3-1 OPINION MAKES IT BACK-TO-BACK NAPS: Daqman is in top form for Royal Ascot: he followed up his Friday nap on Valiant (WON 7-4) with Opinion (WON 3-1) at Sandown yesterday.
80 POINTS PROFIT IN TWO DAYS: On Friday he also tipped Talk Of Saafend (WON 4-1) and Birdman (WON 11-8) and yesterday additionally named Navajo Chief (WON 6-1) for more than 80 points profit in the two days.
GOLD-CUP FAME COMES FROM TOP CRITERIA: Daqman’s stats analysis reveals the dominance of the favourite, Fame And Glory, in Thursday’s big race:
A Group-1 winner
B Placed in previous year’s Gold Cup
C Aged between five and seven
D Winner last time out
ABCD Fame And Glory (120) Officially rated 120, last year’s winner ticks all the boxes and has been backed in the run-up to the race as though defeat this second time around is out of the question.
His three-lengths supremacy over Opinion Poll in the 2011 Gold Cup was reduced to a length and a quarter in the Long Distance Cup over four furlongs less on the same course in October but he scored over an even shorter distance when taking the Vintage Crop Stakes (1m 6f) on his reappearance at Navan last month.
BCD Opinion Poll (116) His third in the Group-1 Prix Royal Oak of October 2010 suggested a staying future but he was campaigned in Meydan last Spring and his second to Fame And Glory in last year’s Gold Cup (June 2011) was his first outing in England since running fourth in the Doncaster Cup (September 2010).
The same Meydan Spring campaign this term saw him win the Dubai Gold Cup before dropping back to Group 3 and taking the Henry 11 Stakes at Sandown. It’s doubtful from this repetitious CV, and since he is the same age as the favourite, that he has made the vital few lengths improvement required.
C Askar Tau (110) Has eight-and-a-half lengths to make up on Fame And Glory (his Gold Cup fifth last season) and he was 11 lengths inferior to Opinion Poll on his reappearance in the Henry 11 Stakes.
C Bridge Of Gold (102) Ebor third in 2010, his head defeat in the John Porter Stakes (1m 4f) of 2011 was his last race before finishing third in the same event in April. Disappointed in a Listed race since.
C Caucus (104) Group-3 placed in 2010 after third at Royal Ascot in the King George V Stakes but has disappointed at Group-2 and handicap level since.
C Lacateno (106) His third in the Italian St Leger is among seven defeats since he won a 2m Listed in Hamburg.
C Nehaam (110) Stepped up from handicaps – he won one at Ascot last July (1m 4f) – to run a narrow fourth to Fame And Glory, Opinion Poll and Colour Vision in that Long Distance Cup at Ascot (2m) in October.
D Colour Vision (117) For a three-year-old to reach the frame in a Cup race is a rare achievement. He was just a length and a half behind Fame And Glory in the British Champions Long Distance Cup in October over 2m of the Gold Cup course.
He showed by beating Red Cadeaux first time back in the Sagaro Stakes that he is a more mature animal this season, but only two four-year-olds have won this since 1999.
D Memphis Tennessee (117) Epsom Derby fourth and Curragh Derby third last year after being runner-up in the Leopardstown trial.
Ormonde (1m 5f, Group 3) winner at Chester on reappearance, his longest trip so far. Also engaged in the Hardwicke Stakes (Saturday)
– Gulf Of Naples (107) Second in the Queen’s Prize and third in the Chester Cup, he was outpaced dropped back to 1m 6f on firm ground in a Listed at York.
– Ibicenco (110) Placed in Group 3 twice and runner-up in German Group 1, but best performance stepped up to 2m for the first time when second, beaten nearly three lengths, by Opinion Poll in the Henry 11 Stakes at the end of last month.
– Overturn (116) Usually a front-runner, has won Grade 1 over hurdles but best form on the Flat is when winning the Northumberland Plate (handicap) and he was only seventh to Opinion Poll at Group-2 level (Goodwood Cup).
– Saddler’s Rock (114) Lightly raced with just seven runs to his name, he’s had only one try beyond 1m 6f. But what a performance for a three-year-old!
He stamped himself a stayer to be reckoned with when taking the Doncaster Cup (2m 2f) by four lengths from Gold Cup runner-up Opinion Poll, albeit getting allowances that meant he was in receipt of 17lb. Raced only on heavy in one run as a four-year-old.
DAQMAN’S BETS:
BET 2.8pts win SHAHZAN (3.35 Doncaster)
BET 4pts win (nap) BETTERBETTERBETTER (3.50 Cork)
HORSES TO FOLLOW running today: KISSED (2.45 Chantilly)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 3 x 1pt win doubles and 1pt win treble Kissed (2.45 Chantilly), Shahzan (3.35 Doncaster) and Betterbetterbetter (3.50 Cork)
* Daqman’s selections are backed to win 20 points so, if you divide 20 by his stake, you know the Betdaq offer taken at the time of writing.
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