NINE BANKERS UP OUT OF TEN: After the 10-lengths winner Bellshill at Gowran Park on Saturday, Death Duty (WON 10-11) romped seven lengths and more clear in yesterday’s prestigious Monksfield Hurdle at Navan to give Daqman two bankers out of two in Ireland at the weekend. He now has nine bankers out of the last 10:
WON 4-5 Tara View
WON 8-11 Le Prezien
WON 4-7 Baron Alco
WON 8-15 Asthuria
WON 4-5 Yanworth
WON 2-1 Lough Derg Spirit
(Royal Plaza 8-13 UR)
WON 10-11 Jenkins
WON 2-5 Bellshill
WON 10-11 Death Duty
DAQMAN MONDAY: A quiet days racing this Monday but DAQMAN has picked out three horses making a switch to fences that look worth a bet. Top Notch was a classy horse over hurdles but could face a tough test this afternoon from a young Nicholls challenger.
THE AINTREE YOUNG PRETENDERS..
I’m hoping for a Master stroke. After five winners in my Fortune Cookies, I want my Grand National contender, The Young Master, to win the Becher Chase at Aintree at the weekend.
But, though the National is still only visible through the reverse view down the racing telescope, I’m already worried about another horse.
If you have a look at Saturday’s Hennessy again, you will see Native River get a second wind after being up with the pace for seemingly long enough. It was definitely a Grand National performance, possibly a Gold Cup one. With the rise and rise of Team Tizzard, nothing would surprise me.
Native River will still only be seven on New Year’s Day; The Young Master, seven now, will be eight. More to come from one or both must be the obvious understatement.
The Young Master has not been seen since winning the Sandown Gold Cup (3m 5f) in April after running third in a big field at Cheltenham.
That pinned trainer Neil Mulholland’s name on the NH map and I put him up as a future champion trainer. But that was before the Tizzard blizzard of Cue Card, Thistlecrack and Native River. Is there no let-up? Watch this space.
WEIGHT CAN TELL FOR ROMAIN
1.25 Plumpton Top Notch has made a solid start over fences and was not far off top class over hurdles last season but he may struggle to give 12lbs to Romain De Senam. The selection was a smart horse over hurdles in his own right and is bred to improve for this switch to fences. Paul Nicholls does an excellent job of schooling his horses so it is not a major concern that this will be his first start over fences. An early mark of 3.85 has an appealing look to it.
3.00 Plumpton Yukon Delta has been making hay over hurdles of late winning his last two starts and must have every chance now switching back over fences. He seems equally capable over either obstacle and this does not look the strongest race on first glance. He is available to back at 3.05 on BETDAQ and he is recommended to make it a hat-trick of wins.
LOFGREN CAN LIGHT UP LUDLOW
2.40 Ludlow Lofgren was a solid performer for Enda Bolger and managed two wins over hurdles in his native Ireland and is very much of interest on debut for Donald McCain. This will be his first start over fences but he has always appealed as the type to jump a fence well and he will benefit from the recent switch of Adrian Heskin to the UK as he will again have his regular partner in the plate. Roadie Joe looks the main danger but didn’t look too comfortable over fences last time and at 3.75 to back Lofgren looks the bet.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 6pts win ROMAIN DE SENAM (Plumpton 1.25)
BET 9pts win LOFGREN (nap) (Ludlow 2.40)
BET 5pts win YUKON DELTA (Plumpton 3.00)
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