BETDAQ QUINTET OF KEMPTON PARK RACES: Betdaq sponsors five races on the Kempton Park card tonight, starting with a cracking handicap which features some of the leading stables. Daqman investigates the form.
5.40 Kempton (Free Entry For Betdaq Members Handicap): There are a lot of ifs and buts about the shape of this race: Kyllachy Spirit from stall 2 looks most likely to lead but Michael Hills would probably like to get across early on Dean Swift.
On the only occasion this colt has been ridden forcefully, he won at Goodwood but it was a canny ride by Martin Dwyer, who slowed them all down from the front that day.
Mutajare is interesting over 1m 2f for the first time, with Richard Hills an unusual jockey booking. Trumpington Street has tried the trip before and failed.
The worries about Tahaamah are that, as a hold-up horse drawn 1, he could get swallowed up on the rail; secondly, all his good form seems to be on an easy surface. Tough call.
6.10 Kempton (Betdaq Multiples Maiden Fillies Stakes, Division 1): There was just one race last year – not two divisions – and Sir Michael Stoute won it with first-time-on-a-racecourse Tuscania. The well-bred grey-roan Yanabeeaa tries to repeat the trick this evening for Freemason Lodge.
Garzoni, Ihtifal (hood first time), Jellicle and Proud Pearl are bred for this surface and Operettist is better drawn than Whimsical of the Hannon pair. The Betdaq market is the essential guide.
6.40 Kempton (Betdaq Multiples Maiden Fillies Stakes, Division 2): Solo Northern raider from Kevin Ryan’s hot two-year-old yard, End Of Dreams has the plum stall one.
Likely favourite Cresta Star, a Teofilo filly, is in a nearby stall, but stays in a maiden after three runs for a top nursery trainer. Richard Hughes prefers her to the exposed Miss Astragal but, then, he would, wouldn’t he.
Twin Shadow and Yours Ever are likely types but have been given wide berths, and I’ll take a chance on End Of Dreams at a value 11.0, as I write.
7.10 Kempton (Back or Lay At betdaq.com Handicap): The draw is usually vital in this, and makes Kieren Fallon’s chance a tricky one: he could lose position in the Blink Of An Eye.
‘Blink’ nearly blew it on today’s course over 7f when refusing for some time to enter the stalls but, given his head, flew away by five lengths. However, he was in the one stall that day.
I can see Numeral (11.5 this morning) being ridden forcefully by strong-arm Richard Hughes. He’s bagged stall 3, and is dropped back to his maiden-winning trip, when he cut out most of the running.
Starbound is in a similar situation but has the 12 stall to hamper his maneouvrability. Millyluvstobouggie is dropped two grades and ran a close second over CD in June; snag is she’s 6lb higher without winning since and looks well exposed.
Midnight Rider (9.8) has never been out of the frame. He was odds on when restrained over CD in the Spring, has won since and is well enough enstalled in 5.
7.40 Kempton (Betdaq Mobile Apps Nursery): How frustrating to be a trainer: you get Big Time Charlie nicely into the bottom of the handicap and then he’s drawn 13. It’s all down to Hughsie now, riding this beast for the first time.
The exact same (I love that expression: it’s so ridiculous) applies to Methaen, with Richard Hills set a tricky task from the 10 stall.
Alborz and Always A Sinner have low draws but make it harder for punters by acquiring the blinds for the first time today.
Valiant Runner and Spunky are well placed in 6 and 4 but the one I like from 5 is the grey Vergrigio, given a break after some decent efforts on the top tracks of Newbury and Sandown.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 4.3pts win DUBAWI ISLAND (2.00 Salisbury)
BET 10pts win GABRIAL THE GREAT (2.10 Newcastle)
BET 11pts win FROG HOLLOW (2.30 Salisbury)
BET 5pts win WHITECREST (2.50 Nottingham)
BET 5pts win (nap) SEMMSU (3.20 Nottingham)
BET 2pts win and place END OF DREAM (6.40 Kempton)
BET 2.2pts win MIDNIGHT RIDER and 1.9pts win NUMERAL, plus 1.25pts win (stakes saver) BLINK OF AN EYE (7.10 Kempton)
BET 1.2pts win and place METHAEN and 0.85pts win and place VERGRIGIO (7.40 Kempton)
