BACK-TO-BACK NAPS AT 100-30 AND 85-40 NAP: Daqman followed up Fennell Bay (WON 85-40) on Tuesday with another winning nap, Aiken (WON 100-30), in the Great Met at Epsom yesterday.
SANDOWN GOLD CUP ABC: Here’s Daqman’s analysis of Saturday’s big race, with the key to the stats as follows:
A 10st to 10st 13lb (8 winners out of last 10)
B Rated 132 to 145 (7 out of 10)
C Ran at the Cheltenham Festival (7 out of 10)
D Lightly raced in the year (8 out of 10).
E Unplaced in last two in their year or in only recent run (6 out of 10).
He fits the bill. Swing Bill is the ideal type for Saturday’s Sandown Gold Cup, as a lightly-raced animal this year, running only at Cheltenham and in the Grand National, reducing his rating to a pound off his winning mark of last November.
ABCDE Swing Bill His career was diverted to Aintree (got round and will run on Saturday only if fully recovered), because of his success in jumping the big fences in the Bechers Chase but he’s proved capable at Cheltenham and on the sharp and enigmatic Wincanton track.
ABCD Enter Paradise The former Pointer and hunter-chaser is another with only two runs on his CV this year, winning at Fakenham before unseating in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham, getting no further than the third.
ABC Your Busy Unplaced in the Kim Muir, which was his return to senior racing after seconds in novice events but needs a sound surface and has poor strike rate (1-18).
ABDE Viking Blond Fell in the National after returning at Ascot. Likes to get his own way, and has won only a small-field novice chase in the last two years.
ABD Dovers Hill Back to form at Sandown latest when his mark dropped below his win of a year ago but back up to a rating now off which he has never even been placed.
ABD Le Beau Bai The mudlark winner of the Welsh National who wouldn’t have had his ground at Aintree, so Haydock Park Grand National trial third was only his second race of the year.
ABE Vic Venturi Has won only Points since taking the Bobbyjo more than two years back, and 19lb lower in the ratings than a year ago. But he is 12 now.
ABD Ouzbeck Well behind Ethiopia at Chepstow in October and behind Knighton Combe earlier, so dropped 9lb over the last year. Back to form last month with good second to Ikorodu Road.
AB Major Malarkey In the doldrums, but highly tried since 10lb rise for novice success at Newbury in December, 2010: back to form latest – second Midlands National – but now on even higher mark.
AB Roalco De Farges Has struggled for 11lb rise after taking Fulke Walwyn (novice handicap) Trophy at Newbury in November, and win at Chepstow recently was in small field reverting to novice company.
ADE Qianshan Leader Won a decent race at Doncaster in December but, back to the same course, only fifth off 8lb higher in the Great Yorkshire the following month. Not seen since.
AD Pilgrims Lane Third to Ethiopia at Chepstow in October and not seen this year; a Spring horse down in the ratings who needs top of the ground.
AE Any Currency Good second in Graded race at Cheltenham and third in the London Marathon at Sandown in December. Highly tried since and eased 5lb.
A Aldertune This will be his third consecutive race at Sandown after runner-up spot in two class-3 chases, including Royal Artillery Gold Cup. Consistent but hard to win with (chasing strike rate 1-10).
BCE Tullamore Dew Highly tried and fair runs in defeat last year, including behind Qianshan Leader. Best effort beaten in photo finish at Ascot but out of his depth at Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.
B Galaxy Rock Spring horse fourth in Kim Muir last year but failed to deliver when well fancied for Coral National, Great Yorkshire (fourth) and Scottish National, with McCoy up the last twice.
B Rare Bob Brought down in Grand National at Aintree after third in Munster National at Naas. Always highly tried including third Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown at this time last year. One win in last 18 starts.
DE Deep Purple Dropped 11lb and back to form to win London National at Sandown in December but fell when fancied at Kempton and pulled up in Liverpool Grand National.
DE Ethiopia Ties in with several of these (see above) and surprise winner at Chepstow in October off Saturday’s mark. Not much to show off higher marks since.
DE West End Rocker Geared to last two Aintree Nationals after impressive prep wins, including 22-lengths romp in Becher Chase in December, but failed to get round both times. Still on highest ever mark.
D Free World Consistent in lower class, winning at Stratford, but pulled up United House Gold Cup at Ascot and Southern National at Fontwell.
E Tidal Bay Top-class hurdler and novice-chaser, consistently highly tried in Graded chases, now dropped to last winning mark (but that was when he won the Arkle in 2008). Sixth in last year’s Gold Cup, most recently fourth to Big Buck’s in Liverpool Hurdle.
– Knighton Combe, Mumbles Head, Upham Atom
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 3.5pts win (nap) TIGERINO (2.50 Wolverhampton)
BET 6.4pts win DOOR BOY (3.30 Perth)
BET 6.4pts win ROYAL DEFENCE (5.40 Brighton)
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