NATIONAL NEEDS GOLD INJECTION: For once, blind-faith punters got it right. They made I Am Maximus favourite for their favourite race and he duly won the Grand National. The Gold Cup doesn’t have the same appeal but Daqman argues that confirmation is still needed that the National is gold standard.
GROUP 3 ACTION LEOPARDSTOWN: Daqman previews two of the three Group 3 races on the card where Derby favourite Pierre Bonnard is in action.
MAXIMUS IS MADE OF GOLD..
THERE is always a story about the winner. Every journalist knows that the Grand National produces year on year.
But, not content with celebrating yesterday’s victory by I Am Maximus (pictured below), winner in 2024 and second last year, the headlines are already being written for 2027.
He will likely be prepared for a third Aintree success, the first since Red Rum (1973, 74 and 77), who was also second twice (1975 and 1976).
Tiger Roll (2018-19) did the National double recently. Otherwise you have to remain in the Seventies for any challenge to Red Rum’s crown.
In fact, a horse called ‘the snail’, L’Escargot, beat Red Rum at Aintree aged 12 in 1975, having spent his career winning Gold Cups (1970 and 71). In my opinion that makes him the best horse to have won the National.
I Am Maximus will now have a rating to rival current Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior, from the same Willie Mullins stable, and it would be confirmation that the National has achieved class and quality if Maximus were to win Cheltenham gold.
As Flat racing gets into full swing at Newmarket on Tuesday, jumping addicts will spend their summer debating which of Willie’s champions does which double next Spring.
TOMORROW: Newmarket preview
BLUE TO POWER HOME
⭕ 3.55 Leopardstown (Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes Group 3) The first of three consecutive Group 3’s on the card and by far and away the most competitive of them on the Betdaq Betting Exchange.
Aidan O’Brien is in fair early season form – three winners from 17 runners over the last 14 days but when you filter down to those sent off favourite his form figures are 62131.
The Ballydoyle maestro sends out four of the 11 runners here and it looks a coin flip as to who will start favourite between Dorset (Jack Cleary) and Flushing Meadows (Ryan Moore).
The official ratings make Dorset 3lb superior on their two-year-old form but Flushing Meadows probably has the more scope for improvement on just his fourth racecourse appearance. He was however soundly beaten in his final start which came here in July when brushed aside by North Coast.
There’s no doubting that Power Blue brings the best form into the race on his first start for trainer Robson De Aguiar. He caused an upset last season when winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh beating O’Brien’s 1/4 chance True Love (favourite for the next race at 4.25pm) and given he should see out this extra trip looks the value play at around 8.5 for a WIN 20 return on the morning Betdaq.
PIERRE STILL SUPERIOR
⭕ 4.55 Leopardstown P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes Group 3) Aidan O’Brien first won this in 1999 with Cupid and made it a dozen wins last year with Delacroix.
He sends out a quartet of runners here headed, by Pierre Bonnard who resumes rivalry with A Boy Named Susie who he beat by two lengths in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud but is now 5lb worse off.
The margin that day probably flattered A Boy Named Susie as the winner seemed to have plenty in hand and I fully expect him to confirm the form and advertise further his Derby claims for which he currently heads the Betdaq Sportsbook market at 4/1.
At bigger odds the Joseph O’Brien trained James J Braddock is up in class but impressed when winning a heavy ground maiden at the Curragh in November. He won’t lack in the stamina department and has place prospects.
EL CLASICA!
⭕ 5.15 Musselburgh William Haggas has yet to hit top form with his last four favourites all being beaten so there’s a chance that Sea Force might just need this on his first start for 207 days.
Noche Clasica also has a break to overcome but trainer Edward Bethell is in great early season form (4 winners from last 12 runners) and the filly has plenty of class as she proved when runner-up in a class 2 at Ascot last September.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
3.55 Leopardstown (win 20)
BET 2.6pts win POWER BLUE
★ 4.55 Leopardstown (win 10, nap)
BET 10.0pts win PIERRE BONNARD
5.15 Musselburgh (win 10)
BET 2.5pts win NOCHE CLASICA
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