IT’S THE LIFE OF RILEY AS 3-1 SHOT LANDS NAPS HAT-TRICK: Daqman yet again landed his nap yesterday, Rileyev (WON 3-1), following Grands Crus (banker WON 2-7) and Fists Of Fury (WON evens) to give him three best bets in a row. He completed SEVEN such naps on the trot earlier in the month.
1.30 Newbury (Fulke Walwyn Trophy) Master Fiddle, already a course winner over hurdles, will be an even better horse on his chasing debut after a wind op, and staying is in his blood.
At 4.0 on Betdaq this morning, I fancy him to land the nap. Has been in fine form at home, schooling well, and has a nice mark in a modest handicap.
2.05 Newbury (Gerry Feilden Hurdle) Afsoun alone in 2006 – one of three winners for Nicky Henderson in the decade – has defied a weight over 10st 13lb. in the last eight years, and the highest rated since 1998 has been 143.
It’s a tall order for Rock On Ruby off 145 and on 11st 10lb, so punters are expecting another Harry Derham day as he takes 7lb off Ruby’s stablemate Empire Levant.
Empire Levant is trying to beat a rise in the ratings but, if he employs his usual make-all style, he could set it up for Captain Chris’s sister, Dream Function (6.2), who needs all of this trip, so will be suited by a strong pace.
2.20 Newcastle (Fighting Fifth) Billed as the definitive Champion Hurdle trial but, in fact, produces the Near-Miss Champions (like Peddlers Cross last year).
So Newcastle will be pleased to see a former champion, Binocular, take on a former runner-up, Celestial Halo. Binocular has been below par on his reappearance in the last two seasons, and has been beaten in the Fighting Fifth, but Nicky Henderson is no fool.
He knows Binocular is an unlikely winner of the 2012 Champion Hurdle so he’ll want to try to take his scalps early on this time. He has already beaten Overturn, at Cheltenham in January.
2.35 Newbury (Long Distance Hurdle) I was hoping for better opposition so I could go banco on Big Buck’s but his nearest rival, Duc De Regniere, is 24lb adrift in the ratings and, barring mishap, Buck’s is a 6-1 on shot.
Still better than a bank but, then, putting your money under an old mattress in a doss house is better than a bank, and smells sweeter.
3.10 Newbury (Hennessy Gold Cup) Seven of the last eight winners were aged six or seven, and the best of the older horses here, Beshabar and Neptune Collonges, will be seen to better advantage in the Nationals of Aintree, Chepstow and Ayr, though ‘Neptune’ needs to get his weight down a good few pounds.
The reverse is the case with Paddy Power winner Great Endeavour and this morning’s talking horse, Tullamore Dew: neither has won beyond 22f and there are doubts about today’s trip, though the Paddy Power double has been done three times. Great Endeavour has tried 3m twice before and failed.
Michel Le Bon has to win it after two years’ absence and only one run over fences. That makes this morning’s offers of 9.4 laughable. Should be 19.4.
My first plus horse of the Hennessy is Planet Of Sound (13.0), three out of four at Newbury; third in the Arkle and good-ground winner of the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown. His form tailed off but he’s had a breathing op that should return him to, or close to, his top-class form.
Aiteen Thirtythree (9.4) follows the pattern of previous winners, just out of the novice stage – including Denman – and had a good blow from the front when second to the smart Somersby at Kempton.
Ahead of him in the RSA, third, was four-time novice winner Wayward Prince (9.0), but it’s a worry that visors were suddenly applied – and failed – at Aintree, after mistakes cost him the Cheltenham big race.
In front of Wayward Prince at Haydock was Wymott (11.0), as he, too, strode to four straight wins but he was pulled up in that RSA and his front-running style is unlikely to land a long-distance event. Balthazar Prince has the same problem.
Billie Magern (47.0) was staying on in the Paddy Power as if this extra threequarters of a mile were needed but has yet to show the touch of class needed to win a Hennessy.
Muirhead (26.0), on the other hand, was classy enough to be fifth in two Champion Hurdles at Cheltenham and Punchestown, and winner of the Munster National in a very brief chasing career.
3.30 Newcastle (Rehearsal Chase) This hasn’t been a genuine Gold Cup rehearsal since the days of See More Business and Sir Rembrandt (2002-3) when the race was run at Chepstow. Since then 2008 Cheltenham third, Neptune Collonges, is the best the race could offer.
It looks finally humbled today, with only one previous winner in the field above class 3; that’s Hey Big Spender, missing the Hennessy for this, dropped from Graded races to this handicap posing as a Listed.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 6.6pts win (nap) MASTER FIDDLE (1.30 Newbury)
BET 3.8pts win DREAM FUNCTION and 1.5pts win (stakes saver) EMPIRE LEVANT (2.05 Newbury)
WIN-30 JACKPOT: 3.5pts win AITEEN THIRTYTHREE and 0.6pts win and place BILLIE MAGERN, plus already ante-post 1.1pts win MUIRHEAD at 27.0 (now add 1.1pts place) (3.10 Newbury)
BET 4.1pts win HEY BIG SPENDER (3.30 Newcastle)
DAQ MULTIPLES SATURDAY YANKEE: Master Fiddle (1.30 Newbury), Dream Function (2.05 Newbury), Binocular (2.20 Newcastle), Hey Big Spender (3.30 Newcastle)
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