BULL’S-EYE BETS BACK TOMORROW: After a day to forget yesterday, Daqman takes three successive lays and four bankers out of five into the Saturday session at Sandown and Wincanton, when he again does battle with Pricewise. Current score Daqman 10, Pricewise 6 (overall 118-65). Bull’s-Eye Bets will be back.
FFOS LAS AND AYR IN THE MUD: Daqman concentrates on the two Jumps Meetings this afternoon at Ffos Las and Ayr where both race on Heavy ground.
FESTIVAL CLUES ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
Were there any potential Festival winners yesterday? There wasn’t a huge amount to take from Cheltenham yesterday apart from Ptit Zig and Rock On Ruby.
The Paul Nicholls trained Ptit Zig has firmly established himself as one of the leading Novice Chasers of the season so far. He notched up a fourth win over the larger obstacles in fine style by beating Champagne West by 6 lengths. Both are due to head to Festival now but in opposite directions and both should have decent chances depending on the opposition.
Without a doubt however, the best moment of yesterday was watching, the now 10 year old, Rock On Ruby roll back the years to win the two and a half mile hurdle beating plenty of younger stock in a typical gallant effort. He now heads to the World Hurdle and would have to be in with a shout on current form, provided he stays. Who’s to say that he won’t?
MIJHAAR CAN PROVE HIMSELF AT AYR
AYR The feature race at the Scottish track is not until the penultimate race of the day. Although Mijhaar has been called some names in the past as he didn’t always appear to finish out his races, but he ran on really well last time out when stepped up to today’s trip.
A lot can be forgiven for him as many of his runs last season were in really good Novice races and he also finished 7th in this year’s Greatwood Hurdle in November. That was a good effort but he was stepped up to two and a half miles last time out and he chased home Dawalan in a very competitive Aintree Handicap.
Last year’s winner of the race, Truckin’ Along makes the trip over from Stuart Crawford’s Northern Ireland base but he looks up against this year off 8lbs higher.
Looking through the remainder of the field and it is quite easy to pick holes in the majority of them. Mijhaar looks a solid option and could be hard to beat.
Earlier in the card, the second race and this may be a nice opportunity for Knockando. Lucinda Russell’s gelding is stepping up in trip but dropping back slightly in his handicap mark over Hurdles. Although his last run came after a two year absence, he should be a lot sharper now for the run and a chance can be taken on him.
At 2.40, Redpender can cement himself as somewhat of a course specialist around Ayr. Three runs at the track have yielded three wins and in today’s conditions there is nothing to say that he cannot win again. His last run can be forgiven as it was up in grade considerably. He has been dropped a pound by the handicapper and although he is still six pounds higher than his last win, he may still have a little in the tank over today’s trip.
FFOS LAS Testing conditions will be the order of the day at the Wales venue. Heavy ground generally takes its toll here and you need a proper mud-lark to succeed.
At 1.10, Dixie Bull looks like being exactly that. He has run in two Chases so far this season and ran with great credit both times and looks like being far more effective over fences. Still a lightly raced sort but he was rated as high as 105 over hurdles at the beginning of that career in May 2012, although he’s only had 4 runs in the interim.
Having run well in his first two chases, he now runs off a very lenient mark of 88 and with today’s testing ground likely to suit, he may be able to out-stay the remainder.
Venetia Williams is well known for having horses that love soft ground and this can be proven with Spirit D’Amour at 2.10. In his debut of fences, he made an early blunder which cancelled out any chance had, although he ran on well to take third, albeit beaten by 17 lengths.
He is sure to have done plenty of schooling since that mishap in the middle of November and he looks well treated on the pick of his hurdling form.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Strength 1-9pts, with 10pts for a Banker)
BET 2pts win KNOCKANDO (1.00 Ayr)
BET 6pts win DIXIE BULL (1.10 Ffos Las)
BET 4pts win SPIRIT D’AMOUR (2.15 Ffos Las)
BET 5pts win REDPENDER (2.40 Ayr)
BET 8pts win (Nap) MIJHAAR (3.10 Ayr)
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