20-1 WINNER DOUBLED WITH 16-1 SECOND Daqman’s Grand National 1-2-3 came in 2-6-4, with the defeat of Cause Of Causes (2nd 16-1) meaning he just misses out on a 356-1 old-fashioned Spring Double after Bravery (WON 20-1) in the Lincoln. His ‘win and place’ Cause Of Causes was not clear in his bets, which said ‘win and’, a costly typo. So the score remains 4-0 over Pricewise (+ 15 against -18 to a level stake).
2ND 16-1 CAUSE OF CAUSES
2ND 16-1 RIGHTDOWNTHEMIDDLE
FACE-SAVER 3-1 BANKER WINS 50 POINTS There was more frustration, as Rightdownthemiddle was also runner-up and Politologue (6-1) took the lead after the last and tripped. Saving the day was the second banker of Aintree week, Finian’s Oscar, staked to win 50 points.
WON 3-1 FINIANS OSCAR (banker wins 50 points)
WON 4-9 BUVEUR D’AIR (gold banker)
BANK ON ALICE DOING HANDSPRINGS
The boys are back in town! While I was counting chickens and getting duck-eggs (no prizes for second!) at Liverpool, Aidan O’Brien and his ‘lads’ – those equine goldminers Smith, Tabor, Magnier – panned for the two Guineas trials at Leopardstown.
They came up with nuggets not gems in Order Of The Garter and Hydrangea, probably way down the Ballydoyle pecking order but, if you have sparklers in the reserves you feel more confident of the A team.
3.30 Naas (Gladness Stakes) Those results also boost confidence in Alice Springs as a banker in the drying ground against horses which all failed to win last year and are a stone or so in rear on the ratings.
Had the going been soft-heavy, I would have swerved this fast-ground filly but she won on yielding well enough at Leopardstown in the autumn, and that was a Group-1 when she beat horses with higher ratings
The last two Gladness winners won off 102 and 103, so her her bringing 118 to the table is a standout in itself, yet she was only slightly less than evens this morning (BETDAQ 1.97). Gold for the lads today!
4.05 Naas (Alleged Stakes) Apropos of Guineas trials and not getting carried away, 11 months ago I was holding a huge Derby voucher for US Army Ranger
It turned out to be another Cause Of Causes situation of yesterday, so near and yet so far: second backed down to 7-2 favourite at Epsom.
The winner, Harzand, wasn’t a bad horse; went on to win the Irish Derby, toop But he wouldn’t win again after that; nor would Ranger, who would finish his season 10lb behind the star of 2016, Almanzor, whose reappearance is awaited with interest .
On today’s ground over today’s trip at The Curragh in the Royal Whip in August, US Army Ranger finished four lengths off Success Days in receipt of 5lb.
So, on form, the 2.6 Ranger and the 3.7 Success Days should be flipped although – in the handicapper’s wisdom – US Army Ranger is adjudged a 5lb better animal than Success Days.
The trouble with handicappers is that they don’t like being caught out so, because of his Derby second, Ranger was dropped only a pound after that literal 8lb defeat by Success Days. After all he was a three-year-old against a four-year-old.
But excuses ran thin after subsequent defeats and an analysis of his form must be that he needs 1m 4f (returns 122) and not today’s 1m 2f (returns 40).
As a hold-up horse, he’s also vulnerable in a small field today. Will they change tactics? More likely, Lustrous Light will go off in front.
Success Days is five now and, in equine terms, all bar Air Pilot have every chance of improving past him.
But he was ’got up’ for this a year ago, and was second. It would be proved that going down to Zhukova that day was no mean effort.
It was Zhukova who would beat US Army Ranger at Leopardstown in September. Today it’s level peggings weights wise for the four at the front of the market.
AFANDEM COULD BE GUINEAS FORCE
3.30 Chantilly (Prix La Force) This race produced a French Derby winner in 2012. Since then the Force hasn’t been with this race for finding Classic winners!.
Two top trainers in that remote region we call Europe clash here today with Afandem (Jane-Cloud Rouget) anainst the Godolphin pair Franz Schubert and Graphite (Andrew Fabre)
Rouget is 0-14 in the last fortnight, while Fabre is 7-26 but at least Jean-Claude has already won with Afandem (never off the bit on Chantilly AW), although the second colt home has been beaten since.
It’s a conundrum. One of many in the trials until English Guineas Day at Newmarket (May 6), the French version at Deauville (May 14) and the Irish at The Curragh on May 27
4.10 Chantilly (Prix Harcourt) Harry Dunlop’s Robin Of Navan started at this level last year, second in the Greffulhe but was a nearly horse t he whole season.
Cloth Of Stars won the La Force and cut down Robin in the Greffulhe, and today’s conditions suit. He should cope with One Foot In heaven is a year older and has to give 3lb.
4.50 Chantilly (Prix Sigy) Named after the flying machine Sigy and hopefully produces another one here in Mrs Danvers, who won on the soft before her fast-ground wins in the Cornwallis and the Super Sprint.
HOW TO FEEL VERY VERY GOOD AGAIN
3.55 Ffos Las Wuff might still hold Henllan Harri despite a weights reassessment since their one-two over CD three weeks ago.
But that was on the soft and I believe that good ground and first-time hood makes Abricot de l’Oasis (9.4 offers) a win and decent place bet in an eight-runner field. Upswing (saver) also likes the ground.
4.30 Ffos Las Kim Bailey’s Charbel and The Last Samuri underperformed at Aintree yesterday, leaving doubts in the mind about Rocky’s Treasure here, thougn I might want a saver if Abrocit De L’Oasis has won (Rocky beat that one at Doncaster in February)
But my first position is win and a place Verygoodverygood (12.0 on BETDAQ) for a bit of compensation for Nigel Twiston Davies’ so near and yet so far for a third National via Blaklion. I know how he feels, which is where I came in!
DAQMAN’S BETS (stakes advised per race)
BET 8pts win AFANDEM at SP (3.30 Chantilly)
GOLD BANKER: 30pts win (nap) ALICE SPRINGS (3.30 Naas)
BET 2.3pts win (to win 20) and place ABRICOT DE L’OASIS ands 2pts win (stakes saver) UPSWING (3.55 Ffos Las)
BET 5.5pts win (to win 20) SUCCESS DAYS (4.05 Naas)
BET 1.8pts win (to win 20) and place VERYGOODVERYGOOD (4.30 Ffos Las)
BET 8pts win at SP MRS DANVERS (4.50 Chantilly)
BET 8pts win at SP CLOTH OF STARS (4.10 Chantilly)
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.
