7-1, 8-1, 14-1 WINS IN FIVE DAYS: After Birchwood (WON 7-1 nap) on Saturday and Queen Catrine (WON 14-1) on Sunday, Daqman landed another big-odds beauty at 8-1 yesterday and his absentee nap was doubled with an 11-8 winner for a profit on the day of 26 points. The winners were:
WON 8-1 Majeed (13.0 Betdaq)
WON 11-8 Sir Roderic
BETDAQ RIVAL’S BIG TREBLE BID: Says Daqman: ‘After Shamrock’s naps streak, I now face a hot run in the Saturday big races from another Betdaq Tips colleague, Donn McClean, so I thought it was time to pull my finger out.’ Daqman is referring to successive Saturday big-race wins for McClean with Hawkbill (WON Eclipse 6-1) and Limato (WON July Cup 9-2). Stay with us this weekend. Why look elsewhere?
TODAY: Daqman previews the Irish Oaks, and takes on Pricewise in the Grand Prix de Paris. Scores: Daqman 55, Pricewise 25 (overall 352-141).
SONG HAS STAMINA TO TEST OAKS FIELD
5.45 The Curragh, Saturday (Irish Oaks) The Irish Oaks is usually a straightforward affair, going to a Group 1 winner or placed, which comes from the first three in the betting.
Ajman Princess The official ratings say that this Teofilo filly improved 21lb when she ran up to Even Song in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot.
But that was a fourth consecutive second on all ground from firmish to soft, and the Group-2 run at Ascot came with a first-time hood to help.
Architecture Eight lengths off Even Song in the Ribblesdale when as short as 3-1 at SP. The race probably came too soon after her Epsom Oaks (Group 1) second to Minding.
Harlequeen was eight-lengths third at Epsom; Somehow 14 lengths further back fourth. Seventh Heaven (hampered) and Turret Rocks (soon dropped out) were in rear.
Ballydoyle Minding turned round the form with her in two-year-old tests last year and beat her again this term for the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas. She had looked so good on fast ground when beating Turrett Rocks and Qemah in the Grand Criterium.
Though a Galileo, she has fallen short beyond a mile this year, only sixth in the French Oaks (very soft) when 7-2; then last of 13 in the Belmont Oaks in America (firm). But it could be that extremes of going didn’t suit.
Best In The World Not really. Last of seven in the Musidora to the sidelined So Mi Dar, but some signs of progress when third to Pretty perfect in the Munster Oaks.
Even Song Heavily backed when defeated Ajman Princess in the Ribblesdale in a 15lb leap in her form, and could improve again with only four races on her CV.
Half-sister to last year’s St Leger winner so no reason why she should not force the issue here, and find out the weaker ones.
Harlequeen I picked her win and place for the Epsom Oaks, and watched this big filly fall about on an unsuitable track, yet finish third at 14-1 behind Minding and Architecture. That still left stamina doubts and a worry that she’s a bit quirky.
Pretty Perfect By Galileo out of a sister to Holy Roman Emperor; disappointed in the Spring but came back to form when winning the Munster Oaks at Cork in June. A lot more needed.
Seventh Heaven Beat Architecture in the Lingfield Oaks Trial but, unfancied at 20-1, was well behind that one in the Epsom Oaks won by Minding. Has to bounce back.
Somehow The Cheshire Oaks winner took them all on at Epsom but capitulated quickly in the straight and finished way down the track.
Sovereign Parade Still only her second run when just five lengths off Even Song in the Ribblesdale. Entitled to come on again.
Turret Rocks May Hill winner and Grand Criterium runner-up to Ballydoyle last term. Satisfactory sixth, again behind Ballydoyle, in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, but well in rear in the Epsom Oaks, and needs to bounce back.
We Are Ninety Trial winner at Newbury and not disgraced sixth to Even Song in the Ribblesdale, just in front of Sovereign Parade and Architecture in what could be a seminal race. Needs to have made further progress.
TALISMANIC IS THE BARZALONA CHOICE
6.35 Saint-Cloud (Grand Prix de Paris) Though it’s £252,000 to the winner, this is a Group-2 masquerading as a Group 1, a consolation for Classic nearly-horses.
Red Verdon is one of them – fourth in the Irish Derby – and Ed Dunlop would love a pot like this. In fact, his sideboard has been gathering dust since the heady days of Snow Fairy and Red Cadeaux.
Trip To Paris in the 2015 Gold Cup has been his only major prize in England since Times Up took the Doncaster Cup three years ago come September.
The reverse is true of Jean-Claude Rouget, who has won SEVENTEEN Group races this season, ALL with three-year-olds, and he’s 28-1 up on Dunlop in Group/Graded events since the time of that Doncaster Cup.
Rouget’s current form-figures are 1013111233201131130111. Today he saddles Mekhtaal, winner of the Prix Hocquart but down the field in the French Derby, which the stable won with Almanzor.
Mekhtaal should enjoy today’s step up in trip but will he cope with any more rain on the already soft surface? That would also be a problem for Aidan O’Brien’s Beacon Rock, the front-running Gallinule winner, blinkered first time today after hanging when successfully challenged by Across the Stars in the King Edward V11 (Ascot Derby) Stakes.
Andre Fabre is also in terrific form (figures 1121020212310311): doesn’t Dunlop’s 2-26 look sparse alongside the current records of Fabre and Rouget!
Fabre, who has won this Grand Prix 13 times, saddles three, including Cloth Of Stars, who turned over his last year’s Saint-Cloud Criterium conqueror, Robin Of Navan, when taking the Prix Greffulhe in May.
Cloth Of Stars disappointed in the Epsom Derby behind Red Verdon but in front of Across The Stars and Deauville. Epsom may not have suited.
But my idea of the winner today is Talismanic, fourth in the French Derby – well in front of Mekhtaal and Robin Of Navan – after winning over today’s course and distance on heavy ground.
His being an improver may be the key. The ground may be the key. Both may have been in the mind of Mickael Barzalona, who chose to ride him. Around 6-1.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20pts)
BET 2pts win and place DANDYS PERIER (3.15 Chepstow)
BET 1pt win and place one each SCRUFFY MCGUFFY and PRAIRE IMPULSE (5.15 Hamilton
BET 4pts win and place TALISMANIC (6.35 Saint-Cloud)
BET 6pts win (nap) LORD REASON (8.50 Epsom)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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