FOUR NAPS OUT OF SIX FOR OUR ‘STAR’ TIPSTER: Daqman sided with emerging jumps stars yesterday when he napped Call Me A Star (WON 10-11) and landed four Daq Multiples doubles with Sametegal (WON 1-2). That brought his current naps sequence to 112101.
BREEDERS CUP CAPS BIG DAY FOR JUMPING ACTION: There’s action of every description today on the Flat at Newmarket, big races over jumps at Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal, and tonight’s the night at the multi-million-dollar Breeders Cup in Santa Anita.
1.55 Newmarket Not a successful favourite in sight in the last decade, with winners including 33-1, 25-1 and 20-1, yet the race has thrown up some fine performers, including 1,000 Guineas winner Blue Bunting and Musidora heroine, Passage Of Time.
So what’s the race’s secret? Answer: top stables with a lightly-raced recent maiden winner have scored seven years running. Desert Image and Holowina seem to fit the bill.
But Power Of Light (4.6 on BETDAQ this morning), who came fresh from her maiden to run fourth in the Group-3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, was still green that day and unable to cope with the leap in class. This is less demanding.
2.15 Wetherby Every winner of this Listed had already tried their hand in Graded hurdles, among them last year’s scorer, Alasi. She goes again today but be warned that no horse has successfully carried the penalty; there have been no winners with more than the basic 10st 12lb.
Stamina is in her favour – she’s been successful over 2m 4f – which also applies to Donald McCain’s Golan mare She Ranks Me, who must step up from ordinary novice class.
Une Artiste cocked her jaw and cried enough at Punchestown after setting up a sequence of six out of seven but she’s top-rated just ahead of Baby Shine, whose main claim to fame is that she wins when fresh.
2.25 Down Royal (Champion Chase) A race for favourites and a favourite race for Paul Nicholls, whose five-year record is 11213. He reminds us of the mighty performances of Kauto Star in this by running his half-brother, Kauto Stone.
Kauto Star won it twice between 180 and 190, so Kauto Stone, having his first try at 3m, seems outclassed off 158, nearly a stone behind Ireland’s topmost rated horse in training, Sizing Europe (on 171) who was pulled out of the race this morning.
Last year’s winner, Quito De La Roque, has had only one race since because of sinus infections, and First Lieutenant has to buck the trends: only one novice has reached the frame in the last eight years.
Not only is the golden shot there today for the young Kauto Stone but it’s one his trainer must take, since the six-year-old goes so well when fresh. He was only five, and it was only 2m, when he ran second to Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek last term. There was 6.4 this morning in a punter-friendly 107% BETDAQ ‘book’ of offers in the orange – however this was pre-withdrawal of Sizing Europe so expect respective changes.
2.35 Ascot Nothing above the age of six wins this, and 11st 12lb has been carried to victory only once in the decade, though the impressive Ladbroke winner, Raya Star (10.5 on BETDAQ), doesn’t know that and his yard has just saddled 11 out of 12 in the frame from recent completers.
Paintball could win it on Imperial Cup form, and has had a run back, but he’s drifted like a dog on a raft this morning, way over the betting weir into the oblivion of 42.0.
It’s not the nearest to him at Sandown that day (Nampour second) that I fancy now but the losing favourite, Ted Spread (eighth), 11.0 this morning. Could improve and be competitive after a breathing op.
Ile De Re was a long way in arrears at Sandown and maybe the novice to worry about is Cape Express (8.4) who, in fact, hardly broke sweat to take his first handicap last week.
3.10 Ascot (United House Gold Cup) The presence of Poquelin pushes the bottom five horses out of the handicap but is a big help to his stablemate, Join Together – would otherwise be top weight – and, unwittingly, to last year’s winning stable with Ace High.
Ace High beat Join Together (fell) at Chepstow a year ago yet is now 9lb better off. He had the scalp of Duke Of Lucca in that race and he has a 10lb turnaround for four lengths with Mostly Bob on recent form. Despite being 7lb ‘wrong’ at the weights, Baile Anrai (offers of 13.0) can still go close .
2.50 (John Smith’s Hurdle) and 3.25 Wetherby (Charlie Hall Chase) If Grands Crus and Big Bucks were running today, they’d both be odds on, but there’s plenty of odds against about Smad Place and Silviniaco Conti who ran very well against them last season.
Restless Harry, last year’s winner of the hurdle, has to pay for it by giving weight all round but Cape Tribulation is a danger, fit from the Flat. However, on World Hurdle form, and with Alan King currently doing so well, Smad Place rates the nap. These three-milers rarely let you down.
