PUNTERS’ ROCK STRIKES GOLD AGAIN: Daqman, the punters’ pal, made it two bankers out of two and a third consecutive day of at least two winners when he scored with 30-point gold-banker Churchill (WON 8-11) and 6-1 Rock of Kasbah yesterday. Here are his seven winners in three days:
Thursday
WON 9-2 Rockspirit (from 9.4 BETDAQ)
WON 7-2 Naggers (from 7.6 BETDAQ)
WON 1-2 Rather Be (Banker nap)
Friday
WON 9-1 Robot Boy (from 12.0 BETDAQ)
WON 13-2 Poet’s Vanity (from 8.8 BETDAQ)
Saturday
WON 8-11 Churchill (Gold banker nap)
WON 6-1 Rock The Kasbah
76-1 IRISH BIG-RACE DOUBLE: The feature-race challenge score moved on yesterday to Daqman 75, Pricewise 34, and they go head to head today in the Munster National and the Irish Cesarewitch, for which Daqman attempts a 76-1 double.
FIDDLERS TO PLAY OUT MUNSTER TRIUMPH
4.40 Limerick (Ladbrokes Munster National) A third of the field has no business being there, including one of the favourites, Kylecrue (wins at 2m 4f), according to the stats.
They reveal that there has no been no winner over the age of eight in the decade; in fact, the last four winners have been younger than eight.
Apart from his nine years, Dare To Endeavour would be the ‘hidden horse’ of all time if he recouped his 2014 novice-case form – and more – to land this for Ruby Walsh; Ruby is trying to sweat off that final couple of pounds to do 10st.
I dare predict that Ruby will be on board when the gelding has a second crack at the Becher Chase in December (second last year off 10st) and that this is the prep run.
Gordon Elliott (didn’t he get my telegram?) has finally decided that Killer Crow needs more help, so he’s adding cheekpieces to the tongue-tie.
The dark horse of the race may be Federici, who would have won the Killarney National at this trip in the Spring and also wears cheekpieces firt time today.
Gordon Elliott clearly had a better chance with Kerry National winner Wrath Of Titans, who is on a hat-trick mission.
Mouse Morris runs his winner and fourth in the Irish National at Fairyhouse, Rogue Angel and Folsom Blue, who pulled up on the last day behind Wrath Of Titans (Clarcam in rear).
Tulsa Jack, only eighth at Fairyhouse, has been kept to hurdles since romping away with the Midlands National at Kilbeggan in the summer. He did a similar hatchet job on the Cork Grand National last November, and the Noel Meade yard is in form.
Also in form in the summer was the Galway Blazers winner, On Fiddlers Green, a good jumper who will appreciate the better ground today. He was nominated for today’s race by trainer Henry De Bromhead that very day.
Interesting though that, leading up to Ballybrit, Henry had won the Galway Plate Trial with The King Of Brega, also running today, with the stable in white-hot form, cufrrently 1232112221.
Verdict: A magical Munster National, in which I expect the winner to come from one of the strong quartet of seven-year-olds, On Fiddlers Green, Tulsa Jack, Wrath of Titans and Federici.
Federici may need more experience and Wrath Of Titans some rain, also true of Tulsa Jack since he may be better over further now. I took the BETDAQ 8.8 On Fiddlers Green to land the long-term plan, and sorry Davy Russell can’t share it.
MULLINS PUTS SPIN ON THE CESAREWITCH
4.55 The Curragh (Irish Cesarewitch) Three older horses, Jennies Jewel and the Tony Martin pair, Pyromaniac and Artful Artist, all swerved the Newmarket Cesarewitch to stay at home for this.
But, for nine years running, there was no winner over the age of five until the stats were spoiled by Digeanta, an eight-year-old, when Billy Lee stole the race from the front last season.
Billy’s at the Curragh today but is shunned by trainers in this, despite that spectacular piece of jockeyship, but the winning trainer with Digeanta, Willie Mullins is back for more with a completely different horsre, a lightly-raced three-year-old (that age group landed a hat-trick in the race, 2010-12).
Laws Of Spin will like the ground and has improved a stone in two races in 10 weeks, according to the handicapper. Mullins current form: 111123.
Laws Of Spin has to cope with some strong sorts, like Swamp Fox, impressive at Galway in the middle leg of his hat-trick, and sporting form figures of 3223321323111 but, as a Grace-C winner on the last day, is hiked a killer 16lb, and his stable reports coughing among the inmates.
No wish for schadenfreude but this potential double blow leads me to try a place lay (at 2.86 as I write); after all the Fox has had 13 places in a row!
Automated is also on my short list but, at 8.8 on BETDAQ, Laws Of Spin looks like another Willie Mullins googly, and plenty more to come.
So it is that I have two at 8.8 for an Irish-handicaps double, around 76-1 as things stand.
GINGE TO MAKE SPLASH FROM THE FRONT
3.25 Chepstow Highly regarded by Philip Hobbs, Wishfull Dreaming gets 18lb from his Somerset rival and nearest market rival, All Set To Go.
4.00 Chepstow Nigel Twiston Davies won this last year with something so far down the ratings it was out of the handicap.
Now the handicapper has dropped his Grade-3 winner, Splash of Ginge 8lb for the new campaign.
When he last ran, in the Silver Trophy at Cheltenham in April, he too was out of the weights, beaten into sixth by Voix d’Eau and Art Mauresque.
Splash of Ginge had earlier attemptedto make all in the Denman Chase at Newbury and – as a winner when fresh – I can see him try to make every post a winning one today.
There are others with good chances, not least the former champion Sire De Grugy, but I think he’s here to get ready to defend his Tingle Creek title at Sandown in early December.
He’s giving weight to so many up-and-coming youngsters here, I dare lay him to weaken out of the frame (3.1 the place lay this morning).
4.30 Chepstow (Persian War Novices Hurdle) Paul Nicholls has won this four times in the decade, notably with Silviniaco Conti.
It could be a hell-for-leather dual up front with No Comment not wanting to let Mirsaale get too far ahead.
Punters were sticking to class on BETDAQ this morning, with Graded-placed Coo Star Sivola fronting the market,.
It could be real pointer to the future this one, but I can’t let 2m 5f winner El Bandit go by at 5.6 on BETDAQ, a value offer thanks to the presence of the front two and with Mirsaale likely to set it up for his stamina.
DAQMAN BETS (staked to win 30 points unless otherwise stated)
BET (to win 20) 8.8pts win (nap) WISHFULL DREAMING (3.25 Chepstow)
BET 3pts win and place SPLASH OF GINGE, and PLACE LAY to lose 10pts SIRE DE GRUGY (4.00 Chepstow)
BET 6.5pts win EL BANDIT (4.30 Chepstow)
BET 3.8pts win ON FIDDLERS GREEN (4.40 Limerick)
BET 3.8pts win LAWS OF SPIN, and PLACE LAY to lose 10pts SWAMP FOX (4.55 The Curragh)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 1pt win double ON FIDDLERS GREEN (4.40 Limerick) and LAWS OF SPIN (4.55 The Curragh)
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