IT’S A BETDAQ (BANK HOLIDAY) MONDAY: DAQMAN previews the quintet of BETDAQ-sponsored races on Kempton’s jumps card this afternoon.
CLASSIC CLUES: Look out for more Classic clues this week as DAQMAN guides you through Chester’s May Festival meeting which begins on Wednesday with the Chester Cup.
THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE: Looking further ahead to the weekend and DAQMAN is busy preparing notes on the flat action at Ascot, a quality mixed card from Haydock Park and the Lingfield Park Derby and Oaks trials.
The first thing you might notice about today’s racing is the early start !! No, the clocks haven’t changed overnight but it’s the latest BHA initiative to avoid race clashes on a Bank Holiday. So we have an extra early start with the 12.30 at Beverley.
I’m heading to Kempton Park today though for my bets and taking a look at the five BETDAQ sponsored races on the jumps card which start at the slightly more orthodox time of 2pm!
2:00 betdaq.com 20 Free Bet Novices’ Chase (5yo+, Class 3, 2m 4f 110y, 5 runners)
Just the five runners and little to separate on the formbook between the top two on the racecard Art Mauresque and Cash And Go but the BETDAQ market is favouring the Paul Nicholls trained Art Mauresque who is trading a shade of odds-on.
Nicholls won his ninth trainers title by a distance from Nicky Henderson last season which only ended a few days ago. Despite this, I’m not sure his horses are in top form at the moment – just two winners from his last 16 runners and one of those a 1/5 chance.
Art Mauresque has won two of his last three races – making all the running to land the odds at Fakenham last time out in a three runner race. He steps up to two and a half miles for the first time here but that shouldn’t prove a negative.
At the prices though there’s probably more to like about Cash And Go who already has winning form over a similar trip at Taunton where he scorched home by 34 lengths (25 lengths back to third). He was stepped up to Grade 1 company last time and found the going tough, eventually unseating his rider. His jumping remains a concern that is factored into the price and at 3.2 at the time of writing looks the bet in the race.
2:35 betdaq.com Serious About Horses Novices’ Hurdle (4yo+, Class 4, 2m 5f, 8 runners)
Nicky Henderson should strike here with West Wizard although whether you want to pile in at around 1.4 is questionable after he was pulled up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last time out and I’m not sure that there is a horse in training that is more of a layers dream than this one.
Since his debut win here at Kempton he has tasted defeat at SP odds of 1/6, 2/9 and 4/5. It’s a poor race but I can’t be piling in at short odds on a horse with questionable resolution. I much prefer the place claims of One Big Love. She showed ability in bumpers last season and I think will be suited by the ground.
3:10 betdaq.com 50% Commission Refund Handicap Chase (5yo+, Class 3, 3m, 12 runners)
The most competitive race on the card and a very decent class 3 handicap chase over three miles.
The Harry Fry trained Shuil Royale seems the obvious starting point. He is on for the hat-trick after wins at Ludlow and Newbury but is now up another 7lb in the weights. I’d be slightly concerned that he hasn’t run particularly well here at Kempton on his last two visits (although heavy ground last time a mitigating factor).
Caulfields Venture was second to Best Boy Barney over course and distance last time but might well be able to turn that form around on 4lb better terms today.
3:45 Betdaq Commission Free Football On Saturdays Handicap Hurdle (4yo+, Class 4, 2m 5f, 11 runners)
Another good contest with five of the remaining 11 runners last time out winners.
Our Chief is the morning gamble from the Pipe stable despite being beaten an aggregate of 152 lengths in his last two races! He’s making his handicap debut here on what could prove a decent mark and has cheekpieces on for the first time. A safer pick on the formbook at least might be Master Benjamin who has finished 3rd and 2nd over course and distance in his last two starts and his latest effort came in a better grade than today’s race.
4:20 Free Trading Software Available On betdaq.com Handicap Chase (5yo+, Class 2, 2m, 7 runners)
Hopefully saving the best until last and the long traveller Duke Of Navan is my nap. He has a touch of class (ran in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle here in 2013) and put in a good round last time to win a Listed Chase at Ayr despite being badly hampered at the first fence. If anything, this looks an easier challenge and trainer Gordon Richards appears to have spotted a good opportunity.
DAQMAN’S BETS (each staked to win 20 points)
BET 9.7pts win CASH AND GO (2.00 Kempton)
BET 14pts place ONE BIG LOVE (2.35 Kempton)
BET 2.7pts win CAULFIELDS VENTURE (3.10 Kempton)
BET 3.1pts win MISTER BENJAMIN (3.45 Kempton)
BET 12pts win (nap) DUKE OF NAVAN (4.20 Kempton)
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