FOG THREATENS PUNCHESTOWN AND HUNTINGDON CALLED OFF: Daqman’s Huntingdon research is lost, the card abandoned due to waterlogging, and ITV now lines up at Punchestown, Cork and Kelso, though Punchestown’s John Durkan meeting (and travel to it) was this morning threatened by thick fog. Course officials are likely to inspect regularly until the 11th hour, as the fog slowly lifts.
BULL’S-EYE BETS IN SCOTTISH BORDERS NATIONAL AT KELSO: After Allmankind (WON 2-1) yesterday, Fortune Cookies’ hopes today are pinned on Punchestown going ahead but there are bulls’-eye bets in the Scottish Borders National at Kelso. The match with Pricewise is locked at 8-8.
CROSSHILL HAD HOT FORM BOOST
⭕ 12.35 Punchestown Jessica Harrington has won this novice hurdle twice (2014 and 2016) with well backed favourites, and Fortune-Cookie Crosshill can make it three at 2.76 this morning.
A big chasing type, Crosshill was so impressive here in October, making the opposition look ordinary. But BETDAQ Tips followers knew that the 11-lengths runner-up, Vanillier, was well regarded by trainer Gavin Cromwell.
I added Vanillier to the Fortune Cookies early-bird squad and we were rewarded at 100-30 when he beat a big field at Naas next time out.
Sneaky Getaway is 2-2 over hurdles at 2m 4f and 2m 5f and may just be found out for speed over today’s two miles, though heavy ground will be an equaliser.
Power Of Pause was stylish at Clonmel and Railway Hurricane beat a 13-lengths Gowran Park winner at Tipperary.
⭕ 12.52 Cork My man in the long grass reports that Direct Fire (BETDAQ 4.7) is ‘working the house down’ at Gordon Elliottt’s Longwood yard.
He’ll need Master McShee to be flattered by his 50-1 second to Appreciate It here at Cork recently.
DREAM RIDE IN THE JOHN DURKAN
⭕ 1.25 Cork (Hilly Way Chase) What to read into this jockey-go-round? Willie Mullins, who has won the Hilly Way 11 times since its inception 19 years ago, has Paul Townend on odds-on favourite Chacun Pour Soi.
Townend then has only Grade-3 rides at Cork, when Mullins has four runners – half the field – in the Grade-1 John Durkan at Punchestown!
With three non-runners as I write, Mullins looks set for a one-two with Cash Back in this Grade 2, though that one looks very much the second string, a faller the last twice and officially 16lb inferior to Chacun Pour Soi.
⭕ 1.40 Punchestown (John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase) Here we are with Min, Allaho, Melon and Tornado Flyer for Mullins – in market order – Min going for a hat-trick in the race, previously ridden by Townend and Ruby Walsh..
It’s a stronger field than when Min beat a 154-rated a year ago; none of the top five this afternoon is on a mark below 160.
Samcro is out so Gordon Elliottt relies on Battleoverdoyen, last seen beating Easy Game and Samcro at Down Royal on the last day of October.
He is ridden today by Rachael Blackmore, who is more often seen riding for Henry De Bromhead, including winning the Red Mills at Gowran on Chris’s Dream.
Chris’s Dream has since been beaten in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal under Robbie Power, who stays in his saddle on a redemption ride today.
Whoever is the jockey, I shall also take a bit of 5.9 Allaho, the RSA third, whose form suggests that today’s trip on the soft is his optimum.
TAKE IRON DUC TO SINK BIG SHIP
⭕ 3.20 Kelso (Scottish Borders National) Sandy Thomson, trainer of the winner of this race four years in a row (2014-18), brought off a real feat of horse-handling by winning the Rehearsal Chase with Yorkhill (66-1) last week.
His Duc De Grissay, winner over 3m on heavy at Kelso in March, reappeared in the Durham National in October, fourth but promising in less testing conditions, 14 lengths off the winner, Red Giant (a defector today). I took 5.9 on the BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
Nine of the last 10 Scottish Borders winners have seen off any classy opposition at the top of the handicap – 11st or above – and the Duc gets 18lb from topweight Bob Mahler, February’s Edinburgh National winner who was then third in the Kim Muir.
Bigirononhiship won this last year from Just Your Type but, raised 10lb, was not fluent on his reappearance at Ayr.
Just Your Type is 13lb better off for nine-lengths with ‘Bigiron’ and, off the same mark of 11st 5lb, Iwilldoit (BETDAQ 7.9) for the stable in form of Sam Thomas has what could be the crucial claim of Jordan Nailor (5).
Dr Richard Newland, winner of the Grand Sefton yesterday with Benson, has Classic Escape in off a low weight.
And Tom Scudamore has been booked for former Devon Stayers Chase winner One For Us, hoping blinkers first time will make the steering easier.
DAQMAN’S BETS
12.35 Punchestown
FORTUNE COOKIE nap
BET 10pts win CROSSHILL
12.52 Cork (win 10)
BET 2.75pts win DIRECT FIRE
1.40 Punchestown
FORTUNE COOKIE
BET 10pts win CHRIS’S DREAM
BET 2pts win (saver) ALLAHO
3.20 Kelso (win 50)
BULL’S-EYE BET 10pts win DUC DE GRISSAY
BULL’S-EYE BET 7pts win IWILLDOIT
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