DAQMAN TODAY: DAQMAN TAKES AIM AT THE TRADITIONAL NEW YEAR’S MEETINGS AT CHELTENHAM AND FAIRYHOUSE AND HOPES TO START THE NEW YEAR OFF WITH A BANG.
THE RE-BIRTH OF ITV RACING
Happy New Year to all, I wish you a year full of health and happiness. In racing, a new year means a new dawn of television coverage with the reboot of ITV Racing. It will be interesting to see the approach they take to make racing appeal to the masses. I hope that in the hunt for new followers for the sport they do not forget those of us that already live and breathe racing. I would hope to see a racing programme that doesn’t talk down to its audience and feel the need to stop and explain every racing term used. The appeal of horse racing to many is the constant quest to learn (sometimes hard) lessons and accumulate experience in order to improve your reading of the sport. It’s not meant to be easy, that is why we celebrate when we get it right and a new generation of racegoers will not be bourn through tedious explanations of what “on the bridle” means. Punters are intelligent people and I hope the people in ITV appreciate that.
START THE NEW YEAR WITH A BANG
Cheltenham 12.15 Minotaur made a very encouraging debut over hurdles at Aintree in early December and can take a step forward to win this open looking listed contest. He was a listed quality horse on the flat in France and with the benefit of his first run and a step up in trip to suit he looks the one at an early show of 6.8 on BETDAQ.
Cheltenham 12.50 With conditions unseasonably quick horses that traditionally bloom in the Spring on better ground may come to hand earlier than expected. One that could fall into that category is A Good Skin and with conditions quite similar to when he finished second in the Kim Muir at the Festival. He is tried in first time cheekpieces now when may sharpen him up. At 12.5 he looks slightly over priced on BETDAQ right now and looks a solid each way play.
Cheltenham 1.25 Trainer Henry Daly has his string in fine form and admirable mare Briery Belle can continue her great run of form under Tom O’Brien. A winner of her two chase starts to date and four of her last five she arrives here in peak condition and despite having to take on the boys here she can give them plenty to think about. Her price of 7.2 on BETDAQ looks to represent some value and a chance is taken that she can continue her good run.
Cheltenham 2.00 Shantou Flyer has his first run here for Rebecca Curtis after a successful stint with Colin Bowe in Ireland. He was a versatile performer in his native Ireland winning over both fences and hurdles and gave connections a memorable day when winning the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase he failed to reach those heights subsequently but a change of scenery may spark some improvement. At 21 on BETDAQ he looks worth taking a chance on.
Cheltenham 3.10 On his preferred good ground and with first time cheekpieces former World Hurdle winner Cole Harden must be worth a chance. He is sent back hurdling after an underwhelming chasing debut last time and is treated well by race conditions. The early show of 7.2 is probably an insult to a horse with his resume and he looks worthy of a bet.
Fairyhouse 2.05 Tuzo was very impressive winning last time over a furlong shorter and the 7lb rise in the handicap may not be enough to stop him. He travelled supremely well into the race that day and was probably a bit idle when hitting the front which suggests there may be more to come. The early price of 6 looks attractive on BETDAQ.
Fairyhouse 2.40 Arbre De Vie was a smart handicap hurdler last season and looks the type to do well over fences. He sire Antartique has bred some top chasers which bodes well as does the irrepressible form of his trainer Willie Mullins. This looks a hot race but Arbre De Vie could prove to be Grade 1 class over fences and as such is given a confident vote at 2.04 on BETDAQ.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BACK 4pts win MINOTAUR (Cheltenham 12.15)
BACK 2pts win 2pts place A GOOD SKIN (Cheltenham 12.50)
BACK 3pts win BRIERY BELLE (Cheltenham 1.25)
BACK 2pts win and place SHANTOU FLYER (Cheltenham 2.00)
BACK 6pts win TUZO (Fairyhouse 2.05)
BACK 9pts win ARBRE DE VIE (nap) (Fairyhouse 2.40)
BACK 5pts win COLE HARDEN (Cheltenham 3.10)
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.
