IT’S A CLASSIC DAQMAN PREVIEW: The Classics season opens today with a Daqman 1-2-3 on the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and a similar preview of the fillies’ version, 1,000 Guineas tomorrow. Today’s headlines:
GUINEAS ECHO OF THUNDER
GREY IS DOUBLE’S TROUBLE
FIRST-TIME BULLET STRIKE
PLAN IS HUNTING A REPEAT
FOLLY TO IGNORE ASFOORA
GUINEAS ECHO OF THUNDER
⭕ 3.35 Newmarket (2,000 Guineas): TRAINERFORM: Charlie Appleby (Distant Storm and King’s Trail today) has won in three of the last four years, Andrew Balding (Venetian Prince) in two of the last six. Aidan O’Brien (Gstaad) has not scored since 2019.
LAYS LOGIC: The favourite has won just the once (Churchill 6-4 in 2017) as the last decade has produced winners at 10-1, 14-1 and 16-1 (twice). DRAW: Low 1, 3, 4 five wins; high 11, 15, 17 three.
🔢 DAQMAN ORDER IN (with official ratings):
115 BOW ECHO (stall 15) Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, including the Royal Lodge. Sire Night Of Thunder won the Guineas and the Lockinge; dam descended from Dubawi.
115 DISTANT STORM (stall 2) Third in the Dewhurst after good Group-3 win at Newmarket, always looking likely to develop as a three-year-old.
105 AVICENNA (stall 8) Ran on well, two lengths behind Oxagon in the Craven Stakes. Dam’s side (sire Galileo) stamina related and fast pace will suit.
112 OXAGON (stall 10) Frankel colt out of Dubawi mare. Fifth in the Dewhurst. Stable in hot form this year and made all, went clear, in the Craven Stakes.
119 GSTAAD (stall 7) Never out of the first two; won the Coventry Stakes and Breeders Cup Juvenile; and was Dewhurst runner-up. Relatives best as two-year-olds.
112 ALPARSLAN (stall 4) Unhappy at Newmarket in the Dewhurst (sixth) but made all in the Greenham, with Albert Einstein third and once-raced 106 NEEDLE MATCH fourth.
101 KINGS TRAIL (stall 13) By Sea The Stars out of a Dubawi mare, his 2-2 on Kempton AW a stone behind the best here but yard won with similar type in 2024.
109 THESECRETADVERSARY (stall 5) Won well on reappearance. Son of St Mark’s Basilica, who improved at three to win the French Guineas and Derby.
102 VENETIAN PRINCE (stall 11; cheekpieces) fourth of five in the Craven Stakes.
113 POWER BLUE (stall 9) Sprinting type, fifth in the Coventry; won the Phoenix Stakes.
109 INTO THE SKY (stall 3) Another sprinting sort, second in the Mill Reef Stakes.
105 PADRAIG DOWN (stall 12), 95 BILLIECART (stall 6), 84 LORD BRITAIN (stall 14)
Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.2 Bow Echo, 5.6 Distant Storm, 20 Avicenna
GREY IS DOUBLE’S TROUBLE
⭕ 1.45 Newmarket: Double Rush only had to be pushed out to go clear of Coul Angel and Invictus Gold at the Craven meeting.
Penalised 13lb but that does not yet apply and he has to carry a mere 5lb penalty to confirm the form.
Clive Cox ran Diligently, fourth, that day off 86 and now challenges again with the 92-rated Addison Grey, a dashing sort who made his seasonal return at Newbury. BETDAQ 7.1 was worth taking.
FIRST-TIME BULLET STRIKE
⭕ 2.20 Newmarket: Stalls 2, 3, 4, 5 have won six out of nine, using the advantage of the bend but often only narrowly resisting the late surge of rear runners who have struggled to get through.
Mister Winston made all over the straight mile at the Craven meeting – has gate 2 again – but did not impress the handicapper, with just a 5lb rise, and has to improve to catch Royal Hunt Cup runner-up Bullet Point (stall 6), too big at BETDAQ 8.3 this morning.
The William Haggas top-weight won first time out here last season and later scored 11lb higher, going clear at York.
If Mister Winston doesn’t lead, Botanical (gate 5) is on hand to put pace to the race. Any rain would help him dig in.
PLAN IS HUNTING A REPEAT
⭕ 2.40 Thirsk Hunt Cup: Flight Plan is 9lb lower than his winning mark of last year and has again had an April run under Sam James to get him ready for action today. BETDAQ 6.9 taken
Similarly, Mirsky made a reappearance at the 2025 Guineas meeting before landing a quick-fire double here at Thirsk and at Epsom. BETDAQ 8.1.
FOLLY TO IGNORE ASFOORA
⭕ 2.55 Newmarket (Palace House Stakes): Connections say that Aussie ace Asfoora (BETDAQ 5.9) will improve for the run out of stall 11 but this is a big drop from success in Group-1 sprints at Ascot and York (both on firm ground) and ultimately the Abbaye at Longchamp on very soft.
Also on the far side is Beckford’s Folly out of 14, attempting to follow Seven Questions as winner of this as a three-year-old in 2024. BETDAQ 12.0 taken.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.45 Newmarket (win 30)
BET 5pts win ADDISON GREY
BET even 10pt saver DOUBLE RUSH
★ 2.20 Newmarket (win-50 bull’s-eye nap)
BET 6.75pts win BULLET POINT
2.40 Thirsk (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 7pts win MIRSKY
BET 5pts to win 30 FLIGHT PLAN
2.55 Newmarket (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 4.5pts win BECKFORD’S FOLLY
BET 4pts to win 20 ASFOORA
3.35 Newmarket (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 12pts win BOW ECHO
BET 2.5pts win AVICENNA
BET 6pts to win 40 DISTANT STORM
3.45 Punchestown (win 30)
BET 6pts win MONTREGARD
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
Did you know? DAQMAN’s tips are posted each and every day so he’s always on hand to help with your horse racing betting.
