GOLD CUP DRAMA BUT BIG VALUE BACKSTAGE: Amid the fall-out from the Kauto Star Gold Cup shock, Daqman spots more value ante-post on Betdaq, in the ’big, big, big’ offers about Backstage.
40 POINTS FROM WIN BETS IN TWO DAYS: After 11-2 and 7-2 winners on Wednesday, Daqman struck again yesterday with Father Probus (WON 7-1) for a profit of 12 points on his win bets, adding to 28 points the day before.
‘FLY’ STING HITS LAYS PROFITS: But the Daqman lays were punished when, though Silver Roque (3rd 7-1) was landed, Small Fly and Dark Shadow refused to lie down; Small Fly was expensive at 9-2.
Fingers crossed for Kauto Star. That’s not my pocket talking – I rarely bet in the Gold Cup – but my love for a sensational horse and for the spectacle of the race. This year’s gold will not glister without him.
Meanwhile, I thought I had done with ante-post betting on Cheltenham but Betdaq opened more races this morning and that means, you can bet your life, more value.
Trainers are creatures of habit and it could be that Gordon Elliott is following the pattern with Silver Birch that won him the 2007 Grand National: taking in the cross-country at Cheltenham (Silver Birch finished second).
Money invested with the bookies in the last few days has seen the Elliott Aintree hope, Backstage, come in to 7-1 in places and 8-1 with Ladbrokes for the Glenfarclas race on the opening day.
But don’t bother to bet such measly odds, when there’s a big, big, big 16.5 Backstage on Betdaq, as I write. It’s a double-your-winnings offer you can’t refuse.
Tuesday’s 3m 7f marathon is a more open cross-country this year, as such as Garde Champetre reach retirement age, and Backstage Aintree backers – yours truly among them – should deploy their cash, as he needs plenty to come out above him if he is to get into the National as one of the hottest lightweights for years.
Last year’s National 10th (same placing as Mon Mome before he won the following year), Backstage has kept his weight at rock bottom by running only in point-to-points since then. His record? Six in a row.
2.55 Newbury (Geoffrey Gilbey Trophy) Small field but hell for leather. Front-runner Marodima would normally take some catching but Lord Singer tends to pull himself into contention after a few fences.
Neither one has won off today’s high ratings, but then the recent novice winner, Niceonefrankier, is 17lb higher than for his last open-handicap success a class lower than this.
But best guess is that Marodima, and trainer Jamie Snowden’s fortunes, have slumped: Marodima tailed off last time and Jamie hasn’t had a winner for 40 days. He clearly has to bounce back.
I’ll rely on the improver, six-year-old Niceonefrankie, who likes a sound surface, whereas the year older Lord Singer prefers some cut and isn’t always fluent at his fences.
3.30 Newbury With six winners in six days to the end of February, northern ace Don McCain has been showing the others how it’s done at Bangor, Catterick, Newcastle, Warwick and Wetherby.
Now the six-gun aims Railway Dillon for his hat-trick in territory occupied by the formidable sharp-shooters of the deep South, Nicholls, King and Henderson.
I’m having similar stakes on Niceonefrankie and Railway Dillon, expecting one of them to win and make my day but I can’t resist a bit each way on 10.0 trade Roi De Rose (4.35), a triple winner on good going.
He’s got his ground for the first time over here against Plein Pouvoir (must have rain), Ballyallia Man (flattered by getting all his own way at Southwell) and The Boss, a maiden over fences but the likely danger on his course second over shorter in December.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET: 8.8pts win NICEONEFRANKIE (2.55 Newbury)
BET: 8.6pts win RAILWAY DILLON (3.30 Newbury)
BET 2.2pts win and place ROI DE ROSE, and 1pt win (stakes saver) THE BOSS (4.35 Newbury)
ANTE-POST: WIN-40 JACKPOT: 2.5pts win BACKSTAGE (Cross-Country, Cheltenham)
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