DUBLIN CHAMPION HURDLE TODAY: Daqman’s six-day gallop of profit after profit (all six days) and nap after nap (five of them) came unstuck in deep ground yesterday when rain ruined plans for the Dublin Festival. Saturday’s Gold Cup card is now run tomorrow. The Champion Hurdle programme goes ahead today but expect more shocks in the mud!
TRUE TEST FOR KENNEDY
⭕ 12.40 Leopardstown LAYS LOGIC Outsiders have won this mares handicap hurdle – just one favourite successful – in the last six seasons, with nine out of 10 winners in the decade carrying less than 11st.
Kimy (2nd) and Disco Dancer (4th) played big parts last year at huge odds (28-1 and 40-1) on soft ground.
Adrienne broke her maiden at Punchestown on soft-heavy and, though aged only four, has been placed over the minimum in Grade 2 (here) and Grade 3 for juveniles the last twice she’s run.
If True Testimony could match her chase rating she would be thrown in here. First-time cheekpieces and Jack Kennedy booked.
Betdaq Betting Exchange morning value: 8.8 True Testimony, 13 Adrienne
DEMAND FOR WESTERN
⭕ 1.10 Leopardstown This 2m 5f+ novice chase has in recent years produced some mighty stars in Faugheen, Monkfish, Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, mainly for Willie Mullins.
Final Demand is reckoned in that mould, Grade-1 novice-hurdle winner at this meeting a year ago and with a hat-trick chalked up over fences.
His champion novice for Mullins at the Punchestown Festival and clear win in the Faugheen at Limerick the last day puts him only a pound in front of Western Fold, his equivalent in the Gordon Elliott camp.
Western Fold is fresh, not seen for three months since the 3m Champion Chase at Down Royal. Has won on heavy. Sure to be in demand.
BETDAQ morning value: 11.5 Western Fold
MULLINS JOCKEY PARADE
⭕ 1.40 Leopardstown The 2m novice hurdle has produced Willie Mullins winners of the top two Cheltenham races in this category with Samcro (2018), Klassical Dream (2019 Supreme), Appreciate It (2021 Supreme), Sir Gerhard (2022), Ballyburn (2024) and Kopek des Borders (2025 Supreme).
Today he has Paul Townend on King Rasko Grey 4.1 on BETDAQ this morning, Mark Walsh (for J P McManus) at 18.5 on Davy Crockett and Harry Cobden on The Reverend at 9.8. All are unbeaten over hurdles.
BE CAREFUL AT 20.0 TWICE
⭕ 2.45 Leopardstown Chase In a race won nine times out of 10 by lightweights, Willie Mullins with Ile Atlantique keeps the weight down for the Kim Muir third Sa Majeste at 20.0 (Cobden for McManus) and Gordon Elliott (with two off 11st 12lb) suppresses Prends Garde A Toi (‘be careful’), also 20.0, who loves it heavy.
RATINGS SAY 9.3 IS VALUE
⭕ 3.20 Leopardstown (Champion Hurdle) How tricky can heavy ground be for the punter?
Well, despite the result of yesterday’s Scilly Isles at Sandown, I’m sure you’d still join me in choosing between odds-on Kitzbuhel and hot mare Kala Conti if the same field of four met each other again. Neither won it; only one finished the course.
But you’ll excuse them as novices, and you’ll take sides between two seeming standouts in a similar situation here, Lossiemouth or Brighterdaysahead, both rated 159, and only a length apart on December form here.
Yet Anzadam (Harry Cobden) is a year younger improver, rated 157, unbeaten on very soft/heavy. BETDAQ 9.3 with the morning offers totalling 100.24%
TIZZARD FOR BIG DOUBLE
⭕ 3.05 Musselburgh (Edinburgh National) Joe Tizzard, who took the Scottish Champion Chase yesterday with JPR One, and is currently four of six, still standing, has better ground for Rock My Way in this.
The Cheltenham NH Chase runner-up, and Scottish Grand National fifth, was impressive in winning the Berkshire National at Ascot.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
12.40 Leopardstown (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 6.5pts win TRUE TESTIMONY
BET 4.25pts win ADRIENNE
1.10 Leopardstown (win 30)
BET 3pts win WESTERN FOLD
BET 2pts RF with FINAL DEMAND
1.40 Leopardstown (win 20 and win 12)
BET 1.2pts win DAVY CROCKETT
BET 1.5pts win THE REVEREND
2.45 Leopardstown (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 2.5pts win SA MAJESTE
BET 2.5pts win PRENDS GARDE A TOI
★ 3.05 Musselburgh (win 20 nap)
BET 8pts win ROCK MY WAY
3.20 Leopardstown (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win ANZADAM
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