VINTAGE DAQMAN AS HE LANDS THE TWO BIG SATURDAY RACES: It was another vintage Saturday for Daqman yesterday. He always tries to land a supernap and a BETDAQ-value big-race winner. Yet again yesterday he did both, taking the day’s major prizes, the Peter Marsh at Haydock and the Clarence House at Ascot:
WON 7-1 VINTAGE CLOUDS (Peter Marsh Chase)
WON 11-10 DEFI DU SEUIL (Clarence House supernap)
NOW A 375-POINT LEAD OVER PRICEWISE IN VALUE CHALLENGE: Vintage Clouds took the scores to 27-13 over Pricewise of the Racing Post, with Daqman 375 points clear to 10-point level stakes. His supernaps are now on a 50% strike rate.
DAQMAN ACCOUNTS UPDATE
📈 Daqman 27, Pricewise 13 (+344.40 to -31.00) 10pt stakes at SP
📈 Bull’s-eye bets 40% (+225.90 from 10-25) staked to win 50
📈 Bulls-eye naps: no bets yet in 2020
📈 All Daily Naps 44% (+27.17 from 29-66) 10pt stakes at SP
📈 Supernaps 50% (+15.69 from 10-20) 20pt stakes at SP
DEFI WAS BREATHTAKING: UN DE SCEAUX MAY HAVE TO QUIT: On the results yesterday with Cheltenham in mind, Daqman declares:
➡️ Un De Sceaux may have run his last race.
➡️ Defi Du Seuil was breathtaking.
➡️ Pentland Hills will be suited by the Champion Hurdle: new ratings below.
THE DEFI-NING FESTIVAL MOMENTS..
Nicky Henderson took charge of the Champion Hurdle yesterday. Pentland Hills for the Owners Group was beaten on the line in a Haydock trial in the mud but looked every bit the one for Cheltenham.
Nicky already has the likely favourite, Epatante, whose owner, J P McManus, saw a breathtaking Champion Chase performance by Defi Du Seuil, who extended his Tingle Creek authority over Un De Sceaux.
It was thought to be a hot rematch but Defi had clearly improved and drew right away on the run-in at Ascot for a dramatic victory.
When asked what next for Un De Sceaux, a disappointed Willie Mullins had no answer but to see how the horse comes out of the race, and make a decision then. ‘There may be another big day in him; I don’t know.’
There would be no answer to Defi Du Seuil if he goes to Cheltenham in that blinding form, superbly trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Barry Geraghty.
And at 12 years of age, an honourable retirement beckons for Un de Sceaux, who had won the Clarence House three years running (2016-18), odds on every time.
PENTLAND POSTS CHAMPION RATING
Don’t listen to mud-slingers! Any criticism of Pentland Hills, nosed out by Ballyandy in yesterday’s trial, is unfounded, though Ballyandy would have to be considered at Cheltenham should that race also be run in the mud.
Pentland Hills looked the part of a champion, and it’s copybook for a heavy-ground horse to come and pip the star athlete in such conditions. My revised ratings (official figures follow each horse’s name):
162 Epatante 159 (receives 7lb) Nicky Henderson 4 BETDAQ Sportsbook
160 Pentland Hills 153 (to be revised) Nicky Henderson 8 BETDAQ Sportsbook
159 Cornerstone Lad 159 (to be revised) Micky Hammond 34 BETDAQ Sportsbook
159 Sharjah 162 Willie Mullins 9 BETDAQ Sportsbook
158 Honeysuckle 158 (receives 7lb) Henry De Bromhead 11 BETDAQ Sportsbook
158 Saldier 160 Willie Mullins 7 BETDAQ Sportsbook
157 Ballyandy 155 (to be revised) Nigel Twiston-Davies 26 BETDAQ Sportsbook
156 Klassical Dream 160 Willie Mullins 11 BETDAQ Sportsbook
153 Envoi Allen 152 Gordon Elliott 11 BETDAQ Sportsbook
155 Call Me Lord 160 Nicky Henderson 15 BETDAQ Sportsbook
ESCARIA LOOKS A PERFECT TEN
12.50 Wolverhampton Such was the manner of Wanaasah’s win last week at Wolverhampton the stewards looked into the race!
Was there anything more to look into than just the fact that jockey Dylan Hogan rode his rivals to sleep in what may go down as one of the rides of the year. And yes, I know it’s only January!
It’s no surprise to see the filly turned out again quickly by trainer David Loughnane who is in good form himself with 4 winners from his last 16 runners.
Wanaasah looks to have a good chance of a quick follow up as, apart from the inspired ride, she looks a well handicapped filly at present and the 5lb statutory penalty might not be enough to halt her progress.
The shorter trip shouldn’t be a problem but it’s unlikely that Hogan will be allowed to get away with the tactics deployed last week – at least to the same effect. The ‘let’s not worry about her she is bound to come back’ approach might not be on the minds of her rivals today.
There’s been plenty of support on BETDAQ this morning for Nelson River who returns to the flat on a seemingly good handicap mark after a spell over hurdles but if you’ve missed the early prices the current odds don’t make much appeal.
1.15 Ayr This looks a match on paper between the last time out winners Escaria Ten and Empire Steel who should both appreciate the prevailing heavy ground.
Preference is for Escaria Ten who is a Gordon Elliott trained raider. He is still progressive and won over hurdles at Cork last time out when the ground was soft. He had previously run well on heavy ground at Fairyhouse and shouldn’t need to improve too much to land this.
Empire Steel had shown promise in three Point runs and looked good when making a winning start over hurdles at Carlisle by 12 lengths on soft ground. The form might not amount to much though – the third has since gone on to finish well beaten at Catterick and Empire Steel might be vulnerable under his penalty.
3.20 Thurles (Capri Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase) The card needed to pass an inspection which is good news presumably good news for Willie Mullins who has the odds on favourites in both the Grade 2 chases.
Footpad will prove hard to beat in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at 2.45 after his third in the King George and here Mullins should strike again with Elimay who is on for a four-timer.
A Listed winner over hurdles, she ran out a comfortable five length winner of a Grade 3 on her debut over fences and looked to be getting the better of the odds-on Sinoria when that one came to grief two out.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
BET 3.0pts win WANAASAH (12.50 Wolverhampton)
BET 14.0pts win (nap) ESCARIA TEN (1.15 Ayr)
BET 10.0pts win ELIMAY (3.20 Thurles)
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
