DAQMAN NAPS HAT-TRICK INCLUDES 9-2 and 3-1 WINNERS: Daqman landed a naps double yesterday with a supernap over Jumps and another big-value Flat nap at 3-1, taken at around 9-2 on BETDAQ, the same SP as his best bet on Thursday. That’s three in a row.
Three naps out of three: 44pts profit to recommended stakes
WON 3-1 SECRET SHADOW (Friday Flat nap; from BETDAQ 5.4)
WON 1-3 CAMPROND (Friday Jumps supernap; from 4-7)
WON 9-2 ARIAN (Thursday nap)
TOP TWO-YEAR-OLDS TREBLE HOLDS KEY TO THE CLASSICS: Three two-year-old races, tied in together, provide a plethora of clues to next year’s Classics. Daqman looks at all three: Saint-Cloud International Criterium (12.58), the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury (2.00), and the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (3.15). Final report next week in Three-Year-Olds of 2022.
ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY
⭕ 12.58 Saint-Cloud (Criterium International) Angel Bleu (Ralph Beckett and Frankie Dettori), who swerved the Futurity to go for this, was in France three weeks ago, when he won the Lagardere.
This is a furlong further and breathing down his neck is the Lagardere third, the favourite that day Ancient Rome (Mickael Barzalona), who finished well, staying on strongly.
Andre Fabre had been making the right noises about the War Front colt out of a mare closely related to Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi.
Group-3 winner Glounthaune (Christophe Soumillon), who also misses the Futurity, and Aikhal both represent Aidan O’Brien, winner of the race last year with Van Gogh. Aikhal has the potential (ran green when fourth to Coroebus at Newmarket).
William Buick rides George Boughey’s filly Oscula, and also claiming the sex allowances is Purplepay, trained by Credic Rossi who won the Arc with Sealiway.
⭕ 2.00 Newbury (Horris Hill Stakes) A 2nd X1 version of the Doncaster Futurity, in that it brings together supporting acts to the Futurity form.
Dubai Poet was third in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket to Coroebus and Imperial Fighter, who had been runner-up in the Acomb to Royal Patronage, with Noble Truth fourth.
Noble Truth has since split Angel Bleu and Ancient Rome in the Lagardere on heavy ground, which is the prevailing surface at Newbury today.
Light Infantry has been backed to beat both Dubai Poet and Noble Truth after a scintillating debut at Yarmouth, but that was on good ground.
ROYAL BET WAITS ON THE KING
⭕ 3.15 Doncaster (Futurity Trophy) I got one thing right in my previews of this race (‘Luxembourg could be odds on’; Daqman Wednesday).
The Ballydoyle ballyhoo and the way racereaders raved after the Beresford has now made him unbackable to land Aidan O’Brien’s 10th Futurity.
Fate of the favourites in the decade reveals: One Ruler 2nd 6-4, Kinross 5th 13-8, Magna Grecia won 2-1, Saxon Warrior won 13-8, Yucatan 2nd 11-8, Foundation 3rd 10-11, Elm Park won 13-8, Kingston Hill won 7-2, Kingsbarns won 15-8, Camelot won 10-11.
So, although six favourites won out of 10, the two at odds on were third and first, and didn’t pay for themselves at level stakes. This is par for the course, even when it looks easy as pitch and putt.
I rated Luxembourg 7lb and more behind Bayside Boy, third to Native Trail in the Dewhurst, and Royal Patronage.
Derby favourite already, he could bridge the gap if as good as is claimed; but he’s not been in a race yet so, while I can’t back him, I can’t lay him, unless punters squeeze him down to ludicrous odds on.
I’ll take the early BETDAQ offers about Royal Patronage, a tad lucky to beat Coreobus in the Royal Lodge before that one ran all over Imperial Fighter on the same course earlier this month.
Since I grabbed 6.0 Coroebus for the 2,000 Guineas, I must support his form via Royal Patronage (BETDAQ 6.4) until we know who is the king in waiting.
