DAQMAN’S VERDICT ON THE TOP CHASERS: There’s a powerful plethora of three-mile-plus chasers and Daqman suggested that punters should try to rate the top 10 following dramatic tests over Christmas. Is there an all-time star among them? Here’s Daqman’s own verdict.
TWO MEETINGS ABANDONED: Warwick and Uttoxeter have been lost to the English Jumps programme today but there’s NH in Ireland at Punchestown plus Lingfield AW.
GALOPIN NEEDS ANOTHER GOLD
He’s up there with Kauto Star. That was the people’s verdict on Galopin des Champs after his return to form in the Savills Chase on Thursday
The 178-rated seven-year-old officially beat the 167-level Gerri Colombe by 27 lengths on heavy ground. But such a distance between them is immediately suspect and the deep going was clearly a factor.
Gerri Colombe had beaten Conflated at levels in the Champion Chase at Down Royal and Conflated again disappointed in the Savills; Conflated had been overrated and could be deflated to 163, reducing Gerri Colombe’s mark after Down Royal to 164.
Gerri Colombe ran just clear of a 158-rated rival who finished third in the Savills, so you might even justify a reduction to 160, a talking horse who has disappointed.
So, even if I give Galopin Des Champs 23 lengths credit for his defeat of Gerri Colombe in the Savills, his new mark is 183 at best.
I’ll settle for that, 4lb behind Desert Orchid and with another ‘gold’ needed to place him alongside Kauto Star (191).
But how do we measure Fastorslow, who beat Galopin des Champs twice at Punchestown.
What we have to say is that, in their first clash in April, Galopin ran 8lb below form (too soon after his Gold Cup), as borne out by Bravemansgame (172) finishing a nose behind in third.
And, when behind Fastorslow at Punchestown again last month, Galopin needed the run and couldn’t cope with the pace of a 2m 3f race, despite being 2-1 on favourite. Fastorslow deserves only the usual 5lb rise for victory.
This puts Fastorslow in the milieu with Shishkin (173), now running more or less level with Bravemansgame whom he knocked sideways at the close of the King George, clear of Allaho (demoted from 176) but vulnerable to the final kick of Hewick (raise him 5lb to 172). The new list is, therefore:
183 GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (Willie Mullins, 8 tomorrow)
173 FASTORSLOW (Martin Brassil, 8)
172 HEWICK (Shark Hanlon, 9)
172 SHISHKIN (Nicky Henderson, 10)
171 BRAVEMANSGAME (Paul Nicholls, 9)
168 ALLAHO (Willie Mullins, 10)
160 CORACH RAMBLER (Lucinda Russell, 10)
160 GENTLEMANSGAME (Mouse Morris, 8)
160 GERRI COLOMBE (Gordon Elliott, 8)
160 ROYAL PAGAILLE (Venetia Willioams, 10)
9.0 BET FROM MOORE YARD
⭕ 1.24 Lingfield Platinum Prince won off this mark a year or so back, and goes well fresh. The grey’s Gary Moore stable has plundered the big Jumps prizes lately and had a winner on their last trip to Lingfield.
Chagall has also had a break since scoring here on the first day of November; in fact, he’s won on his last two visits here. Lost In Time is also a last-day Lingfield winner.
BETDAQ value 6.8 Chagall, 9 Platinum Prince.
⭕ 1.54 Lingfield Alreb’s stamina is not guaranteed for this trip; Blanchland has failed in two Listeds recently and is a better animal at Newcastle on Tapeta, while Makinmedoit has been beaten in six consecutive Listeds from 1m to 1m 4f.
Tyrrhenian Sea is another with fine form at Newcastle (3-4) but has been placed in a Listed and a Group 3 at Lingfield.
Though he beat Blanchland the last day, Base Note (BETDAQ 3.6) is better off at the weights and is officially rated higher than Tyrrhenian Sea.
HE CAN BOB BACK AT A PRICE
⭕ 2.15 Punchestown This 2m 3f hurdle has a field of seven, every one hoping to bounce back, mostly from chasing, but clearly none reliable and five of them without a win in their last five starts.
Ashdale Bob is top-rated here but hasn’t scored since a novice in April, 2021, though was third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
Thedevilscoachman just pipped Bob in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February, 2022.
Aspire Tower, once a Grade-2 winner, came back after a long absence this autumn, not disgraced.
Jeff Kidder was useful in the Spring of 2021, and Sir Gerhard was completing a hat-trick when backing up a Grade-1 at Leopardstown with the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March 2022.
Vanillier, the 2021 Albert Bartlett winner, drops back to hurdles after a career over fences, seemingly holding down his handicap mark for the Grand National, in which he finished second in April.
Betdaq Betting Exchange Ashdale Bob, at 6.0 this morning, has the best hurdles strike rate (4-6)
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.24 Lingfield (each to win 20)
BET 3.5pts win CHAGALL
BET 2.5pts win PLATINUM PRINCE
1.54 Lingfield (win 10)
BET 4pts win BASE NOTE
2.15 Punchestown (win 20, nap)
BET 4pts win ASHDALE BOB
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