DAQMAN HITS THE WIRE AT 17.0 BUT HAS MAXIMUM-STAKES BET TODAY: Daqman’s first bull’s-eye bets since racing resumed produced Echo de Champdoux (2nd 11-1 from 17.0 taken on BETDAQ) from two outsiders for the Spring Champion Hurdle at Auteuil yesterday, a day of hard lessons about who farms the scene and lands the long-shots. Today he wants a 20-point hit in a Grade-2 hurdle and comes up with supernap stakes plus another outsider at 21.0.
🔹 NICOLLE (44 WINS) DICTATES THE PACE
🔹 LUCK BE A LADYVILLE AT BETDAQ 13.0
🔹 WISH HAS A BIG PULL IN THE WEIGHTS
NICOLLE (44 WINS) DICTATES THE PACE
What did we learn yesterday? Just when I’d sussed the Flat in France, and had three naps up in three days, I had to go jumping at Auteuil.
But it was same same only different, in that the best jockeys are a league in front of the others. For the Flat trio of Boudot, Guyon and Soumillon, read Lefebvre, Philipperon and Zuliani over jumps.
What a day to give up Pierre-Charles Boudot (another treble at Strasbourg yesterday) but, sticking to the main meetings, I must pin my colours to Clement Lefebvre.
Yet more powerful, however, is the control – that’s the only word for it – exercised by the leading jumps trainer, Francois Nicolle, who dictates the scene from a perch of 44 winners, nearly twice as many as his nearest rivals put together and with more than twice as much in prizemoney won (1,582,5535 euros).
Guillaume Macaire (26 for 711,355 euros) and David Cottin (24 and 721,195 euros) – both currently only in moderate form – are second and third, followed by Emmanuel Clayeux and Gabriel Leenders. Nicolle had a four-timer yesterday.
⭕ 12.25 Auteuil Lefebvre, riding for Leenders, scooted 12 lengths clear on Heros d’Ainay from I’m Walkin (Zuliani for Nicolle) on the opening day.
They were made to seem only ‘walkin’ but Nicolle quickly got into the big euros using four different jockeys and with little regard for the form book.
We also learned from the ‘Heros’ race that Macaire, whose odds-on shot Nimes was beaten 23 lengths, still has a lot of work to do at home. He had five other runners beaten.
It means that his Fire Dancer in this opener could be a favourite to oppose, and Leenders-Lefebvre the ones to back with the classy-looking Grand Monsieur (BETDAQ Sportsbook 5.5), who is related down the male line to Vautour, Sir Des Champs and Quevega.
LUCK BE A LADYVILLE AT BETDAQ 13.0
⭕ 1.35 Auteuil We also learned that Francois Nicolle is always likely to ‘do a Nicky Henderson’ and win with his outsider. His short-priced Nanosecond under Zuliani was pulverised 10 lengths by 18-1 stablemate Le Lude.
This Listed hurdle has three Nicolle runners, with Zuliani on Sainte Candy but Le Lude’s jockey on Ladyville, 13.0 on BETDAQ. A third Nicolle contender, Pamela Des Mottes, was a winner of her only start.
Who did she beat? None other than Ladyville. They were one-two at Compiegne in March, when a third stablemate, Roccapina Senam was favourite!
Nicolle played all the right form notes to land a 1-2-3 but not necessarily in the right order, as a certain Mr Morecambe might have observed. Not in the preview order, that is!
⭕ 2.15 Auteuil There’s a standout here on the ratings! Fou Delice (BETDAQ 6.0). Trainer: Francois Nicolle. Jockey: Angelo Zuliani. But we remember that Nicolle ‘did a Henderson’ a second time yesterday. At this very time of the clock: 2.15.
After his Nanosecond had been turned over by stablemate Le Lude, the Nicolle big-race favourite in the Spring Champion Hurdle, Deportetoi (Zuliani) was stuffed (only fifth) by stablemate Staunton Street, who beat my 17.0 win-50 bet Echo De Champdoux.
Staunton Street sure did a Henderson: one run in 2020; one in 2019. Brought back to peak fitness to repeat his gambled-on success at Auteuil in November, 2018, when 18-5 favourite in a field of 18.
By the way, after Staunton Street (won 11-1), Nicolle won the very next race yesterday with La Doix at 10-1 by a short neck from.. yep, stablemate Femme d’Action at 9-2.
In fact, Nicolle runners were also third and fifth, so 1-2-3-5, again not necessarily in the right order for the form book. So we’d better also back Shakapon (8.0) in this, alongside Fou Delice.
WISH HAS A BIG PULL IN THE WEIGHTS
⭕ 3.25 Auteuil Three Grade-2 races in a row start here. King Edward should be the hot potato in the chase (3.25), but stepping up from Grade 3 and up in trip by half a mile.
And Dream Wish (BETDAQ 3.25) has a 7lb pull for a two lengths beating by him here at Auteuil in March. Al Cuarto split them that day but I’d rather see the trainer, Macaire, have a winner before I back any of his.
Road Senam (Nicolle) was fourth and seems to be a bridesmaid with form figures of 42234 (famous last words).
⭕ 4.00 Auteuil Surely here is the bet of the day, the unbeaten L’Autonomie, clear in the ratings and trained Nicolle with Zuliani doing a seeming steering job.
It’s another repeat of a race here in March when it was: 1 L’Autonomie, 2 Cotee Sud, 3 Galop Martin, 4 Berjoy.
That was nearly half a mile shorter but L’Autonomie beat Cotee Sud even further in a longer race in November, one of his five wins in a row.
The wild card of the day must be Berjou, third in last year’s French Champion Hurdle (3m 1.5f) behind Benie Des Dieux and a winner at Cagnes during the winter over today’s trip. Big at BETDAQ 21.0
DAQMAN’S BETS
12.25 Auteuil (win 20)
BET 4.5pts win GRAND MONSIEUR
1.35 Auteuil (win 20)
BET 1.5pts win LADYVILLE
2.15 Auteuil (each to win 20)
BET 4pts win FOU DELICE
BET 2.75pts win SHAKAPON
3.25 Auteuil (win 10)
BET 4.5pts win DREAM WISH
4.00 Auteuil (supernap and win 20)
BET 20pts win L’AUTONOMIE
BET 1pt win BERJOU
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