CALANDAGAN WORLD CHAMPION: Calandagan and the mare Golden Ace have both won in the last 24 hours in a racing roulette of luck and perseverance. Because ‘he’ is a gelding, Calandagan’s career sent him to Tokyo where he took £4.9m for the Japan Cup. Golden Ace had to prove she is a true champion hurdler, ignored at 22-1 as punters were fooled by the form.
ALL FALL DOWN FOR THE ACE
💥 HOW! The Fighting Fifth Hurdle produced a hat-trick of impossibilities at Newcastle yesterday, a lesson to all punters never to say ‘never’.
💥 ONE: they made Constitution Hill 6-4 favourite, though he had fallen twice and in between finished 27 lengths fifth of six.
💥 TWO: They ignored the 25-1 Champion Hurdle winning mare, Golden Ace, and made her 22-1.
💥 THREE: Constitution Hill fell a third time then The New Lion, who led until two out, came down in the ‘exact same’ manner as Constitution Hill and handed the prize to.. Golden Ace!
💥 IMPOSSIBLE: At Newbury another mare, Panic Attack at 16-1, landed the old Mackeson-Hennessy gold cups double, done only once before this century.
CAN DANCER DODGE ROMEO?
⭕ 2.05 Fairyhouse (Drinmore Novice Chase) Next thing we’ll hear is that Dan Skelton will run Panic Attack in the Grand National, two miles further than the first leg of the double she completed yesterday. Surely not?
Well, there’s something of a precedent here from the Drinmore, which is also around two-and-a-half miles: Willie Mullins took it in 2023 with I Am Maximus, who went on to win at Aintree in 2024.
Mullins has two plays in the race today: Gold Dancer (Paul Townend), unbeaten over fences and going for a four-timer (at Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.5) and the Scottish Grand National winner Captain Cody (Harry Cobden), rated only 3lb behind.
Gordon Elliott, who has won the Drinmore eight times, saddles Supreme Novices third, Romeo Coolio, who has had just one run one win over fences, an easy at Down Royal.
BALLYBURN BACK IN GRACE
⭕ 2.36 Fairyhouse (Hattons Grace Hurdle) Willie Mullins’ subsequent Cheltenham Mares Hurdle winner, Lossiemouth, spoiled Teahupoo’s hat-trick bid in this race last year.
Teahupoo can take back the Hattons Grace today without threatening Lossiemouth’s dominance.
But Ballyburn is confirmed for the Stayers Hurdle only a couple of pounds today behind Teahupoo in the ratings, as he resumes his hurdles career after a Grade-1 strike over fences.
Ballyburn won four hurdles in a row in 2023-24, including champion novice events at Cheltenham and Punchestown, and looks worth risking.
RAIN WILL FAVOUR AKIMOS
⭕ TODAY’S NAP (2.25 Leicester): It’s been a good autumn for greys and Akimos (at BETDAQ 5.1) can return to form with the ground in his favour, and with Nicky Henderson firing again after a slow start.
Woodland Park, who returns to the scene of his CD win of last November, made a satisfactory return early in the same month this year.
But he was beaten favourite for the second time on soft ground (all success has been on good to soft), and Leicester expects more rain on forecast soft ground today.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
2.05 Fairyhouse (win 21)
BET 6pts win GOLD DANCER
★ 2.25 Leicester (win 20, nap)
BET 5pts win AKIMOS
2.36 Fairyhouse (win 12)
BET 7pts win BALLYBURN
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