In the Charlie Hall, you can bank on Time For Rupert – the big disappointment in this last year – bouncing back; Wayward Prince reviving for a new yard, or Master Of The Hall defying top weight (he’s won first time for two seasons now) and Planet Of Sound running his usual honest race when fresh Or you can simply rely on the young improver, Silviniaco Conti, knowing that he has an edge of up to four years on these old faces and, whatever happens today, he alone in the field seems the one sure to get your money back and ride the waves of big races to cone.
BREEDERS’ CUP – SANTA ANITA
6:50 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) (2yo, Class 1, 1m, 15 runners) The European challengers found it tough going (as I did) on Friday and will be looking to strike early – especially on the turf course. Dundonnell lost nothing in defeat when beaten by Toronado at Doncaster in September. He is developing into a smart performer for trainer Roger Charlton and most importantly likes the ground on the quick side and should cope with the step-up in distance from 7f to 1m. He’s a tentative selection to get Team Europe an early strike. SELECTION: Dundonnell
7:35 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1) (Dirt) (3yo+, Class 1, 7f, 10 runners) Groupie Doll looks a worthy favourite here. She is bidding for five wins in-a-row and is already a Grade 1 winner on the dirt. She has been revitalised with the blinkers and will prove hard to beat here. SELECTION: Groupie Doll
8:14 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m, 9 runners) Emcee, owned by Godolphin, can win this for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. He stormed clear to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga last time out and I’m sure he’ll see out the extra furlong here. Delegation is a tough performer who can go well at a big price. SELECTION: Emcee
8:57 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 6f 110y, 16 runners) Starspangled landed a place lay for my colleague Shamrock when out of the frame at Dundalk recently. He wasn’t beaten too far in fourth but it was still a surprise to see Aidan O’Brien run him here. Next Question is a Grade One winner at Woodbine who can go well here at a price. SELECTION: Next Question
9:36 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) (Dirt) (2yo, Class 1, 1m 110y, 9 runners) There’s a lot to like about the unbeaten Shanghai Bobby representing Todd Pletcher. The colt bolted home in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont last month and Pletcher’s 2010 winner of this race, Uncle Mo, won the same race in similar fashion before winning this. SELECTION: Shanghai Bobby
10:18 Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 4f, 12 runners) This looks a belter and St Nicholas Abbey should give a good account but he has been kept busy this season at the highest level and the well may have run dry. He’s up against a super tough performer in Point Of Entry who is rattling up an impressive sequence of wins which has included a hat-trick of Grade One races. SELECTION: Point Of Entry
10:58 Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (Dirt) (3yo+, Class 1, 6f, 14 runners) Fast Bullet is a speculative selection being the Bob Baffert third string in the race. But he is unbeaten and been clocking some fast work trials and remains a horse with immense potential. SELECTION: Fast Bullet
11:40 Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m, 9 runners) This looks one for Aidan with Excelebration who is a great horse. If Frankel hadn’t been around he would be heralded a wonder horse and judged by his win in the QEII Stakes at Ascot last time is still relishing his racing and can gain another deserved big race success here. SELECTION: Excelebration
12:35am Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) (Dirt) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 2f, 12 runners) If I haven’t had a Breeders’ Cup winner by this stage then there’s no hope. The richest race is saved until last and the prize money is outrageous with the winner collecting a staggering $2,860,500. I’m not sure we have the line-up worthy of the purse and Mucho Macho Man is a tentative selection for the finale. He’s a real consistent performer who seldom runs poorly and could easily be good enough to land the big’un. SELECTION: Mucho Macho Man
DAQMAN’S BETS:
BET 2.8pts win POWER OF LIGHT and 1.4pts win (stakes saver) DESERT IMAGE (1.55 Newmarket) BET 3.75pts win KAUTO STONE (2.25 Down Royal)
WIN-30 JACKPOT: BET 4.2pts win CAPE EXPRESS, 3.2pts win RAYA STAR, and 3pts win TED SPREAD (2.35 Ascot)
WIN-30 JACKPOT: 6pts win ACE HIGH and 2.5pts win BAILE ANRAI (3.10 Ascot) DAQ MULTIPLES: 10pts win on each SMAD PLACE (nap, 2.50 Wetherby) and SILVINIACO CONTI (3.25 Wetherby) plus 5 x 2pts win doubles and 2 x 1pt win trebles the same two with Aces High and Baile Anrai (both 3.10 Ascot)
* Daqman’s bets are staked at morning offers taken to win 20 points but 30 points for a jackpot
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