NAP HAND OF CLASSIC WINNERS: Daqman’s banker bet on Winter (WON 8-13) in the Irish 1,000 Guineas yesterday gave him five Classic winners in 22 days, as follows:
WON 6-4 CHURCHILL (2,000 Guineas banker)
WON 47-10 ALWAYS DREAMING (Kentucky Derby)
WON 9-1 WINTER (1,000 Guineas nap)
WON 4-9 CHURCHILL (Irish 2,000 top rating, multiples)
WON 8-13 WINTER (Irish 1,000 top rating, banker)
NOW FOR THE OAKS AND DERBY: Daqman fans are already celebrating the Derby and the Oaks with ante-post ‘overs’ as a first position for Epsom on Friday and Saturday. The column has 25-1 Enable (Oaks to win 100) and 10-1 Cliffs Of Moher (Derby to win 50). Current BETDAQ offers are 5.5 and 5.6 respectively, 7-2 and 4-1 with bookmakers.
‘HIDDEN HORSE’ HOLIDAY PUNTS: Daqman starts Derby week with an English Bank Holiday round-up of ‘hidden horses’, tucked away at Leicester, Redcar and Windsor, with BETDAQ offers up to 14.5 this morning.
BE SMART AND BACK THE GIRL
There could be skid-pan conditions. Heavy showers about on firm surfaces could bring surprise results.
We’ll try to anticipate some of those surprises. We certainly can’t back big at short odds because of the weather. That’s been the problem all over the weekend.
So, when an animal like Winter makes light of it, you should stay with her all season. Most other races at the Curragh were slow by between eight and 16 seconds.
I’ve got another girl for you to start the day’s betting but rain is forecast at Redcar in some form most of the day.
1.15 Redcar Bryan Smart has plotted to win this three times recently.
Gambles were landed in 2010 with Feel The Heat (won 3-1) and two years ago with Shottingsta (won 15-8).
In between, in 2014, his Secret Oasis was punted in to 5-2 but broke down during the race, giving him form figures over seven seasons of 1P1.
I think we can assume that Melrose Girl, though offered at 14.5 on BETDAQ early mouse, is ‘the business’ this afternoon. She’s the daughter of Bryan’s flying machine Monsieur Bond, winner of six races for him, two as a juvenile.
BOLETE COULD BOLT UP IN CUP
3.35 Redcar (Zetland Gold Cup) This is a class-3 race posing as class 2. Only Banditry has won at this level, and that was on Tapeta.
Jim Goldie has had three winners in five days, including a double, back to back, on the Scottish circuit for job jockey Sam James.
That makes Euchen Glen of particular interest, and she was back to form on the last day but that was in class 4.
David Barron and Mark Johnston, who have farmed this race with two wins apiece since 2007, go head to head via Swift Emperor, who was third in the race last year for Barron, and a brace of Johnstons, Rainbow Rebel and Beardswood.
There’s not much between Briardale and Rainbow Rebel on Ripon form, with Rainbow Rebel more likely to enjoy the rain.
But there’s a hidden horse here. I reckon King Bolete can run them ragged, despite top weight, against this bunch of posers.
Seen the last twice at Group 1 and 2 levels, he made all back to back for a Spring double last season on firm but has also won on soft.
I think he’s a 3-1 shot here for 10 points to win 30, but is offered at a huge 8.4 on BETDAQ this morning. I’ll stick to my opinion to more than double my money with the original stake to 74 points profit..
DOREEN TO RUFFLE SLEEK
3.50 Leicester Both So Sleek and Perfect In Pink are already qualified for handicaps but stay in maiden company. Luca Cumani has a 23% strike rate at Leicester and should score with So Sleek.
She has been keeping very good company in her maidens, and should relish the step up in trip. But the stable is 0-19 in the last two weeks.
So Sleek was outpaced by Oaks hope, Horseplay, on her debut last season, and on the last day, a month ago, was beaten a short-head and a neck by Serenada, who was third in the Musidora, little more than two lengths off Shutter Speed.”
Another yard in the race is struggling for winners. Twice in the last few days, I’ve put up Mick Channon runners working well at home. But I won’t be on Perfect In Pink, with the stable missing strike so badly .
In the last week, Channon’s had four seconds and three thirds – five others finished fourth -without hitting the target in 20 attempts, among them four favourite or second favourite.
Sir Michael Stoute has 33% hits at Leicester, and Doreen, who was behind So Sleek in the Horseplay race last season, looks poised to improve after a reappearance run at Wolverhampton.
LET’S FOLLOW JIM’S LEAD
4.25 Leicester Roger Varian, who has won this twice since 2011, has champion Jim Crowley on Ejaaby, who is so highly regarded that he has started favourite on all four starts to date.
Ejaaby, a 5.7 BETDAQ offer as I write, likes to race keenly and when Jim Crowley took over on her here at Leicester recently, he advised this drop back to 6f. No pressure today then, Jim!
Did he also advise this step up in class? It’s a tough little contest, but, having backed Roger Varian with King Bolete, I reckon I can get a return from one of his two, with both ‘hidden’ at class or trip, their true worth disguised and hopefully revealed today.
FULL MONTY! EXPECT A SHOW
4.40 Windsor Dreamboat Annie (1.45), Perfect Summer (2.55) and Justanother bottle (3.30) remind me of river rides down to Windsor races.
And the Famous Monday Night Racing Handicap (4.40) is where I suspect a punt – pun intended – on my final ‘hidden horse’ today, Monteverdi, with Jamie Spencer booked by Jamie Osborne, an 8.6 BETDAQ offer
The two Jamies will be hoping that class with see him through, dropped two grades on his narrow debut second last Spring, following a first-run success the previous August. Much better than the bare form. The fully Monty, in fact!
DAQMAN’S BETS (each staked to win 30)
1.15 Redcar
BET 2.25pts win and place MELROSE GIRL
3.35 Redcar
BETDAQ BONUS BET 10pts win (nap) KING BOLETE
3.50 Leicester
BET 6pts win DOREEN
4.25 Leicester
BET 6.25pts win EJAABY
4.40 Windsor
4pts win and place MONTEVERDI
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