ACROSS THE CARDS DOUBLE: FOUR placed at Sandown yesterday (two at 7-2) but just the one winner in El Rio (WON 5-2) to keep Daqman’s sequence going. Today he puts his faith in Paul Nicholls to score a double across the cards at Kempton and Carlisle and top the stable’s 10 winners in 10 days.
TOMORROW: Cheltenham Trials previews.
KALIF CAN SCORE ON DEBUT
⭕ 2.00 Carlisle This £26k Graduation Chase has failed to attract top-line trainers since Paul Nicholls ran second with Dolos in 2018.
But, though the turn-out is small, high-flyers past and present are tempted, including Nicky Richards. No longer a major threat in the South, this should be a good week for him here and at Ayr.
He hopes to saddle Florida Dreams in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday and has entered Castle Rushen in the stayers’ hurdle at Haydock on Saturday week, after his success here at Carlisle already this month.
But imagine the atmosphere at Greystoke when they found that the stable’s Graduation candidate, Nells Son, had to face raiders from Dan Skelton, Paul Nicholls and Gavin Cromwell today in only a four-horse race.
The conditions of the race favour particularly Unexpected Party for Skelton, rated 8lb higher but level weights with Nells Son; and Path D’Oroux for Cromwell, 6lb higher but receiving 4lb.
Even so, the fourth member of the party, Kalif Du Berlais (Nicholls) has the edge on he ratings. As a four-year-old, he gets between 15lb and 19lb from the others, off only 10st 6lb.
Nicholls has played this game for many a season now. A four-year-old goes straight into the chasing game, sometimes in a handicap, sometimes with high-class hurdles form.
In fact, the Kalif is 3-3 over hurdles, has won a Grade 2 and was not disgraced in the Juvenile Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National meeting.
NICHOLLS IN JACKPOT DOUBLE
⭕ 2.15 Kempton Dargiannini won this race first run back last autumn but has been out already this term, struggling with a big weight at Uttoxeter in October, and is nine-years-old now.
Stoner’s Choice was last seen when Corach Rambler’s connectons were celebrating their Grand National win!
I’m going to suggest that Pyramid Place makes his own decisions about the day’s racing.
In his last seven starts, he has won at 66-1 and 20-1 but at 9-2 (twice), 12-1 and 13-2 has reached the frame just the once.
So I’m handing this to Jackpot d’Athou for Paul Nicholls and Freddie Gingell; two out of three after a break and back after wind surgery.
SACRE COEUR SET TO MAKE ALL
⭕ 2.50 Kempton Fergal O’Brien won this last year with Mulberry Hill from today’s mark but it was very much a one-off and Fergal is difficult to get right just now.
In November he’s had just 2-17, missing strike consecutively at 5-2 fav, 11-4, 6-1, 6-4, 4-1 and 6-5 fav.
Add this horse’s last two runs (5th 7-2 and 3rd 10-3), and no punter has found his thrill on Mulberry Hill since that one-off.
Finest View has been consistent without sparkle over hurdles and is expected to improve over fences. The mare’s first chase is the right trip on pedigree.
Sacre Coeur could continue to progress. She’s a winner over 2m but ran them legless beyond 3m at Plumpton (2-2 there) in this same class 3.
Sacre Coeur established a big lead in that Plumpton race and, if her 8.7 on Betdaq Betting Exchange this morning, doesn’t diminish this morning, it’s likely to do so once her lead looks firmly established in the second half of the race.
Seemingly determined to bag the prize is J P McManus, who runs two from his Jonjo O’Neill stable, including Trapista.
If you can rely on his 10lb claimer, Trapista will get in below the mark which saw her complete a hat-trick over fences in May.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.00 Carlisle (supernap)
BET 20pts win KALIF DU BERLAIS
2.15 Kempton (win 10)
BET 5pts win JACKPOT D’ATHOU
2.50 Kempton (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win SACRE COEUR
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