday in the Prix Jacques Le Marois that has me finally conceding that the hype is warranted.
Until yesterday, the Myth Of Frankel lived largely on his defeat after defeat after defeat after defeat after defeat (boring, isn’t it) of Excelebration.
Only yesterday could it be said assuredly – and I was quite happy to be judged insane over this Usain – that we had evidence in the book that he was the greatest miler, never mind the greatest horse, of his generation.
In winning convincingly at Deauville, with winners of 31 Group races taking part, Excelebration franked Frankel from diamond to platinum.
I can only regret not backing Frankel at 8-13 in his first Sussex Stakes now that, with hindsight, we know he was the 20-1 on winner of the second.
But still, though my silly head says ‘yes, it’s all in the book now,’ my foolish heart says where was Frankel yesterday when we needed him to boss that power mile at Deauville, instead of sitting in his box and leaving his reputation to deputy dawg, Excelebration.
And a bigger puzzle is this: why did Ballydoyle continually bang its head on the brick wall of Frankel’s dominance, running Excelebration at him again and again and again and again?
I think the answer comes in several parts: they always knew Excelebration was a good horse; they thought Frankel might slip up one day; there was simply nowhere else to go. Until yesterday.
Sadly, all this franking of his form, means that we are likely to face another Frankel walk-over in the International at York next week. Frankly, I’m looking forward to the Voltigeur as a better betting race.
Meanwhile, the weekday dross is upon us, and there won’t be much respite from it until the Knavesmire. So head down, Daqman, and try and find another 100-30 nap!
Ffos Las: The threat of thunderstorms is music to the ears of Ralph Beckett, as his soft-ground winner Astra Hall (4.50) attempts the hat-trick.
Circle Of Angels, with one of the season’s jockey finds, James Doyle, in the saddle, is a likely danger but has to step up in trip.
Lingfield: William Haggas seems to have Spithead (2.40) in off a good mark for his first handicap. Spithead has had the ‘snip’ which should help him concentrate on the matter in hand.
The same stable’s Westwiththenight (3.40) is 7.6 on BETDAQ this morning but ran well at Goodwood and is dropped a grade here, which could give her the edge on Roger Varian’s Watheeq.
Wolverhampton: 14 of the last 15 Varian runners have reached the frame, seven of them winners, and he’s averaging nearly 45% success from his few visits to Wolver.
The Jeremy filly Havin’ A Good Time (7.40) sums up his current spree and blinkers first time should see her home this evening.
Thirsk: Applying the blinkers after a horse has been winning usually rings alarm bells for me; the words ‘gone’ and ‘backwards’ could be adjacent in the case of Lupin Pooter (5.50).
However, the dam was transformed by the ‘blinds’ and writing him off could be a mistake, particularly at generous 5.8 offers on BETDAQ this morning.
The consistent Just Like Heaven may be the danger and, after six consecutive runs into the frame, will be the choice of each-way backers at 7.0.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 3pts win WESTWITHTHENIGHT (3.40 Lingfield)
BET 4pts win LUPIN POOTER and 3.3pts win JUST LIKE HEAVEN (5.50 Thirsk)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 3 x 3pts win doubles and 1pt win treble SPITHEAD (2.40 Lingfield), ASTRA HALL (4.50 Ffos Las) and HAVIN’ A GOOD TIME (nap, 7.40 Wolverhampton)
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