COURSE RECORD COULD GO IN SOUTHWELL SPRINT: It will be fast and furious, and some sort of record is on the card already, even for Southwell, as eight of 10 runners in the sprint have won 27 races over the course and distance and 32 on the track all told. Daqman investigates.
LOOK OUT THIS WEEK: Tomorrow, Daqman will be checking out the four Betdaq-sponsored races at Kempton Park. On Thursday is his ABC special on the Eclipse. Then, on Friday and Saturday, it’s the start of the big Haydock and Sandown meetings, featuring the Eclipse, the Lancashire Oaks and the Old Newton Cup.
I like course-and-distance specialists. But racing at Southwell is often a case of rounding up the usual suspects so it’s that old one about waiting for the No 6 bus if the destination is Rolleston Junction. You can be sure that half a dozen will come along together.
In fact, there are seven CD specialists in one race tonight, the 7.20, where Shawkantango’s CD form figures are 1111, Boogie Waltzer’s are 121, Sleepy Blue Ocean 11020, Six Wives 3213, Spic N Span 2101000122241221011 and Egyptian Lord 101411210000000000.
See what I mean about the usual suspects. But didn’t I say ‘seven’? Yes, the other one, Tilly’s Tale has run over the Southwell minimum only once – in fact, only ever once on the track and only ever once on AW – and won!
‘Tilly’ has more boxes ticked: her stable is in top form, and she’s well drawn in stall two as a front-runner. Spic ‘N Span, also a front-runner, is right alongside her in four.
Yet the pair are 11.0 (Tilly’s Tale) and 8.2 (Spic ‘N Span) on Betdaq as I write, tempting and tempting again, the back-and-lay in me. At the same time, my lay-and-bet instinct screams Shawkantango.
He’s hit 108.0 and 55.0 in running as a come-from-behind horse and, bearing in mind he’s unbeaten here, must be the rarest of the rare at Southwell, where rear runners are usually anathema to the backer.
Incredibly, ‘Tango’ won a SIX-horse race over 5f on this course, when two front-runners ensured him the pace he needs; he’s also won in a field of seven, as well as with 11 and 12 opponents in his four from four.
For no particular reason, except that she couldn’t get through, Boogie Waltzer has also won from behind here. Boogie Waltzer and Tilly’s Tale have the edge on most of these, in that they have scored a grade higher in class 4.
Since they’re claiming off ‘Tilly’ with a 7lb boy, I shall record my bets as Shawkantango to win, saver Boogie Waltzer, though it’s clearly a race in which to enjoy all the potential facilities of exchange betting: but you’ll have to be as fast out of the traps as Spic ‘N Span and Tilly’s Tale!
Brighton is, similarly, a track for the locals, the Epsom of the South, and with as many foibles as Southwell. Penang Cinta (4.00) hasn’t looked back since David Evans discovered the place for this eight-year-old.
His record on the dunes and downs seaside track is 1121012 and, despite that last win and even-money second only a week ago, he’s 9lb lower than when he was scoring at a similar time last year.
Achalas is a big threat: it’s no Brighton Rock today, with the ground good to soft, and thunderstorms forecast, and Achalas was a winner on the soft at Windsor last time out.
Ed Dunlop’s Lemon Drop Kid could improve for William Buick – he’ll have to – but I can get 5.4 Penang Cinta and save on the favourite, Achalas (at 2.5).
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 4.9pts win PENANG CINTA and 3.3pts win ACHALAS (4.00 Brighton)
BET 13pts win (nap) FIRE FIGHTER (4.15 Hamilton)
BET 4.4pts win SHAWKANTANGO and 1pt win (saver) BOOGIE WALTZER (7.30 Southwell)
