JEWEL’S JUST FOR A PLACE: Another BETDAQ morning value bet was leading to the last at Navan yesterday but Daqman’s selection, Jennies Jewel (3rd 14-1), was run out of it, giving weight to the seven others who made up the first eight to finish.
THE LADBROKE THIS WEEK: Daqman’s countdown to The Ladbroke starts today, with an ABC on Thursday for Saturday’s big race, Look out also for the BETDAQ meeting at Kempton Park on Wednesday.
ANOTHER SHELFORD LADBROKE BOOST
One of the trainer’s arts is placing his horses to win. And Dan Skelton is halfway to a second consecutive success in The Ladbroke at Ascot on Saturday. He has Shelford perfectly poised within a pound of the weight carried by his last year’s winner, Willow’s Saviour.
Shelford is unbeaten this season, with back-to-back success at Chepstow, the second leg a Grade 3, which has worked out a dream.
The horse Shelford beat into second place was Aubusson, who went on to win the quality fixed-brush handicap at Haydock from Big Easy and Dara Tango.
Big Easy put in another huge effort on Saturday, runner-up to my selection, Ulzana’s Raid, in a fierce battle up the Cheltenham hill. Meanwhile, Dara Tango was second in the Tara Hurdle at Navan yesterday.
TOMORROW On Tuesday, I shall set out more of my betting strategy for the Christmas and New Year period.
WEDNESDAY: On Wednesday, at a time when races are cutting up badly, there’s a BETDAQ-sponsored evening at Kempton Park which currently has 67 probables in four races.
THURSDAY: Look out for my ABC stats and facts guide to The Ladbroke on Thursday, runner by runner.
TIGER TONY TO WIN ON GLOBALISATION
FFOS LAS Two champion jockeys team up today. The 11 times Flat champion Pat Eddery makes the long journey from Bucks to Ffos Las for only his fourth ever runner under jumps rules as a trainer, with 19 times NH holder Tony McCoy booked to ride his Ezetiger (3.45) in the bumper (presumably pronounced ‘easy tiger.’)
McCoy is there to partner a Rebecca Curtis trio, with her Globalisation (12.55) a warm order for the novices’ hurdle. Globalisation looked smartish in an Aintree bumper in October, the second, fourth, sixth and seventh all winners.
I’m not so sure about her two others. Red Devil Lads (2.05) has failed to respond to a hood the last twice and, despite the difference in weight, Volt Face might be good enough in the soft ground he needs.
He was sent straight from his novice-hurdle success at Newton Abbot to a class-2 handicap at Cheltenham and proved out of his depth. He dropped down a grade and was unlucky not to win up the Towcester hill (slipped) in first-time hood.
Ignore the Dougal speak about the third McCoy mount for Rebecca Curtis, Lookslikerainted (2.40): his form is better than it looks. Cheekpieces and a special bridle should stop his tendency to jump right, which cost him the prize on the last day.
The morning favourite Knockanrawley is consistent without showing any improvement, but the one I like at a price is Goodtoknow, a Presenting six-year-old from a stable which has scored three wins from four since Thursday. I could get around 6.0 on BETDAQ.
PLUMPTON Though Ffos Las is closer to home for Venetia Williams, she goes to Plumpton to saddle two chasers, with the younger Tango De Juilley (12.40) the one most likely to.
Tango looked an exciting prospect on the last day, winning at Kempton by 11 lengths after a season off. But will he bounce? Will a horse hard to keep right hold together at last?
He and his two main rivals, Chris Peas Green and Fergall, were separated by only 1.27 points in a 104% orange, early mouse on BETDAQ.
As a hurdler of some consequence, Chris Pea Green was fourth in The Ladbroke a year ago. He was a nearly horse in the autumn as a novice chaser, too, but always in good company and, when dropped a grade and getting soft ground, he slaughtered a small field at Plumpton by 26 lengths.
Fergall is a Grade-2 hurdler, who is finally trying his hand at fences. It’s a tough race. Over hurdles, Chris Pea Green is 142, Fergall 141. No wonder the market is tight. You need to keep your Daq up and follow the late money.
Venetia has Browns Brook (1.45) in another punter-friendly market (104% again) in a race she won with Mon Mome on his way to Grand National glory.
But this is another close-run thing between four horses, separated by a total of only 2.1 in the BETDAQ orange, as I write.
Browns Brook loves heavy ground but has been, all in all, 107 lengths off the leader in his two races this season to date. He got pretty warm on the last day and the jury is out as to whether he’s still in love with the game.
Itoldyou is a CD winner on good ground at this time of year but has won on the heavy since. His consistency means that the handicapper won’t let him off the hook, Ballyvoneen, also consistent, is now racing off his highest mark since 2012, though he and Leg Iron are both 10 in a couple of weeks’ time. If you forgive Leg Iron his cross-country flop, he must also be on the premises.
But I’m punting the big, ex-French Vikekhal, a hurdles winner on the course, whose jumping will benefit from this step up in trip for a stable that knows how to win this, 2-2 in the last three seasons.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Strength 1 to 9; banker is 10).
BANKER: BET 10pts win (nap) GLOBALISATION (12.55 Ffos Las)
BET 8pts win VOLT FACE (2.05 Ffos Las)
BET 4pts win GOODTOKNOW (2.40 Ffos Las)
BET 4pts VIKEKHAI (1.45 Plumpton)
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