NAP WINS IN DAQMAN PURPLE PATCH: Daqman’s nap paid for the day at Chantilly yesterday but he reckons the French Derby was a race in which backers of the two market leaders found that the way they were ridden was ‘curious’.
Sunday: profit on the day 3.55
WON 6-5 PURPLEPAY (Chantilly nap: 2.62 on BETDAQ)
Saturday: profit on the day 65.60
WON 5-2 DESERT CROWN (Epsom Derby, Fortune Cookie)
WON 9-2 MEGALLAN (from 7.6 on BETDAQ)
WON 3-1 MIDNIGHTS LEGACY
TODAY: Fortune Cookies. TOMORROW: Royal Ascot countdown.
VADENI COULD BE IRISH CHAMPION
Curiouser and curiouser. I watched two Alice In Wonderland rides yesterday on soft ground in the same race, the French Derby.
Though the going had turned against them, and despite worries about his mount’s lack of stamina, William Buick took the option of getting across from the wide draw and forcing the pace after two furlongs on French Guineas winner, Modern Games.
Meanwhile, Cristian Demuro on Al Hakeem, the talking horse of Jean-Claude Rouget’s, also drawn wide, elected to hold on to him at the back of the field until, inside the final three furlongs, he made ground round the wide outside but was ‘nearest finish,’ fourth, never going to get there.
Rouget won the race for the Aga Khan with a son of Churchill, Vadeni, who took command as Modern Games faded. Vadeni went right away in the manner of Desert Crown, winning impressively, eased down.
Rouget declared: ‘It’s many years since I’ve seen a French Derby winner do that! This is a fine horse and, of course, a fine jockey (Christophe Soumillon).’
Charlie Appleby denied there was anything curious about Modern Games performance but admitted that he wanted to ‘test the fractions’ before taking him to America on faster ground for the Derbys of Belmont and Saratoga.
Vadeni could take in the Irish Champion Stakes on his way to the Arc. Al Hakeem goes back to the drawing board.
FORTUNE COOKIES’ RATINGS UPDATE
REVISED Fortune Cookies with ratings and possible future engagements.
127 DESERT CROWN Irish Derby or King George
123 VADENI Irish Champion Stakes
122 EMILY UPJOHN Irish Oaks
122 WESTOVER Irish Derby
121 COROEBUS St James Palace Stakes
120 TRUESHAN Ascot Gold Cup
120 HOMELESS SONGS Eclipse Stakes
117 LUXEMBOURG Irish Derby
115 INSPIRAL Coronation Stakes
113 PERFECT POWER Commonwealth Cup
113 TEONA Hardwicke Stakes
104 HIGHFIELD PRINCESS Jubilee Stakes
103 ALFRED MUNNINGS Railway Stakes.
102 MY ASTRA Pretty Polly Stakes
097 JUST FINE John Smiths Cup
082 LIR SPECIALE next race not decided.
— AUGUSTE RODIN next race not decided.
*Results so far: Homeless Songs won 11-2, Desert Crown won 7-2, Desert Crown won 5-2; Emily Upjohn 2nd; Stone Age unplaced; Changingoftheguard unplaced; Toy unplaced; With The Moonlight unplaced.
ANGEL TO DELIGHT
⭕ 2.28 Lingfield It should prove third time lucky for Grace Angel who has already made a promising start to her career.
After a debut fifth at Newmarket she improved to finish second here last time on the turf course. She looked all over the winner two furlongs out but was headed close home by Lady Jane Grey. It looked reasonable early season form – Byefornow a Bath winner was back in fourth.
She is preferred to main BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE rival Diomed Spirit who should improve on second start after showing promise at Windsor over six furlongs. The drop back in trip should help too but the current stable form of Stuart Williams (0-21) is a concern.
The two debutants probably need to be above average to win this and the early market wasn’t providing many positive clues which leaves Knowwhatimeanharry who ran a shocker at Wolverhampton last time out and it doesn’t really read much of positive that the visor is now fitted.
HARBOUR IN SAFE WATERS
⭕ 4.48 Lingfield Harbour Storm comes with a wealth warning more than a weather warning as his career CV reads 1/20 but the sole win came on the all-weather and there were signs last time out that a return to the winners’ enclosure is imminent.
The step back to the minimum trip for the first time in his career looks a good move rather than an afterthought. He was speedy enough to lead until deep inside the final furlong last time out over six furlongs so the pace of this shouldn’t phase him.
It’s very competitive with plenty of course and distance experts including Hey Ho Let’s Go who has been in great form but seemed to struggle off his career high mark of 65 here last time out and the 1lb relief he gets today might not be enough.
Tributo is of more interest – it was only a claimer he won last time out but it was on stable debut for Phil McEntee and if the move has freshened him up he could be well handicapped.
THE SPECIAL ONE
⭕ 7.45 Windsor Special Envoy only went down by a neck on debut at Newmarket and shaped liked a sure fire future winner.
He stayed on really well over 1m 2f and should relish the distance again which will be more a stamina test down to the testing ground forecast.
The form of his second to Warren Point took a boost when the winner followed up at Doncaster.
Special Envoy is preferred to Wilkins who was a beaten odds-on favourite at Redcar last time out and whilst he should be suited by the step up in distance he lacks the scope of the selection and Monday nap.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.28 Lingfield (win 10)
BET 7.5pts win GRACE ANGEL
4.48 Lingfield (win 10)
BET 2.8pts win HARBOUR STORM
7.45 Windsor (win 10, nap)
BET 10.0pts win SPECIAL ENVOY
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
