6.8 BETDAQ WINNER WAS 11-4 SP: TWO winners for Daqman edged him in front on the opening day of the Aintree Festival yesterday, not counting – because not staked – his 1-1 Lays Logic against Grey Dawning.
Aintree first day: profit 6.50
WON 11-4 MURCIA BETDAQ 6.8 taken
WON 5-4 LOSSIEMOUTH
WON (Lay) GREY DAWNING 2nd 9-4
BIG OFFERS ABOUT MULLINS TODAY: Four winners in a row yesterday for Willie Mullins as he chases Dan Skelton’s lead in the trainer’s championship but his 12 Aintree runners today included some big, big offers on the BETDAQ exchange at 9am:
*1.45 Dancing City 4.4, Quai De Bourbon 11.0
*2.20 Kopeck De Mee 9.3
*2.55 Salvator Mundi 4.5, Karbau 58.0
*3.30 El Fabiolo 3.75
*4.05 Blue Lord, 9.0, James Du Berlais 12.5, Gentleman Du Mee 34.0, Glengouly 36.0, Adamantly Chosen 74.0,
*4.40 Argento Boy 10.0
CONFIDENCE IN HANDSTANDS
⭕ 1.45 Aintree (Mildmay Novices Chase): You’re past it when you’re eight in a top novices event; it’s as old as 80 to these future stars.
And, though it’s a race that set up the Tizzard stable – Native River (2016) and Lostintranslation (2019) – The Changing Man, one of three aged eight with another aged 10, is a stone behind the likely match race between Handstands and Caldwell Potter.
The Changing Man was second in the Ultima at Cheltenham, while Stellar Story was second in the Brown Advisory and Caldwell Potter won the Golden Miller.
With Cheltenham winners Jango Baie and Putyourhandstogther both turned over yesterday, it adds to confidence behind Handstands, who swerved the festival to run here. BETDAQ 3.85.
BE AWARE OF SKELTON’S FORM
⭕ 2.20 Aintree Another placed at Cheltenham, Impose Toi, looks in for a hiding off 12st. There has been no winner in the decade set more than 11st 4lb.
Dan Skelton has won this 2m 4f handicap hurdle twice in three seasons and Be Aware was favourite but had a rough passage from the rear in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Expected to do better.
Similarly, Wreckless Eric, who likes the ground on top, was short of room before the last or might have won the Imperial Cup at Sandown (Tintintin 4th). Should get the trip on breeding.
French hat-trick winner Kopeck De Mee was beaten favourite in the Martin Pipe, first run for Willie Mullins.
BETDAQ value 10 Be Aware, 10 Wreckless Eric
MUNDI TO SCORE ON THURSDAY
⭕ 2.55 Aintree Favourites are on a four-timer via Romeo Coolio, third in the Supreme at Cheltenham, part of a truly miserable festival for Gordon Elliott. Salvator Mundi was fifth, held up, but we can expect a change of tactics from Paul Townend on that one today.
He was restrained, pulling hard to win the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown, having made all to break his maiden.
Townend said after Punchestown (soft): ‘He has gears but I couldn’t let him use them on the ground.’
Tripoli Flyer has improved 16lb in two races and Fergal O‘Brien is looking for compensation after Flyer got beaten a length in the Aintree bumper a year ago.
Diva Luna was third in the mares’ novices at Cheltenham, and Jet To Vegas has improved 20lb in two races and is the kind of slick jumper you want here.
Betdaq Betting Exchange value: 4.5 Salvator Mundi, 17 Jet To Vegas
NICO AND JONBON A ‘MUST WIN’
⭕ 3.30 Aintree (Melling Chase) Nico De Boinville needs more than a second Melling Chase for Jonbon. He wants to restore the faith after Constitution Hill’s unholy double of falls at both Cheltenham and Aintree.
El Fabiolo was turned over at odds on by Jonbon in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on good ground.
Protektorat, winner of the Manifesto at this meeting in 2021, was third in today’s race last year. The improving Matata could set them all a test from the front.
LIZARD LEAPS NATIONAL FENCES
⭕ 4.05 Aintree (Topham Trophy) No winning favourites in the decade but unlikely to be one at a layable price today.
Last year’s runner-up James Du Berlais, beaten only a length (Fantastic Lady 6th), is carrying a big weight for this race; so, too, Blue Lord though he is Paul Townend’s pick.
And he is 15lb lower than his mark since scoring six out of seven in 2022, though he’s not won since.
Bad has improved for fences, even better in blinkers, but older horses with experience usually win this test over the Grand National fences.
Like Grey Dawning, who beat him in the Turners at Cheltenham last March, Ginny’s Destiny’s form has been disappointing and is tried in cheekpieces.
I’m told to forgive Shantreusse his one costly mistake in last year’s Topham. Henry De Bromhead does so by running him in this again and progeny of sire Shantou are capable of springing off the top of the ground.
Stablemate Amirite has to bounce back from a modest run but would come into it on his Sandown Gold Cup form on good.
Lounge Lizard is another ‘hidden horse’; ran well for a long way in the 2023 Becher Chase (3m 2f, heavy) and back to form the last day under Sam Twiston-Davies.
BETDAQ value: 18 Shantreusse, 26 Amirite, 29 Lounge Lizard
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.45 Aintree (win 15)
BET 5pts win HANDSTANDS
2.20 Aintree (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 5pts win BE AWARE
BET 5pts win WRECKLESS ERIC
2.55 Aintree (win 21)
BET 6pts win SALVATOR MUNDI
BET 1pt win and place JET TO VEGAS
★ 3.30 Aintree (supernap)
BET 20pts win JONBON
4.05 Aintree (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 3pts win SHANTREUSSE
BET 2pts win AMIRITE
BET 1.75pts win and place LOUNGE LIZARD
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