DAQMAN EARNS NAP RATING OF THREE OUT OF FOUR: Daqman made it three winning naps out of four on the week when aptly-named Progressive Rating scored at Wolverhampton last night. Today’s nap is at Fakenham.
WON 10-11 TARBOOSH (Monday nap)
WON 9-4 GLORY AND FORTUNE (Wednesday nap)
WON 11-8 PROGRESSIVE RATING (Thursday nap)
DON’T MISS CHAMPIONS DAY VALUE BETS TOMORROW: Daqman completes his preview of the Champions Day card at Ascot with his research into the going and ratings for the only handicap. Don’t miss his BETDAQ value bets on the big day tomorrow.
LORD NORTH ON THE RATINGS
⚠️ HEADS UP: Here’s my final race preview for Ascot tomorrow, looking at the ground factor. I shall now spend my day researching the draw, which can have an effect whatever the distance (seven of the last nine winners of the Long Distance Cup came out of the low four stalls).
⚠️ HEADS UP: Dermot Weld reveals that the improving Tarnawa will remain in training next year. The Shamardal filly is looking for a hat-trick tomorrow, going for the Fillies And Mares after stepping back up to Group 3 at Cork (won on very soft) and then Group 2 at The Curragh (won again, this time on firm). She’s 20lb behind Enable but will still be only four next year when Enable is six.
⚠️ HEADS UP: Aidan O’Brien has made a late decision to run Magna Grecia in the QE 11 British Champions Mile, first race for the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas winner since her injury in the Irish equivalent. She has no form on soft-heavy.
4.40 Ascot tomorrow (Balmoral Handicap)
Only soft-heavy ground winners listed (in ratings order)
110 Lord North (1-1 on soft) John Gosden, Frankie Dettori
108 Dunkirk Harbour (1-1, heavy) Aidan O’Brien
107 Kynren (3-5) David Barron, Ben Curtis
105 Mitchum Swagger (2-8) Ralph Beckett, Rob Hornby
102 Coolagh Forest (1-1) Richard Fahey, Paul Hanagan
100 Glen Shiel (3-7, one heavy) Archie Watson, Hollie Doyle
099 Clon Coulis (1-2) David Barron, Jamie Spencer
098 Amedeo Modigliani (1-1) Aidan O’Brien
098 So Beloved (1-9) David O’Meara
097 Waarif (1-3) David O’Meara, Daniel Tudhope
097 Saltonstall (1-5) Ado McGuinness
PLAY BAND AGAINST CHASERS
3.50 Uttoxeter today Top weights of quality invariably win this, though the highest pair here call upon claimers to reduce the weight. That’s not the done thing in this race.
And it’s no encouragement that Emma Lavelle (De Rasher Counter) is out of form (three consecutive losing favourites in the last 11 days).
Nick Williams has had only a couple of winners all year and, like De Rasher Counter, Culture De Sivola hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since March.
The Two Amigos also makes a similar return but note that he’s won first time in each of the last two years. The snag this time is that his form is over fences.
That applies to a lot of them in this field, as if they are prepping over hurdles for steeplechase dates. The market of 9.2 bar three also suggested little interest in the fencing types like West Wales National winner Pobbles Bay.
The three at the front of the BETDAQ betting were McNamaras Band, Sirobbie and Final Choice is interesting, a Uttoxeter CD hurdles winner just 12 days back.
Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson surely mean business with McNamaras Band, a half-sister to Rince-Ri stepping up in trip today with the stable striking at getting on for 25%.
There is no soft-ground form recorded for Sirobbie (or Tea Time Fred) but Sirobbie remains interesting as a CD winner (in fact, 3-3 on this track) and a young improver. I took 3.7 McNamaras Band and 6.4 Sirobbie.
TOUCH KICK CAN SHOW CLASS
4.05 Fakenham Touch Kick was so well thought of in the Spring that he ran – not unsupported – at Cheltenham and Aintree, after starting his season with a win. He’s down in lesser company again here, his first run back with his stable in good form.
His penalty and the rain will not help Hepijeu and Treackle Tart’s wins are well spaced out; he’s unlikely to put two winning runs together, racing off his highest mark. I took 3.3 Touch Kick.
6.35 Newcastle Charming Spirit led for a long way in a Kempton class 3 at this trip and, given his first mark at Leicester – a pound higher than today – ran on well over a furlong shorter.
He could do what his trainer, Roger Varian, has just done: knocking at the door (3223 form figures) then bang there with a double, two from two, on Wednesday. BETDAQ 4.8 taken.
DAQMAN’S BETS
3.50 Uttoxeter (win 20 each)
BET 7pts win McNAMARAS BAND
BET 3.75pts win SIROBBIE
4.05 Fakenham (win 20)
BET 8.5pts win (nap) TOUCH KICK
6.35 Newcastle (win 20)
BET 5pts win CHARMING SPIRIT
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