13-2 FRODON HITS THE BULL FOR DAQMAN: Daqman took his score over Pricewise to 16-7 with another big-race winner in Frodon (WON 13-2) yesterday, a win-50 bull’s-eye bet at Cheltenham. The value challenge is measured in single-unit level stakes, which now has him 51 points clear (+ 47 to -4) of his Racing Post rival since the start of the NH season.
NEXT STOP THE WILLIE MULLINS’ WEEKEND: Were yesterday’s Cheltenham trials informative? We have the Leopardstown equivalent to compare next Saturday and Sunday, with their Champion Hurdle, Irish Gold Cup and Arkle included in what is now called the Dublin Festival. Daqman checks out the bare stats and finds that they may be a benefit for Willie Mullins. Today: the Saturday card; tomorrow: Sunday’s.
LOOK OUT FOR LEOPARDSTOWN
1.10 Leopardstown, Saturday Novice hurdle won six years in succession by Willie Mullins, who would dominate again whichever of Getabird or Next Destination were to run.
Getabird is two from two over hurdles; Next Destination is three from three. Getabird is also engaged in the Deloitte on the second day of this Dublin Festival on Sunday.
1.45 Leopardstown, Saturday (Dublin Chase) Again Mullins is the name to be ticked on everyone’s racecard. He can choose from Min or Yorkhill; maybe run both.
2.20 Leopardstown, Saturday (Arkle Novice Chase) Un De Sceaux and Douvan both won this on the way to their Ryanair and Arkle successes at the Cheltenham Festival.
Footpad could be odds on for both Arkles, Saturday’s and, if he wins that, the Cheltenham version in March! Trainer? Willie Mullins, of course.
2.55 Leopardstown, Saturday Young horses are four out of six in this yet have only 15 of the 43 entries. Clearly some early form study is recommended, with Mullins and Gordon Elliott fielding a whole bunch of those youngsters.
3.30 Leopardstown, Saturday (Irish Champion Hurdle) Eight consecutive victories for favourites, including five in a row for Hurricane Fly (Willie Mullins making it six by adding Faugheen the following year).
Faugheen is likely to be market leader again at the ‘off’ and Willie may have the front two in the market, with Melon second favourite and considered an able deputy should anything go wrong.
4.05 Leopardstown, Saturday (Coral Hurdle) No stats for this one, but the breakdown of the number of entries has Willie Mullins on 12, Gordon Elliott 8.
BALLY GOOD BET
Fontwell’s card was called off yesterday leaving just Sedgefield and Naas. Lingfield’s (modest) card felt crammed into a saturated Saturday programme yesterday and would have had much more prominence today but we are back to the same old problem of tracks wanting to race solely on Saturdays.
1.10 Sedgefield The New Pharaoh looks interesting in the opener at Sedgefield. Several of his rivals don’t look to have been treated that fairly by the handicapper. Reverant Cust is up 7lb for finishing second at Haydock last time out and whilst Black Art is only up 2lb for his recent course and distance win it did come in what looked a weaker event than this.
In contrast, the handicapper doesn’t have much to go on with The New Pharaoh who is a three time winner on the flat who has started brightly over hurdles. He was third to the long odds on Chef Des Obeaux at Uttoxeter and then won well at Leicester in heavy ground under today’s pilot.
He starts handicap company off a mark of 121 but given he is still capable of further improvement that might not prove prohibitive and he makes plenty of appeal at around 5.9 on BETDAQ.
1.50 Naas (Limestone Lad Hurdle) Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are both dual handed in what looks an open renewal.
Sandsend (Mullins) was a little disappointing on his seasonal reappearance and debut for the stable at Limerick when only third. He drops back in trip but this is a much tougher test for the ex-French trained runner.
Duca De Thaix was a winner at Limerick but I’m not sure how to weigh up that form and he had previously been well beaten here at Naas.
It might be worth relying on the consistent Forge Meadow from the Jessica Harrington stable. He won a Listed content at Punchestown before finishing a creditable second to Let’s Dance in a Grade 3 at Leopardstown.
2.50 Naas Mullins can strike here and hopefully land the Sunday nap with Ballyward who was an impressive bumper winner at Leopardstown back in 2016. He may well have needed the run when fourth on his hurdling debut also at Leopardstown and that should have put him spot on for this.
DAQMAN’S BETS (all staked to win 20 points):
BET 4.1pts win THE NEW PHARAOH (1.10 Sedgefield)
BET 5.1pts win FORGE MEADOW (1.50 Naas)
BET 16.1pts win (nap) BALLYWARD (2.50 Naas)
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