DAQMAN RIGHT ON TRAC TO 110 NAPS: Daqman landed his target 110th nap for the year when Trac scored at Catterick yesterday to give him five winning best bets in eight days’ racing.
WON 13-8 TRAC (Thursday, winning nap 110 for the year)
WON 5-2 FAMOUS BRIDGE (Saturday nap, 109)
WON 6-5 DJELO (Friday nap, 108)
WON 15-8 BRAVE KINGDOM (Wednesday nap, 107)
WON 6-4 ARCLIGHT (Tuesday nap, 106)
CHECK OUT THE 10 PREMIER CHASERS: They say the team that leads the Premier League at the end of the year wins the title but it’s tight at the top. No less hard to call after a weekend of thrills are the champion chasers for Gold Cup and Grand National. Daqman sets the question today and gives his verdict on Sunday.
TODAY: Two more Grade-1 on heavy ground at Leopardstown.
WHO GETS THE GOLD STAR NOW?
TEN of the best. Is there enough prizemoney to go round them all? One thing is certain: the 3m+ championship chases of 2024 can expect more high-quality thrills and spills.
The King George had it all, whereas yesterday’s Savills at Leopardstown seemed to be a one-horse race.
But get used to the return of some well worn phrases: ‘back to his best,’ ‘he loved the heavy ground,’ ‘it will be a different story at Cheltenham.’
I’ll bet you can look at this morning’s papers and see those three phrases already strung together to describe the 23-lengths romp by Galopin des Champs. But you’ll also hear of the Savills: ‘It might have been different had Fastorslow run.’
Just as you heard after the King George: ‘If only Shishkin had kept his feet.. If Bravemansgame hadn’t been knocked sideways..’
My task (and yours) is to create a new top 10, based on the ratings from all past results, including the sensational end-of-year drama we’ve just seen from Kempton and Leopardstown.
I will give my verdict on Sunday, the last day of the year. One thing is certain: if any horse on of the list becomes a standout in the next three months or so, he will deserve to be ranked among the very best of all time. I’ll be choosing Sunday’s Top Ten from:
Allaho, Bravemansgame, Corach Rambler, Fastorslow, Gentlemansgame, Gerri Colombe, Galopin Des Champs, Hewick, Royal Pagaille and Shishkin. See how your own list compares.
GO WEST
⭕ 1.45 Leopardstown (Neville Hotels Novice Chase Grade 1) The Christmas meeting concludes with double Grade 1 action.
Only three rivals take on State Man in the Matheson Hurdle at 2.20 with the Willie Mullins trained runner again looking hard to beat. He only met defat once last season and that was at the hands of a Mr Constitution Hill so we can forgive him that.
He also looked good first time out this season when landing the odds with some ease in the Grade 1 Morgiana at Punchestown and will be hard to beat here – although the price tells you that.
The novice chase looks more interesting from a betting perspective on Betdaq Betting Exchange.
There’s plenty of hurdling class amongst the six runners but so far little experience over the larger obstacles.
Flooring Porter was sent off at 66/1, 25/1 and 12/1 in his first three career starts and beaten an aggregate of 132 lengths but blossomed into a top class staying hurdler and dual winner of the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He returned to Cheltenham for his chasing debut in October when winning a four runner contest fairly comfortably.
He then hung badly left when a 15 length third in the Florida Pearl at Punchestown behind Favori De Champdou who he faces again today.
Corbetts Cross is likely to head the market after getting off the mark over fences at Fairyhouse but made a few mistakes and his jumping will be under more pressure at this level.
He also comes with a wealth warning – he jinked right and ran out in this year’s Albert Bartlett when coming to challenge at the last.
I’ll take a chance with Grangeclare West who doesn’t boast the hurdling form of some of these but looked a better chaser when impressing with his jumping when making all at Naas. He might be hard to peg back if similar tactics are deployed.
BHALOO TO LAND MY NAP COUP
⭕ 2.15 Doncaster Bhaloo looks solid now stepped up in trip by Nicky Henderson.
The five-year-old was a Market Rasen bumper winner in April and shaped well on his hurdling debut at Kempton last month when a promising staying on third behind Queens Gamble who was following up on his Warwick win.
Parade Away (runs under a penalty) and Dancing In Brazil both bring solid enough form to the table but might struggle to cope with Bhaloo who runs here presumably in preference to an engagement at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
GRAPHITE HARD TO BEAT
⭕ 6.00 Southwell Feature race on the evening card is this class 2 handicap which looks very competitive.
Those at the top of the weights are probably easiest to rule out given their lack of recent form and I can see Graphite running well. He has the considerable assistance of Billy Loughnane for the first time.
He has run well over this trip in his last two starts (latest a class 2) and might not need to improve much. I’ll try a WIN 20 return.
Heathen bolted home over course and distance on his first start for David O’Meara (since joining from Ed Dunlop) but that was in a class 5 – so he is now three rungs up the class ladder and 6lb up in weights. It tempers enthusiasm considerably.
DAQMAN’S BETS:
1.45 Leopardstown (win 10)
BET 2.5pts win GRANGECLARE WEST
2.15 Doncaster (win 10, nap)
BET 8.2pts win BHALOO
6.00 Southwell (win 20)
BET 2pts win GRAPHITE
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.
