DAQMAN’S BANK HOLIDAY HINTS: Daqman tries to find some holiday money from travelling trainer and jockey Tim Easterby and Derek O’Connor, as he starts with a Malibu and takes the Hollywood Road at Epsom. But his nap is an old Friend, Silvestre De Sousa, at Ripon. Those are the hints. Now for the reasons behind them.
MALIBU LOOKS A HOLIDAY HIT
3.15 Epsom While his big meeting this week is Ripon with 12 declared over the two days, Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby sends just the one – Midnight Malibu – down to Epsom.
The reason is plain to see. Malibu is a fast trapper, second four times, including when he went clear 150 yards out at Haydock with 9st 12lb and failed to last out by a neck. Epsom should suit, and 10.5 offers this morning look tasty for a win-and-place bet.
3.50 Epsom (Amateurs’ Derby) Top Irish amateurs – step forward Mr Codd and Mr Mullins – have won this three years out of four, and here’s Mr O’Connor to make it four.
The in-form Don Cantillon couldn’t have made a better booking than former Irish champion Derek O’Connor for 4.7 BETDAQ offer Hollywood Road, whose own turf form in the last 14 months from 1m 2f on the Flat to 2m over hurdles is 22211021101322, quite remarkable for one still able to run in this class 4.
A race like this is a big attraction for top amateurs, because most amateur events are confined to lady riders or novices, so Derek is delighted to fly over.
Top amateurs are more comfortable with a married-man’s weight, so there is rarely an advantage in your horse having a low handicap mark. The last six winners have all carried 11st 2lb or more.
SILVESTRE IS YOUR FRIEND
3.55 Ripon (Rowels Handicap) Yorkshire yards have kept this at home eight years out of 10 but have a formidable usurper today in Clive Cox. He sends up Laidback Romeo, who has run five of his last seven races at Sandown, where he won the Whitsun Cup.
Home Cummins was runner-up in this race last year, and Gurkha Friend – from a stable in form – made all the running here twice in the Spring, one of them under Silvestre de Sousa, who renews their partnership today.
Brilliant Vanguard is another who likes the course – two of his three wins have been here – but he may be beaten off early from the one stall by Gurkha Friend (6.0 BETDAQ), who is next door in two.
4.30 Ripon (Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy) Recent winners have been rated 88 to 100, so Lake Volta (100) and Helvetian (102) look well qualified.
You rarely have to look further than the front of the betting, with the winner no bigger than 9-2 at SP for nine years in the decade.
Lake Volta has made ‘hand over fist’ improvement (quote unquote the trainer’s son). But Helvetian is a much better colt on a right-handed track.
He was up against leading lights of Ballydoyle (Sioux Nation and US Navy Flag) when he finished behind in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on the last day.
Though only on 96, Enjazaat landed a gamble with his head in his chest at Yarmouth and was not disgraced in the July Stakes behind Cardsharp, US Navy Flag and the Coventry winner, Rajsinghe.
At 5.6, and with Jim Crowley up, he’s nearly four times the offers about Lake Volta, who is the saver at slightly better than evens.
FINAL FLING: GO FOR A TOUCH
4.55 Epsom Innocent Touch likes it here. A super 6.2 on BETDAQ, he won this race last year with the same rating and weight and was just pipped in a big field in a class 2 for a top handicap at the Derby meeting.
There’s talk of the Cambridgeshire for High End so this is a vital test on turf after beating nothing well at Wolverhampton a grade lower. Still looks green and might not cope with battling a seasoned handicapper like Innocent Touch.
DAQMAN’S BETS
12.30 Southwell: staked to win 20 points
BET 4pts win ARCADIAN SEA
3.15 Epsom: staked to win 30 points
BET 3pts win and place MIDNIGHT MALIBU
3.50 Epsom: staked to win 30 points
BET 8pts win HOLLYWOOD ROAD
3.55 Ripon: staked to win 30 points
BET 6pts win (nap) GURKHA FRIEND
4.30 Ripon: main bet staked to win 30 points
BET 6.5pts win ENJAZAAT
BET 6pts win (stakes saver) LAKE VOLTA
4.55 Epsom: main bet staked to win 30 points
BET 6pts win INNOCENT TOUCH
BET 3.25pts win (stakes saver) HIGH END
5.35 Ripon: staked to win 20 points
BET 2.75pts win and place ADVENTUREMAN
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