DAQMAN TREBLE TAKES HIM 6-5 UP ON PRICEWISE: Daqman returned to top form at Sandown with back-to-back naps yesterday, following up Thursday’s 5-4 best bet with a Friday supernap which was odds against on BETDAQ in the morning. He landed three winners on the day, and slammed Pricewise of the Racing Post 2-0, which takes him into a 6-5 lead in their value challenge. Yesterday:
WON 7-4 BEAT THE BANK
WON 10-11 BANGKOK
WON 5-6 CRYSTAL OCEAN (supernap)
THREE WINNING SUPERNAPS FROM THE LAST FOUR: That takes his score to three winning supernaps from the last four:
WON 5-6 CRYSTAL OCEAN (supernap, Friday)
WON 6-4 HONEYSUCKLE (supernap, Sunday)
WON 4-9 KACHY (supernap, last Friday)
GROUNDS FOR CONCERN: Firm ground has reduced the Sandown Gold Cup line-up and has other trainers warning that they will inspect the ground before running. Check your BETDAQ market!
THE YOUNG MASTER IS AN OLD HAND
3.35 Sandown (Gold Cup): Daqman ABC form guide
Beware The Bear is up a stone for two out of two this year, both at Cheltenham. Soft ground and blinkers has been the winning formula but it’s in the back of our minds that his form beyond 3m 2f is 0PP and foremost in our minds that a Cheltenham winner hasn’t scored in this since Arkle!
Give Me A Copper not yet fulfilled his potential. He’s nine now and can’t really be given more chances to do that, but he is better clockwise than left-handed and is highly regarded.
Joe Farrell is 10lb higher than when winning the 2018 Scottish National but he’s lightly raced, with just three runs since then. The ‘but’ here is whether he’s recovered from the Liverpool Grand National (prominent until weakened in mid division four out).
Just A Sting well beaten in the Kim Muir, is still immature after just four chases. Ground in his favour.
Le Reve Third in this in 2015, pulled up the last twice. Needs cut in the ground.
Present Man, who was a remote third last year, beaten 27 lengths in fact, goes well fresh but relies on a wind op to transform him.
Prime Venture Fourth in the Midlands Grand National but needs soft/heavy.
Rathlin Rose Usually struggles beyond 3m but this is his favourite track.
Rock The Kasbah The Gold Cup goes nine times out of 10 to horses below 11st, which is a black mark against his hopes of turning around last year’s 1-2 with Step Back, who won 13 lengths and still has only 10st 11lb.
Rolling Dylan Went close on good ground at Cheltenham in December.
Step Back But, while Kasbah is unlikely to pull back 13 lengths with just a 7lb turnaround, Step Back is himself rated 10lb higher than last year. It’s a double blow to the 2018 result.
The Young Master Another previous winner (2016), he has been down the field twice in this since but is 6lb lower than his winning mark, and was back to form at the Cheltenham Festival, third in the Kim Muir with a big weight.
Talkischeap is highly regarded but doesn’t have the form in the book, and has never won right-handed. No value at the price but likes top of the ground and could be a stayer.
West Approach Top-class hurdle not given an even break by the handicapper over fences. Last won a chase as a novice in December 2017.
Vyta Du Roc has run only five times over fences since beaten a head in this in 2017. Poor form for 15 months but visor might transform him.
BETDAQ VALUE VERDICT: 1 The Young Master (11.5), 2 Joe Farrell (18.5), 3 Give Me A Copper (12.0), 4 Step Back (10.5), 5 Beware The Bear
IT’S A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR TRUMP
1.50 Sandown Getaway Trump, winner of the novices’ final at Ayr, tries to add this novices’ championship at Sandown to his CV but has a formidable task off 11st 12lb.
There are clearly horses on the upgrade to be worried about, including his Paul Nicholls stablemate Birds Of Prey, receiving 18lb, yet a 14.0 BETDAQ offer.
After 10 winners in six days, anything trained Dan Skelton has to be a concern, and Humble Hero could step forward, though he’s had just the one success.
Stablemate Flash The Steel’s seven-lengths Warwick success merely served to underline the chances of Benny’s Bridge (8.6 offers) who comfortably held him at Cheltenham.
2.05 Haydock A low draw seems essential in this, with the last five winners coming from gates 1, 3, 4 and 5. Masham Star (out of 3) is now fit enough to outrun them. Huge at 21.0 on BETDAQ this morning.
COBRA IS THE SNAKE IN THE GRASS
2.25 Sandown Philip Hobbs’ Menorah was four times winner of this 2m 6f chase but Nicky Henderson took over last year and seems to determine to hold on to the silverware, with two contenders.
Paul Nicholls also runs two so it looks set for an old-form battle, with Nicholls already crowned champion trainer. He puts up Bryony Frost, back after injury, on her beloved Black Corton, who is neck and neck with Charbel on the book. But the one tends to be a bridesmaid and the other has to bounce back under a penalty.
Cobra De Mai (8.8 on BETDAQ) has been punished by the handicapper but loves the ground and there are some tired names in this.
My man in the long grass says that, being versatile as to trip, Cobra’s weight rise from a stayers’ race may not count against him over shorter. He’s definitely the improver of a trappy contest.
EQTIDAAR NAP FOR IN-FORM MAESTRO
2.45 Leicester Sir Michael Stoute did us proud with Crystal Ocean and is 4-8 in four days! He has several chances today but I’ve always been a fan of Eqtidaar (BETDAQ 3.75), who should get today’s trip on firm ground.
Hey Gaman prefers give in the surface, and Donjuan Triumphant has not been triumphant in this (placed twice in this race without winning). Laugh A Minute is described by his trainer as ‘delicate.’
3.00 Sandown (Celebration Chase) Altior, the Winx of Jumps racing, goes for the hat-trick in this Celebration Chase, and a 19th consecutive win. Now may the Fat Lady sing the end of the Jumps season.
Sorry, no; keep her in her box! In fact there’s a feast to come at the Punchestown Festival next week. See you there!
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.50 Sandown (win 30)
BET 4pts win BENNYS BRIDGE
BET 2.25pts win BIRDS OF PREY
2.05 Haydock (win 20)
BET 1pt win and place MASHAM STAR
2.25 Sandown (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win COBRA DE MAI
2.45 Leicester (win 30)
BET 10pts win (nap) EQTIDAAR
3.35 Sandown (win 50)
BET 5pts win GIVE ME A COPPER
BET 4.75pts win THE YOUNG MASTER
BET 2.75pts win JOE FARRELL
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