A SECOND 6-1 HIT FOR BATTLING DAQMAN: A destrier was a war horse in medieval England, and Carole’s Destrier (WON 6-1) showed battling qualities to score in one of Newbury’s big races yesterday for Daqman, the tipping destrier! It gave him EIGHT winners in FOUR days, including two supernaps out of three and another 6-1 winner, Lillington.
TODAY Daqman looks at results for the 13 Grand National runners who prepped across the Saturday cards.
NEXT WEEK See How They Won stats and facts in a day-by-day Cheltenham countdown.
NATIONAL: SEE HOW THEY RAN
THIRTEEN Grand National hopes were down for prep races yesterday. Here’s how they ran, alongside Daqman’s verdict on their overall form, with Aintree in mind. Just how huge are BETDAQ offers on outsiders? Here’s a chance to check them out.
ABOLITIONIST Dr Richard Newland warned of a stealthy approach to Aintree to keep the Leinster National winner, Abolitionist, in one piece and not expose him until the day.
Yesterday, in his first race since November, he was only five lengths down, second, four out in the Veterans’ Chase at Newbury, his first run since November. BETDAQ 37.0 last night.
BLACK CORTON Second three times running now when completing, but was only just held at Kelso. The disappointment was that he didn’t jump all that well. BETDAQ 62.0.
CAPTAIN REDBEARD Third of four, unable to challenge (Black Corton second), and his previous win at Kelso was made to look a bit of a fluke. BETDAQ 74.0.
CAROLE’S DESTRIER Won the Veterans’ Chase at Newbury, picking them off late, taking on the five lengths leader and passing him on the run-in.
Trainer Neil Mulholland said afterwards that he’d definitely take up an entry in one of the Grand Nationals, Ayr or Aintree. BETDAQ 64.0 for Aintree last night.
JOE FARRELL Trainer Rebecca Curtis warned that Joe would need the run and that his target was the National, but he tailed off in the Veterans Chase, and now needs to bounce back. BETDAQ 72.0.
LOOKING WELL Only four lengths down in second when fell at the last in the Grimthorpe. He’d been going strongly when he did the same thing in the Scottish Borders National in December. He just can’t pick his feet up when he tires. BETDAQ 70.0.
MASTER DEE Pulled up for the second race running – when never travelling – in the Greatwood. BETDAQ 68.0.
MILANSBAR A 12-year-old now, stayed on at one pace behind Carole’s Destrier. BETDAQ 154.0.
MR DIABLO Beaten favourite – ran in snatches – in the veterans’ race at Navan. BETDAQ 350.0.
ONE FOR ARTHUR Ruled out by underfoot conditions at Kelso yesterday, he’d unseated the last twice, and it looks like he’s not got over his 2017 Grand National success. Only Tiger Roll in recent times seems to have kept his form after winning it (One For Arthur BETDAQ 43.0).
THE LAST SAMURI Always remote, and pulled up, in the Veterans Chase. Second in the 2016 race, his National winning chance has passed him by. BETDAQ 88.0.
WARRIORS TALE Ran better than the bare form in the Greatwood, and is a different horse over the Liverpool fences these days. BETDAQ 102.0.
ZIGA BOY Long absence to overcome yesterday but led for a very long well, until weakened and pulled up in the Veterans Chase. BETDAQ 350.0.
MULHOLLAND TRAINING IN STYLE
2.50 Sedgefield In-form Neil Mulholland runs three at Sedgefield today, and the suggestion is to follow him, stop at a winner.
He’s brought one-time winners of 2016 and 2017, Dalaman (3.20) and Very Extravagant (4.20), back to form recently.
But I shall assume that he’ll already be off the mark with Moving In Style.
Moving In Style, back-to-back hurdles winner a year or so ago, was impressive switched to chasing on better ground at Wetherby, and carried the revised weight well in a big-field handicap at Chepstow. I took 3.6.
TAKE YOUR SLICE OF THE PIE
3.55 Sedgefield (Young Chasers Series Final) The Smiths have produced yet another progressive young stayer in The Paddy Pie.
His form figures of 21223311 – the last six over fences – have him higher by only 11lb all told over his original novice-chase mark, and he was a steal at 3.4 this morning.
The placed horses when he won his qualifier here at Sedgefield – Manwell and Bulkov – are five or six pounds better off today.
But The Paddy Pie extended his advantage over Manwell when they met again over an extra half-mile at Haydock 10 days ago.
And, four defeats on (0023), Bulkov stays on the mark he was first given as a novice in October. No progress there, then.
Cap Du Nord will need all of the weight concession. His novice success here at Sedgefield was his first over fences and the runner-up had been beaten a total of 151 lengths in three completed starts before they met.
Castletown is a long-standing bridesmaid, placed 15 times from 25 starts for just one win (over hurdles).
DON’T GO DOWN THAT ROAD
4.05 Huntingdon (Cambridgeshire National) Duke Debarry, a 4.0 offer this morning, moved well ahead of his hurdles form when he was sent chasing on the last day.
On breeding, he could be suited by today’s marathon trip. Little Bruce certainly is: he ran a staying-on second in the North Yorkshire Grand National in January. Amiral Collonges has also been placed in regional Nationals.
Old boy Bishops Road needs the rain that’s forecast. He’s dropped more than a stone in the weights but hasn’t won for three years. He’s a false favourite unless there’s a slog in the mud.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.50 Sedgefield (win 20)
BET 7.5pts win MOVING IN STYLE
3.55 Sedgefield (supernap)
BET 20pts win THE PADDY PIE
4.05 Huntingdon (win 20)
BET 6.5pts win DUKE DEBARRY
DAQ MULTIPLES
3 x 1pt win doubles, 1pt win treble
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.
