14-1 AS DAQMAN GETS THE RUB OF THE GREEN YET AGAIN: Daqman, who has just published his big-odds winners for 2019 (see Daqman Library), bagged an early one for the 2020 list at 14-1 yesterday, and he also scored an 11-4 shot against Pricewise to go 24-12 up in their value challenge. His Saturday hits were:
WON 14-1 MILL GREEN
WON 11-4 MOLINEAUX
11.0 NATIONAL NAP AND 16.5 OUTSIDER IN NAAS TRIAL: Daqman plays more wild-card outsiders today with a 16.5 shot to upset the odds-on favourite in the Cheltenham trial at Naas and a Sussex National fancy at Plumpton to land an 11.0 nap. Tomorrow Daqman reveals his Fortune Cookies for the rest of the season. Then, as promised, later in the week he names his best venues and best for races the entire year. All about big winners again, no doubt.
MIDNIGHT HOUR FOR ENVOI ALLEN
2.20 Naas Royal Bond star Envoi Allen is back in the arena, ostensibly for an exhibition round as hot favourite for the Ballymore, and with options open on the Supreme Novices and even the Champion Hurdle.
Unbeaten in six races under Rules, his hurdles success at Down Royal has been boosted by the runner-up but his Royal Bond form is a spectacular read.
He inflicted the only defeat on Abacadabras (otherwise three wins in a row) and the only setback for Darver Star (previously four in a row).
Victory over a half-mile further today would present him with more options but opens the door to attack by Elixir d’Ainay, already a 2m 3f winner here at Naas, with the second horse home, Longhouse Poet, a comfortable 2m 4f big-field winner at Navan since.
Both take him on today and, as they look for a chink in his armour, the field sets the highest standard to date of any event in the novice-hurdle sphere as winners of 21 previous races.
Collateral form via a Willie Mullins mare called Colreevy points to Midnight Run, but only if he can bounce back.
Colreevy beat Abacadabras in the Punchestown champion bumper in May, and went clear of two other very easy NH Flat winners in a Limerick hurdle over Christmas.
In between, she was demolished nearly 10 lengths by Midnight Run at Cork (2m), though in receipt of 7lb; Conflated third.
Midnight Run was already beaten when squeezed out and forced into a bad error behind Envoi Allen in that Royal Bond. Can he bounce back for Gigginstown and upset Envoi Allen?
At 16.5 the win, 4.2 a place (pity there aren’t eight runners), I shall play devil’s advocate for an interest in the race without too much egg on my face and damage to the wallet.
VINNIE NATIONAL DOUBLE VALUE
2.40 Plumpton (Sussex National) Vinnie Lewis, an 11.0 offer on BETDAQ as I write, has an ability which is a huge benefit at Plumpton. He jumps fences out of the mud.
That’s why he ran out an easy winner of this race last year, and why he’s likely to carry just 3lb more to victory on the sodden Sussex turf at Plumpton today.
It would be some recompense for trainer Harry Whittington; in fact, half the win money ‘that might have been’ had not his Saint Calvados just failed – by a nose – to give Old Grangewood 15lb in the big chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Vinnie Lewis is Harry’s second runner of 2020. He relies on a 3lb apprentice carrying three stone more than her lowest riding weight to turn the page on that episode this afternoon.
Page Fuller has had 20 winners this season, while one of her apprentice rivals today, tipped-for-the-top Ben Jones, has had 30 but overall still warrants a 5lb claim.
But he and Emma Lavelle have had only the odd one on the scoreboard recently, since Belle Empress won an Exeter marathon for them and earned a 7lb rise for today.
Hard To Forget has been winning in lower class and is 17lb higher for back-to-back success, including here at Plumptious over shorter.
He would be the third seven-year-old in succession to win this Sussex National, as the only one of his age group in the field this afternoon.
Late-developer Christmas In April is my saver at 5.5. He and one-time North Yorkshire National runner-up Billy Bronco were both winners on the last day.
Durham National hero The Caller followed up with a stinker in the Southern National at Fontwell in the autumn and has rested up since.
Garrane has been consistent but a bridesmaid, his 2223203 still standing over fences putting him up 9lb without any win prizemoney.
Surrey National third and Highland National winner, Weststreet has to bounce back after two dismal runs in the autumn. Rathlin Rose has also been out of sorts since the Spring.
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.40 Plumpton (win 20)
BET 2.25pts win TOP MAN
2.20 Naas (win 20, place 10)
BET 1.25pts win and 3pts place MIDNIGHT RUN
2.40 Plumpton (win 30, win 10)
BET 3pts win (nap) VINNIE LEWIS
BET 2.5pts win CHRISTMAS IN APRIL
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.
