THREE EVENING BETS: DAQMAN starts a new week with three evening bets on Monday with his NAP running at Lingfield.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: He looks back at the big race action on Sunday highlighting the current terrific form of David Evans.
GALLANT LAWS LANDS GRAND PRIX
Ken Condon lays down the Laws again! The Kildare trainer dealt them a knock-out blow in the prestigious juvenile test, the Railway Stakes, at the Curragh a year ago.
His 66-1 winner that day, Laws Of Indices, came from nowhere and went nowhere in six further starts – no wins and just one place in a small field – until yesterday.
This time at 29-1, the super-gritty Laws made all the running in the £204,000 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville over the new 7f at Group-1 level.
Several times in hock-deep ground, he looked certain to be swallowed up by attackers on either side.
But always he emerged with his head in front and held off another Irish hope, Joseph O’Brien’s Thunder Moon, by that very margin.
One of my bets, Midtown, was a heavily-backed favourite for Andre Fabre, though the Dubawi colt had not been seen since November.
It was a fine feat of training to have him come from the rear and challenge for victory in the last 100 yards, finishing a close third.. Maybe next time..
But the winner is eponymously a law unto himself and there was no getting past him, whether you were on an Irish or a French opponent .
Wembley, a one-paced sixth, and Battleground (weakened final furlong, ninth) were never really on the premises for Aidan O’Brien.
A colossal recent run by Welsh trainer David Evans, of Rohaan fame, was capped by victory for Choux in the opening two-year-olds’ Listed, forced up to lead on the line by jockey Maxime Guyon.
David Evans 10 runners up to and including the Choux-in have finished 1101111041 under no fewer than eight different riders.
HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
⭕ 6.05 Lingfield Racing can be a tough game for finding winners at times but we take comfort from the fact that at least there are no penalty shootouts!
I’m sticking with the evening action for today’s three bets. Starting off at Lingfield with the opening novice stakes on the all-weather.
Cotai Hero has shown more than enough in his first two starts to suggest he can lose his maiden tag here. A promising debut fourth at Yarmouth was followed up by an even better run at Chester when he finished fourth (beaten just half a length) to Guest List. That came from a number 7 draw which made the effort even more commendable at the course which hugely favours those from a lower draw.
The form stacks up better than that of his two BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE market rivals who both finished runner-up last time out.
Red Showgirl improved on her disappointing Catterick debut to finish second to Optimising at Wolverhampton but will probably need to improve again whilst Jastar was second at Sandown to Mojomaker but beaten six lengths. It was an odd race as Jastar finished six and a half lengths clear of the third. It’s not often you see National Hunt distances recorded over the five furlong course at Sandown !
ELGAR IS IN IS POMP
⭕ 7.35 Lingfield I was slightly surprised to see the John and Thady Gosden trained Sir Edward Elgar as second best in the market at the time of writing.
The three-year-old hasn’t done much wrong in three starts – narrow defeats at Kempton and Newcastle followed up by a course and distance win here and he looks more progressive than the market leader Colonel Faulkner.
Sir Edward Elgar is back after a 166 day break but can make a winning start in handicap company.
Colonel Faulkner comes here on the back of a good effort when third at Kempton but just struggled to see out the mile trip and might again be vulnerable.
WARRIOR FOR HAT-TRICK
⭕ 8.55 Wolverhampton It’s the late, late show but Kayfast Warrior might be worth the wait.
The Tom Dascombe trained runner is out again under a penalty following an easy win on bottomless ground at Lingfield last week and should complete the quick hat-trick before the handicapper has his say.
DAQMAN’S BETS:
BET 8.3pts win (nap) COTAI HERO (6.05 Lingfield)
BET 3.5pts win SIR EDWARD ELGAR (7.35 Lingfield)
BET 6.25 points win KAYFAST WARRIOR (8.55 Wolverhampton)
