TODAY: big-race form and Hot Spots at Ascot as Daqman previews the feature races on the card including the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at 2.25.
NEXT WEEK: Boxing Day special. Daqman is already preparing his notes for Kempton on Friday when racing will resume after a three day Festive break on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
JET IS THE LONG (WALK) SHOT
2.25 Ascot (Long Walk Hurdle) Memories of the great Paisley Park, winner in 2018, 2020 and 2022, yet he was never favourite though the name on every punter’s lips. Not many people know that!
Now a similar story is in the telling for Crambo. He goes for a hat-trick in the race today but has never been favourite nor is he likely to be though he is the only CD winner in this field.
He is the hero who’s never caught on, perhaps because he duffed Paisley Park right on the line in an epic finish two years ago.
Favourite today must surely be owner J P McManus, who has Honesty Policy with Gordon Elliott and Impose Toi with Nicky Henderson.
Honesty Policy won a 2m 4f Grade-1 novice at Aintree but was run out of it by a Willie Mullins challenger from the last in a similar event, but over 3m, at Punchestown.
Impose Toi earned 5lb higher figures by taking a 3m Grade 2 at Newbury last month, taking him 12lb above the rating when he lined up, finishing runner-up, in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Strong Leader has an even higher mark but has scored only once since last of 10 to Crambo in this a year ago and running second, albeit giving 6lb, to Impose Toi in that Newbury race.
Third last year, Beauport has a chance but is nine now. Colonel Mustard is 10. No sequence winner of this race has started his scoring at that age; you need to be six, like Potters Charm and Jet Blue.
Potters Charm set up a sequence of five wins last season but flopped at the Festival and fell behind Strong Leader when favourite at Wetherby for the Grade-2 West Yorkshire Hurdle.
Jet Blue won the Bristol Novices Hurdle at this meeting a year ago but was well beaten in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival.
It would be harsh to judge the son of Martaline on Auteuil form on heavy ground this autumn, and he could yet be the best outsider with Harry Cobden booked by smart operator David Cottin.
TO THE VICTOR THE SPOILS
3.00 Ascot (Silver Cup) The big chase of the day at Ascot also has a hat-trick seeker but surely Crambo with Victtorino for a double of trebles would be the shock of the century, even in an age of 300-1 winners.
Victtorino (Ascot chase record 11411) has been out of form since backing up last year’s Silver Cup with another Grade-3 over the CD in February and Venetia Williams has yet to get it together again. However the front of the market doesn’t look strong.
Pic Roc is just a small-field winner at Huntingdon, though a good fifth in the November Gold Cup at Newbury, which was a quarter of a mile further than today.
Blow Your Wad was third in a 3m gold cup here at Ascot before that but festooned with aids: tongue-tie and cheekpieces after two breathing ops.
Henrys Friend won that race, looking a Grand National type. The Ben Pauling yard is having a great season and, with Pic Roc and Henry’s Friend in this, must fancy their chances and I will include in my Betdaq Betting Exchange recommendations.
ALEXEI IS HOT FOR TIZZARDS
3.35 Ascot (🔥HOT SPOT🔥) Part of the Joe Tizzard revival is Alexei, yet another hat-trick seeker at Ascot today.
The five-year-old rose 20lb with two November wins, after running up to the smart Celtic Dino at Chepstow in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.
Alexei went clear here at Ascot on the first of November, from another big improver, Indemnity, who was looking for a four-timer.
ARROW TO HIT TARGET
5.45 Wolverhampton This class 2 handicap stands out on the Dunstall Park card tonight.
Alligator Alley completed a hat-trick (theme of the day) when winning snugly on Monday and whilst still short of his career high mark in 2023 might find this much tougher now up two grades and with 4lb extra.
Spartan Arrow is going the other way and is a class dropper having won a Group 3 at Dundalk when last seen in October. He returns to handicap company after a short break and his trainer Archie Watson has scored with two of his last three runners.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
2.25 Ascot (win 20)
BET 2.0pts win JET BLUE
3.00 Ascot (all win 20)
BET 2.9pts win VICTTORINO
BET 6.1pts win PIC ROCK
BET 1pt win HENRYS FRIEND
★ 3.35 Ascot (win 10, nap)
BET 2.6pts win ALEXEI
5.45 Wolverhampton (win 10)
BET 5.0pts win SPARTAN ARROW
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Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
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