DAQMAN IN TOP FORM FOR CHELTENHAM: Two winners out of three yesterday on the eve of Cheltenham, with the nap subject of a gamble from the morning even-money. His profit was boosted to 58.70 in yet another winning weekend.
MONDAY: Profit on the day: 14.90 points
WON 8-13 CRIMSON RAMBLER (evens on BETDAQ)
WON 7-4 WALKINTHEPRESENT
SUNDAY: Profit on the day: 10.80 points
WON 12-1 THE LOVELY MAN (Leinster National) BETDAQ 21.0
SATURDAY: Profit on the day: 33 points
WON 11-5 CALIMYSTIC (nap)
WON 3-1 THE LOST KING
WON 9-2 SCORPIO RISING
O’BRIEN TALKING HORSE
⭕ 1.20 Cheltenham (Supreme Novices Hurdle) They parked the bus! Nicky Henderson (Old Park Star) and Willie Mullins (Mighty Park) led the market in a race won seven years running by horses at between 4-6 and 6-1 SP.
But, though Mullins has trained eight of the 16 Irish scorers, Mighty Park was a big drifter this morning.
Old Park Star (compared by his trainer to Shishkin) and Joseph O’Brien’s Talk The Talk (‘a very exciting horse’ he says) fulfil the stats of last-day winners having taken a Graded contest after starting their career in bumpers.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 3.55 Old Park Star, 6.1 Talk The Talk
16.0 COULD BE BIG STEEL
⭕ 2.00 Cheltenham (Arkle Challenge Trophy) Steel Ally is a year or two older than the usual winning age for this (excepting Edwardstone’s winning at eight in 2022).
But he has a big edge over the favourites, having the stamina to score at 19 furlongs, winning readily at Ascot with Jax Junior behind.
He’s won all three of his chases, including defeat by 27 lengths of Mambonumberfive in the Kingmaker at Warwick.
As ever, Willie Mullins (Kopek Des Bordes (pictured below) and Kargese) gives himself the advantage of running two or more.
While Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba was narrowly beaten in the Triumph Hurdle, but Kopek Des Bordes won the Festival key to many a top chaser’s future, the Supreme Novices Hurdle. He’s had only one chase in public but has dazzled in racecourse schooling.
The mare Kargese, a tough nut in receipt of 7lb, was beaten a neck by Romeo Coolio in the Irish Arkle.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.48 Kopek Des Bordes, 16 Steel Ally
KENNEDY BOOKING IS KEY
⭕ 2.40 Cheltenham (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) The Irish have won eight in a row but it’s not a race for Willie Mullins or for favourites (1-15).
Winston Junior is likely to be close to the front of the market after winning at Ascot in a canter, and has Jack Kennedy booked in spite of runners for Gordon Elliott here.
Harry Cobden did the steering that day at Ascot but is wanted for Pourquou Pas Papa, on whom he trotted up at Wincanton (17 ran) with the runner-up slamming an 18-runner field there next time.
‘Papa’ is 6lb better with Manlaga for around two lengths on their one-two in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock.
As well as Manlaga, J P McManus has Saratoga, half-brother to a Derby winner, and Mustang Du Breuil, stamina bred, but doubtful for this until Nicky Henderson managed to squeeze a late-February run into him.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 7.7 Winston Junior, 26 Pourquoi Pas Papa
JAGWAR READY TO POUNCE
⭕ 3.20 Cheltenham (Ultima Handicap Chase) Twelve of the last 15 winners had run at a previous Cheltenham Festival.
Jagwar and Iroko give birthday-boy J P McManus a very strong hand; he’s 75 today. Jagwar won the Plate last March and, on breeding, this step up in trip should suit.
It should also help the Turners 2024 fifth and last year’s Grand National fourth, Iroko, but he would prefer soft ground.
Pulled up at Aintree that day was Hyland, now 9lb better with Iroko, and 13lb well in with Resplendent Grey, though he beat that one at Cheltenham as a seven-year-old.
