WIN-100 PLUS BIG-RACE DOUBLES: Daqman has big-race doubles today with a single shot at 8.3 in the Spring Cup at Newbury and 1-2-3 in the Scottish Grand National, with BETDAQ offers at 6.2, 11.0 and a win-100 bet at 34.0. Headlines:
REGARD THE GREEN AND GOLD
BIG SHOUT IN THE SPRING CUP
CHAMPION CHALLENGE PAYS OFF: Daqman’s dare (‘Favourite up in smoke’) to lay newly-crowned champion Dan Skelton’s hot-pot at Ayr yesterday paid off when Hoe Joly Smoke was more than 20 lengths sixth at 9-4 yesterday, always market leader. Daqman read the race as Twinjets trying to make all, attacked by Donnacha. They broke clear of the field and finished one-two at 6-1 and 4-1 for a 31.12 CSF.
REGARD THE GREEN AND GOLD
⭕ 3.35 Ayr (Scottish Grand National) The Kim Muir one-two, Willie Mullins’ Road To Home and Ask Brewster, were ruled out this morning by heavy rain at the track.
The Kim Muir fourth, Kim Roque, relished the step up in trip, and was staying on in the closing stages and, ex-French, is used to soft-heavy. But there’s another mile to go today, nearly two miles further than any chase he’s won.
Another to step up when given a trip was heavy-ground Kelso scorer King Of Answers, staying-on runner-up, giving 6lb to the winner, in the NH Challenge Cup (3m 6f) at Cheltenham.
But his 11st 12lb has been carried to Scottish National success only once (Grey Abbey 2004) since Red Rum in 1974, though Paul Nicholls’ Vicente was saddled with 11-10 in 2017.
Nicholls now has Quebecois – Ultima third to Johnnywho – with even more on his plate (11st 13lb) but with Harry Cobden’s assistance.
Confidence indeed today from J P McManus, who has just the one runner, following first, second and fourth (Johnnywho) from his six starters in the Liverpool Grand National.
That lone raider in the green and gold is Montregard, half brother to the gallant Protektorat. He’s fresh after two months off.
Montregard has shot 22lb up the ratings in just five starts over the last year, taking a Grade 3 at Ascot the last day, after running up on the same course (soft) to a subsequent Grade-2 novice winner.
Montregard’s trainer, Tom Lacey, has maintained a strike rate of 20% over five seasons, with 107 winners and – what must have tempted his top owner – a level stakes profit of 104 points!
DAQMAN VERDICT: This was a feast of young stayers reduced to a tea party for Kim Roque, Montregard, Quebecois and King Of Answers, with that last pair ruled out because of their weight.
Famous Bridge who landed me the 2025 Grand National Trial at Haydock, is 6lb lower, and loves heavy ground. Best outsider available from 34.0 up to 39.0 this morning.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 11.0 Montregard, 6.2 Kim Roque and 34 Famous Bridge.
BIG SHOUT IN THE SPRING CUP
⭕ 1.25 Newbury (Fred Darling Stakes) Ralph Beckett, who won this fillies’ Classic trial with once-raced Remarquee (2023), was full of praise when K Sarra won her sole start from a big field at Southwell in November. BETDAQ 10.5 taken.
⭕ 2.00 Newbury (Greenham Stakes) Aidan O’Brien has swerved this colts’ test since his War Secretary finished 28-lengths last of 10 in the 2017 running of the race.
He called in the vet (nothing found) after Albert Einstein, favourite for the Guineas in May, flopped against older horses in the Gladness Stakes.
Plan B today is application of a hood but, if I were the vet, I would stand by with the emasculator. I certainly hope I never see the form-line ‘beaten favourite, hooded’ in past form of a Guineas winner.
I also doubt I will see Zavateri in the line-up at Newmarket, where he lost his unbeaten record, ‘unbalanced’ in the Dewhurst, though his fourth place doesn’t look too bad now that the fifth colt home, Oxagon, has won the Craven Stakes.
Interesting – and worth a pound at 41.0 on BETDAQ this morning – to see Cristian Demuro flying over to ride Aqpan, whose dam is by the French Derby winner, Lawman. Chantilly, here we come!
⭕ 3.10 Newbury (Spring Cup) I kept quiet about it but made up my mind to follow Shout, badly drawn and no chance, drifted, in the Lincoln Handicap. Stall 5 is good; so is the switch to Oisin Murphy. BETDAQ 8.3 taken.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.25 Newbury (win 30)
BET 3pts win K SARRA
2.00 Newbury (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 1.25pts win AQPAN
(3pts to win 12 a place)
BET 4pts to win 10 ZAVATERI
★ 3.10 Newbury (win-50 bull’s-eye nap)
BET 7pts win SHOUT
3.35 Ayr (win 100)
BET 3pts win and place FAMOUS BRIDGE
BET 5pts to win 50 MONTREGARD
BET 6pts to win 30 KIM ROQUE
xxxxxx
Plus 3 x 1pt win doubles with SHOUT
(3.10 Newbury)
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