FESTIVALS SEVEN BID FOR 1,000 POINTS PROFIT: The Galway races get off to a strong start for 2018 today with a gamble on Ladbrokes’ leading-trainer odds. Daqman checks out the stables to follow at both festivals, Galway and Glorious Goodwood and lines up a lucky seven of his Fortune Cookies, which show 941 points profit to 20-point level stakes, and so nearly could have been past the 1,000 mark by now. Can they do it this week?
JOSEPH O’BRIEN GALWAY PLUNGE
It’s another O’Brien family party. But this particular top table – the Galway Festival trainer’s table – has not seen Aidan O’Brien at its head since 1997.
The first gamble of Ballybrit week, from 14-1 to around 5-2 with Ladbrokes, is for Joseph O’Brien to be champion for the first time.
Willie Mullins, the winner for the last two seasons, took over from Dermot Weld after interrupting his 18 consecutive years at the top.
Joseph has 44 Galway entries during the week (and, eye-catchingly, just one at Goodwood) against around 80 for Mullins, which makes him odds on.
Leading trainer at Goodwood, with almost the hold Weld used to have over Galway, is Mark Johnston.
His 80 winners at the Glorious meeting would have made you more than 154 points to single-unit level stakes.
Johnston will again blanket cover the cards so you might prefer the more selective William Haggas, who has a 20% strike rate at the meeting with 32 winners.
Joe Fanning and Franny Norton are obviously high up the ranks of winning Glorious Goodwood jockeys because of Johnston.
But William Buick is your man with the uncanny judgment of pace on the rollercoaster rides around the uphill and down dale Sussex Downs.
Buick has had 56 winners there for the highest strike rate of them all (17%), scoring more than twice as many as his nearest rival, Andrea Atzeni (26 wins for 15% hits).
NECK AWAY FROM 1,000+ POINTS
FORTUNE COOKIES: Daqman’s racereading and form study has turned up a fantastic array of quality horses to follow this Flat season.
His Fortune Cookies list is showing a profit of 941 points to 20-point level stakes after Poet’s Word (WON 7-4) and two losers on Saturday.
Oh, that Brorocco (2ND 12-1) could have won his photo – he was beaten a neck – and taken the profits well over 1,000. Engaged this week are:
COSMIC LAW (2.25 Goodwood tomorrow)
EXPERT EYE (3.35 Goodwood, Wednesday)
LAGOSTOVEGAS (4.35 Galway, Thursday, and 6.50 Galway, Friday)
SALTONSTALL (7.40 Galway, tomorrow)
STRADIVARIUS (3.35 Goodwood, tomorrow)
VERACIOUS (3.35 Goodwood, Thursday)
WITHOUT PAROLE (3.35 Goodwood, Wednesday)
DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL
5.20 Galway Joseph O’Brien took over this race last year after a Willie Mullins hat-trick.
Mullins looks keen for another win though and has a strong entry of three headed up by Ruby Walsh on Easy Game.
This one won his hurdling debut at Killarney in grand style and should improve but it’s slightly puzzling to see him stepped back in trip given how strongly he was staying on over two and a half miles last time.
Stable companion Shoulda Lied is also stepping back in trip having won his maiden hurdle in great style and has already proved himself a better hurdler than on the flat.
Away from the Mullins contingency I like the look of the Andrew Fleming trained Devil’s Glen who belied his 25/1 starting price with a very easy two mile win at Tipperary. Those who ‘knew’ backed him in from 50/1 and he has been given a break since that run.
6.25 Galway This was one of those races which automatically went to Dermot Weld every year – seven times in the decade – and he launches his Ballybrit campaign with Third World.
Third World was fourth when Mount Tabora (Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien) was beaten only a head at the Curragh nine days ago.
It was Third World’s debut against Mount Tabora’s third run, so he should improve, but the O’Brien’s try to match that by putting blinkers on their horse for the first time.
8.10 Galway The draw may have an effect. There’s been just the one success from a stall higher than six in the decade. Gates one (2 wins), two, three, four (two wins), five and six (two) were responsible for the winners.
Dermot Weld’s filly Imrana won her maiden in good style at Limerick and has the headgear on for the first time.
I like the fact she is up in trip and draw three is a bonus.
TREASURE IN DEVON
2.40 Newton Abbot With Red Tornado now a non runner, the door has opened for Instant Karma who has claims – despite less than obvious form figures.
Sean Bowen is a positive booking and he is undoubtedly well handicapped if near his best.
3.40 Newton Abbot Champion Richard Johnson is another eye-catching booking.
He partners Irish import Uno Mas on his handicap debut in his first handicap.
However, the stage could be set for an encore performance from last year’s winner Treasure The Ridge who is just starting to run back into form and is off a 2lb lighter mark this year.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20 points except place bet staked to win 10)
BET 3.3pts win INSTANT KARMA (2.40 Newton Abbot)
BET 2.2pts win and 3.7pts place (WIN 10) TREASURE THE RIDGE (3.40 Newton Abbot)
BET 4.3pts win DEVIL’S GLEN (5.20 Galway)
BET 6.7pts win THIRD WORLD (nap) (6.25 Galway)
BET 6.7pts win IMRANA (8.10 Galway)
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