HE MUST BE IN THE MIX: 10.0
⭕ 2.20 Cheltenham The Trevor Hemmings colours are carried again by Cloth Cap, trying to emulate last year’s winner Frodon, who won this off 11st 12lb. But, for Cloth Cap, that’s 20lb higher than when he won the Ladbrokes Trophy in today’s conditions last November. I didn’t try to beat Frodon last year: I napped him.
But John McConnell gave notice with the successful gamble on Bordenstown Lad here yesterday that he’s a man with a mission this weekend, and Go Another One (BETDAQ 11.0) is described by the Co Meath trainer as ‘my star’.
Though third in the Rehearsal Chase and fifth in the Coral Scottish Grand Natiional, Cool Mix retains a punting position in the handicap at a similar price.
⭕ 2.35 Newbury (St Simon Stakes) Progressive three-year-olds, like Siskany, have a 50% strike rate in this but the money horse last night was Max Vega for Ralph Beckett’s stable in form.
Unlucky when stopped in his run in the Ebor, Max has had only three starts this season so will be fresher than most. BETDAQ 5.9
⭕ 3.30 Cheltenham Subsequent dual winner at Cheltenham, including the Grand Annual, Sky Pirate was beaten by Cool Mix at Wetherby at this time last year.
Cool Mix could by now have boosted the form for this but Sky Pirate is 27lb higher than his rating before that Wetherby defeat.
Before Midnight has shown much steadier improvement and it’s first run back so, with trainer Philip Hobbs in top form (1101 in the last two days), and the ground in his favour, Leapaway (BETDAQ 7.2) might just manage a personal best.
TOUGH RETURN FOR RACHAEL
⭕ 3.37 Galway Rachael Blackmore’s return! Very likely ‘triumphant return’. Have you noticed that, when a jockey is sidelined for a long time – in her case, around three months since a fall at Killarney – the trainer tries really hard to line one up for them.
Henry De Bromhead’s 10-1 Grand National runner-up, Balko Des Flos (9.0 here), has not been seen for 196 days, and has not even placed in a hurdle race since breaking his maiden in January nearly six years ago.
But he’s won after a break – it was the Ryanair of 2018! – and it’s good to see the combination that took Cheltenham 2021 by storm back on track.
BIG MAC TASTY TIP AT 17.0
⭕ 4.05 Cheltenham Macgiloney won the Guinness Hurdle at Ballybrit in July and scored again at Galway in September. Forget his poor chase form (pulled up in August and again the last day).
He is their 17.0 BETDAQ outsider in this Pertemps qualifier the Irish dominate: Gordon Elliott has the favourite, Tullybeg, and Peter Fahey the gamble last night, Born Patriot, still backable at BETDAQ 7.8.
⭕ 4.20 Doncaster Sprinters win in their turn, but Illusionist (BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE 6.4) was on such a high at York the last day that he might fly through this field, too.
Zargun (out of gate 15) is expected to set the pace and tow the high numbers, including 21.0 BETDAQ offer Be Proud (14), who is at his best in a strong-run race over the minimum.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.00 Newbury (win 10 nap)
BET 10pts win NOBLE TRUTH
2.20 Cheltenham (win 20)
BET 2pts win COOL MIX
BET 2pts win GO ANOTHER ONE
2.35 Newbury (win 20)
BET 4pts win MAX VEGA
3.15 Doncaster (win 10)
BET 1.85pts win ROYAL PATRONAGE
3.30 Cheltenham (win 20)
BET 3.25pts win LEAPAWAY
4.05 Cheltenham (win 20)
BET 3pts win BORN PATRIOT
BET 1.25pts win MACGILONEY
4.20 Doncaster (win 20, win 10 place)
BET 3.75pts win ILLUSIONIST
BET 1pt win and 2.5pts place BE PROUD
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
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.
