BETDAQ VALUE IN IMPERIAL MEASURE: Daqman, who named the winners of the last two Imperial Cups – Iceo (won 5-1) and Go Dante (won 5-1) – yesterday lost out on the hat-trick when Go Dante won it again.
His 1-2-3 was Wreckless Eric (2nd 7-1), Afadil (3rd 8-1) and Tintintin (3rd 18-1). Wreckless Eric at 12.5 and Tintintin at 33.0 were huge morning offers taken on BETDAQ.
Says Daqman: ‘During Cheltenham I will check out the incredible morning value on BETDAQ but I will have to accept the fact that good ground is simply not permitted. They watered Sandown on Friday – and made the course tacky – and at the same time started watering for Cheltenham next week.’
TODAY: CHELTENHAM HOT-POTS: Who trains the 11 festival short shots and have their races gone to favourites recently?
TOMORROW: THE OUTSIDERS: Which stables can score with outsiders which you can back at big odds on BETDAQ daily?
11 HOT CHELTENHAM FAVOURITES
GREAT EIGHT? Willie Mullins trains eight of the Cheltenham festival’s 11 hot favourites; which will you back next week? Here are the races, the trainers and the recent record of short-priced favourites in their races.
KOPEK DES BORDES Supreme Novices Hurdle, Tuesday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ Douvan 2-1 (2015), Appreciate It 8-11 (2021)
CONSTITUTION HILL Champion Hurdle, Tuesday (Nicky Henderson)
➡️ 4-5 Faugheen (2015), 5-2 Annie Power (2016), 4-6 Buveur D’Air (2018), 2-1 Epitante (2020), 11-10 Honeysuckle (2021), 8-11 Honeysuckle (2022), 4-11 Constitution Hill (2023), 2-5 State Man (2024)
MAJBOROUGH Arkle Challenge Trophy, Tuesday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ 4-6 Un De Sceaux (2015), 1-4 Douvan (2016), 1-4 Altior (2017), 5-6 Footpad (2018), 4-9 Shishkin (2021), W 5-2 Edwardstone (2022), W 11-10 El Fabiolo (2023), W 2-1 Gaelic Warrior (2024)
LOSSIEMOUTH Mares Hurdle, Tuesday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ 4-6 Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), 9-4 Honeysuckle (jt 2023), 8-13 Lossiemouth (2024)
BALLYBURN Brown Advisory, Wednesday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ 13-8 Don Poli (2015), 7-2 Might Bite (2017), 5-2 Presenting Percy (2018), 1-4 Monkfish (2021), 9-4 L’Homme Presse (2022), 8-13 Fact To File (2024)
JONBON Champion Chase, Wednesday (Nicky Henderson)
➡️ 1-1 Altior (2018), 4-1 Altior (2019), 6-5 Energumene (2023)
FACT TO FILE Ryanair Chase, Thursday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ 1-1 Vautour (2016), 7-4 Un De Sceaux (2017), 3-1 Allaho (2021), 4-7 Allaho ((2022)
TEAHUPOO Stayers Hurdle, Thursday (Gordon Elliott)
➡️ 1-1 Thistlecrack (2016), 11-8 Paisley Park (2019), 5-4 Teahupoo (2024)
DINOBLUE Mares Chase, Friday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ No previous winning favourites
FINAL DEMAND Albert Bartlett, Friday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ No previous winning favourites
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS Gold Cup, Friday (Willie Mullins)
➡️ 9-4 Don Cossack (2016), 100-30 Al Boum Photo (2020), 3-1 A Plus Tard (2022), 7-5 Galopin Des Champs (2023), 10-11 Galopin des Champs (2024)
SMART SUNDAY NAP
⭕ 2.00 Carlisle today: This looks an action replay of a similar event staged at Haydock back on 30 December.
Smart Decision unseated at the last that day and was in the process of running a big race under his penalty and chasing home Itstonitejosephine.
Both Eagles Reprieve (2nd, beaten 13 lengths) and The Resdev Tyke (3rd, beaten 25 lengths) were in behind and on the same terms today will struggle to match Smart Decision on that form.
Smart Decision had previously won nicely at Doncaster on debut and I’m happy to forgive the unseat blip in a race where I am getting clear form pointers on his rivals.
Dearkeithandkaty made a pleasing enough debut at Hereford when third to 25/1 shot Glancing Jack in December but the placed horses haven’t run again since and it’s hard to get a reading on the form but an educated guess says it’s modest at best.
AWAY WIN FOR MURPHY
⭕ 2.40 Naas Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) Despite the proximity of the Cheltenham Festival there’s a competitive Grade 3 on today’s Leinster National card at Naas.
I’m always slightly wary of the Willie Mullins runners that don’t board the Cheltenham convoy but the Betdaq Betting Exchange market looks right here with Belloccio as favourite.
He’s got plenty of class having won the 1m 6f Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot last year which followed his winning jumps debut at Punchestown.
He disappointed though last time out when fifth at Fairyhouse in a Grade 2 not jumping with any fluency. The drop in grade should help but I prefer the Olly Murphy raider Pleasington who fully deserves a crack at this level after two wide margin wins at Leicester – the latest of which was especially impressively. He’ll again love the testing ground and the stable are flying.
BETTER TIMES ARE AHEAD
⭕ 4.45 Naas Leinster National Handicap Chase It might not be the best renewal of the great race worth €59,000 to the winner.
Tyre Kicker and Kinturk Kalanisi front load the market but both look in need of help from the handicapper and might be vulnerable. They are notching up plenty of placed efforts between them but also struggling for wins and both the respective stables of Gavin Cronwell and Thomas Gibney could be in better form.
Cromwell also runs last year’s winner Hartur d’Arc who is up 9lb compared to 12 months ago.
I’ll chance two selections at better prices for a WIN 20 return.
Kings Halo is 3-10 over fences including an 18 length win here last year when he made all. I could see him being dangerous off his current mark and could see him forcing the pace.
Better Times Ahead has plenty of experience now in valuable handicap chases (also won a 25 runner event over hurdles here). He was well beaten at Gowran on his reappearance after a lengthy break but undoubtedly needed that and I could see him getting competitive today.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
★ 2.00 Carlisle (win 10, nap)
BET 8.3pts win SMART DECISION
2.40 Naas (win 10)
BET 2.3pts win PLEASINGTON
4.45 Naas (both win 20)
BET 1.6pts win KINGS HALO
BET 1.8pts win BETTER TIMES AHEAD
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