BULL’S-EYE RICHES FOR DAQMAN: Daqman kept his powder dry until the big race of the day yesterday, the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, when he backed both Road To Riches (WON 4-1) and Sam Winner (3rd 7-1) to win 50 points in his only Bull’s-Eye Bets of the day.
NOW HE LEADS PRICEWISE 10-5: That put him 10-5 ahead of Pricewise (118-64 overall) and gave him two out of three in the major Christmas races, after Silviniaco Conti (WON 6-5) in the King George at Kempton and Benvolio (2nd 11-1, short-head) in the Welsh Grand National.
‘GRATE’ WINNER AT LINGFIELD: His only betting race in England yesterday produced Melvin The Grate (WON 9-4) at Lingfield. Profit on the day: 30 points. Also in the Christmas period, his double-whammys were two from two and his lays two from two. Bull’s-Eye Bets will be back at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
WHITE CHRISTMAS: CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Not quite a wipe out but certainly a white out to start the final week of 2014.
Unfortunately the BETDAQ sponsored card at Doncaster was the first victim of the weather when it was called off at 2pm yesterday due to snow on the track.
And we have woken to mixed news this morning.
Firstly the good news. The high-class card at Newbury has been given the go-ahead despite temperatures dipping to -3.5 overnight. The course deployed frost covers which have almost certainly saved the card. As well as the seven races, which include the Challow Hurdle, racegoers will also see Sprinter Sacre back on the racecourse after 12 months in a schooling session before racing.
The cards at Kelso and Southwell (all-weather !!!) have both been called off but racing at Leopardstown and Limerick go ahead following inspections at both venues.
A CHRISTMAS RIDDLE
I received an enigma wrapped in a riddle in my Christmas Cracker…. it simply said ‘Nicky Henderson form ??’
There’s been plenty of discussion on social media about the subject but it’s a big day for Henderson today even before racing begins. Stable star Sprinter Sacre will have a spin around the course and jump a few fences on his first public appearance since pulling up in the Desert Orchid Chase a year ago at Kempton.
Henderson has had three winners from 16 over the Christmas period (beginning 19 December) which is below average for such a heavyweight stable but the most worrying trend is the distance some of his horses are being beaten.
Bobs Worth the latest of them – finishing last of the eight finishers in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday – a disappointing effort from the 5/2 favourite.
In the circumstances I want to be against his Top Notch in the opening juvenile hurdle on the Newbury card.
We know little about him, except for the fact that he has a double penalty to defy for two wins in France.
Safer bet today might be Mick Jazz, another French import who ran a perfectly creditable third here on his hurdling debut behind Old Guard. With the benefit of that experience and in receipt of weight he may be the best horse in today’s race – but not necessarily the best horse in the future.
NICHOLLS THE CHALLOW FELLOW
It was very much a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show for Paul Nicholls on Saturday. After winning the King George on Boxing day (and landing a nap for the column) four of his eight runners were pulled up on Saturday but his Benvolio ran a cracker in the Welsh National to be denied a head.
The featured Challow Hurdle at Newbury looks a great contest with all six holding claims of sorts.
I thought the Nicholls trained Arpege D’alene looked of most interest, despite having the least experience.
He looked very smart on UK debut at Ascot when jumping particularly well and staying on strongly on the flat to win by nine lengths. He will need to improve for that – but that looks a certainty anyway and at around 6.2 on BETDAQ this morning he looks the bet.
Vyta Du Roc and Blakion are disputing favouritism. Blaklion remains an improver and stayed on well over three miles last time out at Cheltenham. The drop back to today’s trip can’t really be considered a negative as he won the Grade 2 Persian War over this trip at Chepstow.
Vyta Du Roc (Henderson) is now unbeaten in four but his latest two wins in Grade 2 company have been hard fought and this will be his third race inside six weeks which might just prove too tough.
DOUBLE GRADE 1’S ACTION AT LEOPARDSTOWN
It’s Hurricane Fly v Jezki in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon and the betting is struggling to split them – the handicapper also says there’s nothing between them – both on a mark of 160.
At some point the age difference will make an irreversible difference between the pair but going purely on the most recent form line in the Morgiana Hurdle you can expect the Hurricane to star again and win this for the fourth time.
In the Grade 1 Topaz Novice Chase at 3.05 Apache Stronghold is taken to build on the promise of his second to Valseur Lido in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. The Tullow Tank was a disappointing fifth that day and has plenty to find.
Mala Beach was impressive at Punchestown last time out but was only really proven at Grade 2 level over hurdles whilst Don Poli made a few errors on his jumping debut at Gowran Park.
Shanahan’s Turn is very much going the right way and fully deserves a crack at this Grade One in his hat-trick bid.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Strength 1 to 9pts, with 10pt stake for a banker)
BET 5pts win MICK JAZZ (12.30 Newbury)
BET 7pts win HURRICANE FLY (1.25 Leopardstown)
BET 8pts win (nap) ARPEGE D’ALENE (2.10 Newbury)
BET 4pts win APACHE STRONGHOLD (3.05 Leopardstown)
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