6-1 BIG-RACE WINNER WAS 10.5 ON BETDAQ: While it was one apiece, honours even, in the Daqman v Pricewise match yesterday, the winners were BETDAQ punters who could get 10.5 in the morning about the one they both chose at Ascot, Irish Saint (WON 6-1).
THAT MAKES 16 WINS IN FEATURE EVENTS: Irish Saint brought Daqman’s score to 16 since the November 23 challenge. He now leads Pricewise 16-6 in the feature races nominated by his trade-paper rival (including a similar ratio of 5-2 in 2014).
YES, IT’S A DODDLE FOR DAQMAN: There is a head-to-head between Daqman and Pricewise in another big race, the 2.20 at Fairyhouse today. Daqman’s nap, It’s A Doddle, is running in the last race at Towcester.
2.20 Fairyhouse (Dan Moore Memorial) With only a week to go before the Irish Champion Hurdle, Our Conor’s trainer, Dessie Hughes, is missing strike badly in the manner of Alan King before he shut up shop.
His current form figures are 220U27204342, including two hot favourites beaten, and he’s withdrawn one of the leading contenders, Art of Logistics, from today’s big race.
That leaves Turban and Competitive Edge – aged seven – as the likely improvers, by dint of their age, but the Competitive Edge stable form also puts me off: Conor O’Dwyer has had just one chase winner in the 2013-14 season.
Tony McCoy flies over for Competitive Edge, owned by his guv’nor, J P McManus. Horse and rider have teamed up four times before for figures of 2010, though you can discount the last ‘0’, as the Irish Grand National was clearly a trip too far.
But Competitive Edge is 13lb higher than for his last success, a poor race, from which the next three home have all failed to score since, and carries 20lb more than when McCoy won on him at Leopardstown a year or so ago.
What worries me about Competitive Edge is that Harpsy Cord is 15lb better off for about seven lengths with McCoy’s mount, and Harpsy Cord is a dumbo, with figures – or should I say letters – of FP4PP,
So a serious improver Competitive Edge must be, if they are going to collect with him today, albeit dropped back to his winning trip.
Tony McCoy deserted Competitive Edge for Cause Of Causes in the Power Chase last time. Cause Of Causes, who finished runner-up in that big race, had been second when one of today’s runners, Perfect Smile, was third at Fairyhouse in November.
The other seven-year-old here, Turban, is given only ‘a squeak’ by Willie Mullins, who is worried that he’ll ‘bounce’, returning to fences so close (15 days ago) to his first run back over hurdles after a long absence. Torphichen also comes into that category.
Savello is reckoned by Tony Martin ‘a stone better’ on good ground. Tom George’s raider, Majala, the Arkle sixth who was second to Sire De Grugy at Chepstow, has a chance despite top weight but I can see him just getting run out of it.
My idea of the winner is Perfect Smile (8.2 on BETDAQ this morning). A horse who travels well in his races, he is already a Fairyhouse scorer in today’s conditions and comes out well handicapped on form.
THE NAP In Tony McCoy’s absence, Richie McLernon rides It’s A Doddle at Towcester (4.10).
The word is that the Oscar gelding, who should enjoy the stamina-sapping Towcester finish, is destined for better things. His main rival, Smart Money, is a freegoing sort who could be found out on that final hill.
DAQMAN’S BETS (stakes to win 20 each)
BET 2.75pts PERFECT SMILE (2.20 Fairyhouse)
BET 11pts win (nap) IT’S A DODDLE (4.10 Towcester)
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