Pipped a neck in the Kim Muir last March, Johnnywho was third in the Ascot Silver Cup in December, with Hyland (rec 2lb) fourth. Hyland now gets another pound and has first-time cheekpieces.
Myretown won the Ultima last year (The Short Go fifth) from a 127 mark, a big weight advantage. Quebecois represents the race sponsors.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.5 Jagwar, 13.5 Hyland
LION IS THE NEW CHAMPION
🏆 4.00 Cheltenham (Champion Hurdle) Improvers The New Lion and Alexei must each give 7lb to the three mares, Brighterdaysahead, Golden Ace and Lossiemouth.
Golden Ace was underrated last year when winning off 144 but is still only sixth in this year’s assessment (152).
Two of the three fronting the 2025 market both fell and the third (Brighterdaysahead) was badly hampered by one of the fallers.
Brighterdaysahead was beaten only a length by Lossiemouth at Leopardstown in December, then beat that one easily, back there for the Irish Champion Hurdle.
The New Lion, who took the 2025 Turners, and was back to form at Cheltenham the last day, was winning the Fighting Fifth in November when falling two out, gifting the race to lucky-again Golden Ace.
Alexei is 3-4 (up 21lb) since November, taking the Kingwell on heavy but starting that sequence on good. Against him is that 13 champions out of the 16 had previously won a Grade-1.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 3.95 The New Lion, 20.0 taken ante-post Alexei (see Monday Daqman)
PEAKY CAN RUN A BLINDER
⭕ 4.40 Cheltenham (Plate) Winning weights of 11st 5lb or less (15 in a row) but with the cut-off point a 139 rating.
Autumn Gold Cup fourth, then December Gold Cup runner-up in 2024, Madara has been brought back for this by Britain’s top stable.
Golden Miller third and Silver Trophy second last year, O’Moore Park has also been targeted at a revival today.
Yet another on the comeback trail is Peaky Boy, who was 1113 at Cheltenham in 2024. That third place was when giving a lump of weight to Haiti Couleurs.
Pertemps sixth, Will The Wise has been running over further (fourth in the Troytown) since two cracking runs at Galway in the autumn.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.8 Madara, 25 O’Moore Park, 37 Peaky Boy
‘BACK’ BEST FOR THE IRISH
⭕ 5.20 Cheltenham (NH Challenge Cup) Irish trainers are 5-6 since the distance was reduced, the last five winners all a short price.
Backmersackme finished like a stayer here, runner-up to Three Card Brag in a big field in the autumn (going good) and deserves to be the Irish favourite
Last year’s winning trainer Rebecca Curtis (with Haiti Couleurs) saddles Newton Tornado but he fell on his only visit to Cheltenham.
Wade Out beat One Big Bang on this old course in November but makes a weight concession all round.
Grand Geste won the Grand National trial at Haydock last time out and is up 16lb since taking the Tommy Whittle there in December.
Guard The Moon (I took 50-1) and Silver Thorn are the right age, have won at 3m and will like the ground.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 6.6 Backmersackme, 21.0 Grand Geste, 49 Guard The Moon
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.20 Cheltenham (win 20 each)
BET 7.5pts win OLD PARK STAR
BET 4pts win TALK THE TALK
2.00 Cheltenham (win 30)
BET 2pts win STEEL ALLY
BET 7pts to win 10 KOPEK DES BORDES
2.40 Cheltenham(win-50 bull’s-eye bet )
BET 7.5pts win WINSTON JUNIOR
BET 2pts win POURQUOI PAS PAPA
★ 3.20 Cheltenham (win 25)
BET 7pts win JAGWAR (nap)
BET 2pts win HYLAND
4.00 Cheltenham (win 40, win 15)
BET 2pts win ALEXEI
BET 5pts win THE NEW LION
4.40 Cheltenham (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 2pts win O’MOORE PARK
BET 1.4pts win PEAKY BOY
BET 4pts to win 20 MADARA
5.20 Cheltenham (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 9pts win BACKMERSACKME
BET 2.5pts win GRAND GESTE
BET 1pt win and place GUARD THE MOON
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