DOUBLE UP DAYS AND SUNDANCE! Daqman goes for a big-race double that straddles the Irish Sea, with Days Hotel in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles and Richard’s Sundance in the Somerset National at Wincanton.
1.50 Wincanton Flat-ace trainer Mick Channon has been teaching the jumps stables a thing or two lately, not just in bumpers – he had winner at Lingfield a fortnight ago – but in chases, mainly courtesy of Loch Ba, who did it again yesterday.
He’s stepped up Spanish Fork markedly in trip today, as would befit a 1m 6f winner on the Flat. Conor O’Farrell, placed on the gelding twice over 2m 1f, is brought back to do the steering: 22.0 on BETDAQ this morning.
2.10 Thurles (Kinloch Brae Chase) Ruby Walsh could be on a treble. chance after Djakadam (1.10) in the opener and Mikael d’Haguenet (1.40) in the novice chase.
However, his mount in this, Tranquil Sea, is hard work and has only ever won in small fields since his Power Gold Cup success more than three years ago now. He’s consistently thereabouts – 10 consecutive in the first five when completing – and has slipped only a few pounds over the years.
But Ruby’s first ride on him will have to be very special to close down the seven and more lengths (plus 3lb) that Roi Du Mee beat him by at Tramore under Barry Geraghty.
Roi Du Mee has been on a roll since Paul Carberry discovered how to ride him: in the first three all the way. That’s how he disposed of Joncol that day at Punchestown and he’s scored three times since.
Carberry rides Foildubh today, hoping to turn around Cork form with Days Hotel over the extra half-mile. Quito De La Roque drops back in trip for the first time in nearly three years and Paul Townend will be hoping for a good pace from Roi Du Mee, Rathlin and Foildubh.
But that all plays into the hands of Days Hotel: his style of running and his stamina-packed breeding (Oscar out of a Strong Gale mare) suggest that he can wait on them here and pounce in the straight.
2.40 Thurles I try not to descend to ‘easy’ naps at odds on, even to extend a sequence, since they too often don’t turn out easy at all. Tarla was a case in point at Cork. It was a champagne occasion to celebrate a rising steeplechase star but the corks stayed in the bottles.
This is Tarla’s chance to redeem herself, with Avondhu Lady already taken care of at Clonmel and Cnoc Seoda trying to climb into Graded company.
Tarla had taken command at Cork when she fell at the last. The third horse, Glibin, beaten 12 lengths, had been 25 behind Tarla at Clonmel.
2.50 Wincanton (Somerset National) All five previous winners of this had already won beyond 3m, and the trip is likely to stretch the morning favourite, Chartreux, a winner up to 2m 4f and losing out twice over 3m as he tired on the run-in.
Dusky Bob was staying on well at Haydock, fourth over 3m 4f, but the old plodder Petitfour was just behind him that day, giving him more than a stone. Petitfour has since run second in the Sussex National.
But Wincanton is not a plodders’ track. It needs a sharp jumping sort, and I prefer Richard’s Sundance, one time Wincanton Cup winner, who bounced back to form in November after a wind operation.
His January form at Wincanton is 213, and he’s had four wins and five seconds on a righthand track (has never scored lefthanded). The 7.2 on BETDAQ this morning looks generous.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 0.9pts win and place SPANISH FORK (1.50 Wincanton)
BET 12pts win (nap) DAYS HOTEL (2.10 Thurles)
LAY 10pts CHARTREUX and BET 3.2pts win and place RICHARD’S SUNDANCE (2.50 Wincanton)
DAQ MULTIPLES 3 x 4pts win doubles and 1pt win treble Days Hotel (2.10 Thurles) and Tarla (2.40 Thurles) with Richard’s Sundance (2.50 Wincanton)
* Daqman’s selections are backed to win 20 points, except in Daq Multiples
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