ABC GUIDE TO THE LADBROKE: One of the big hurdles of the year at Ascot on Saturday has a huge weight range of 30lb in the long handicap. Daqman finds that, in fact, there are ABCDEFG – seven factors – that have indicated past winners of The Ladbroke.
MORE WINNING BETDAQ BANKERS AT KEMPTON: Daqman landed another winning Banker at Kempton with Quest For Wonder (WON 2/7) on Wednesday evening with his other selections finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the final BETDAQ sponsored evening at Kempton for 2014. Today he looks at the two National Hunt meetings at Exeter and Towcester.
COOL CAT TICKS SIX BOXES IN LADBROKE
A Carried 11st or less (16 out of 20)
B Age 5 or 6 (14 out of 20)
C Ran in five or fewer handicap handles (10 out of 11)
D Had one prep run that season (7 out of 11)
E Won class-2 race or better (5 out of 10)
F Trained Henderson or Pipe (5 out of 10)
G Had run at that year’s Cheltenham Festival (5 out of 11)
ABCDEF Cool Macavity
Three out of four as a novice, made his mark when he took a Grade-B handicap at Punchestown in the Spring, which was a race of winners.
Lost his form after but impressive in defeat on his return at Aintree last month, cruising through and losing out only by a bad mistake at the last. Seems to need a sound surface.
ABCDE Pine Creek
As winner of a Listed event over CD at Ascot last November, was fancied off 7lb higher in this race a year ago but was seventh of the 15 finishers. Good run back in the Greatwood, first time hooded.
ABC Gassin Golf
Long-time hurdles maiden, with bridesmaid form figures, still standing, of 22220343023222 (including on the Flat). Up and down rating has levelled out. Best run when beaten only a length in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March.
ABC Hello George
Unexposed (total of only six runs) son of Westerner, with Neptune at Cheltenham Festival as his target, has yet to finish out of the frame, going halfway round again at Exeter before strong-man Richard Johnson could pull him up.
ABC Minellaforleisure
Another with only six runs on his CV, ran well, though finished beaten, in the Supreme Novices’ Trial at Cheltenham a year or so back, not returning until the Gerry Feilden recently, when tenderly handled.
ABCE Shelford
Fast-track rise up the ranks this autumn with back-to-back success inside a fortnight at Chepstow, on the last day beating Aubusson, who afterwards accounted for Big Easy in the Fixed Brush Handicap at Haydock, with Tara Hurdle runner-up, Dara Tango, in third.
ABEG Foxcub
Veteran – at only six – of 18 hurdles runs, gradually climbing the grades but last of 23 to finish in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and recent front-running success at Bangor puts him up to highest ever mark.
ACD Sea Beat
Only a four-year-old; only four hurdles races. Some 12 lengths behind Cool Macavity at Punchestown but encouraging first run back at Galway in October.
ACE Activial
Grade-2 Adonis winner at Kempton in February, skipped Cheltenham for the 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. Strongly fancied but jumped big and looked unhappy on the fast ground.
Not seen since, but Ladbrokes report the Harry Fry four-year-old ‘subject of a considerable gamble’ earlier in the week, with the stable ‘hopeful of a big run.’
ACE Clondaw Warrior
County Hurdle the target, so pitched in to Grade-3 Greatwood for hurdles debut, finishing third. Cost him a 6lb rise but that was necessary to get him in here and at Cheltenham in March.
ACG Baradari
One of my picks for the Greatwood: well backed; well beaten. But good third behind Sign Of A Victory on fast ground at Ascot for seasonal reappearance, though last year’s win came on heavy.
AC Jebril
Another who ran well at Ascot and was well beaten next time (but not knocked about after error). Takes big leap here.
AC Pyromaniac
Regarded as a Cheltenham horse, ran well in Supreme Novices’ trial on that course last month off 134 but handicapper, not impressed, has dropped him to 128. That could be a mistake in the longer term.
BCEG Garde La Victoire
Giving weight to all, after making it three wins from four starts in the Greatwood, beating Supreme Novice Hurdle third, Vaniteux, with Clondaw Warrior next (3lb better now) and Pine Creek fifth (now 9lb better).
BCG Bayan
Two near misses, third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March – first run back after a long absence – and the ‘moral’ when runner-up in the Galway Hurdle, giving weight to the winner. His ‘reward’ is a high handicap mark.
CEG Ballyglasheen
Swinton Hurdle winner at Haydock in the Spring has been left well in rear on his return at Cheltenham and behind Faugheen at Ascot, both off 10lb higher. Only four years old and one to watch.
CG Goodwood Mirage
Another aged only four, worse off with Adonis winner, Activial, when fifth, first-time hooded. Brought down when well fancied for the Fred Winter. Returned to form following a pipe-opener on the Flat, winning well at Wetherby after being gelded and with a tongue-tie instead of the hood.
EF Swing Bowler
In the grip of the handicapper, after five wins in a row. Third then fifth consecutively in big Newbury race to My Tent Or Yours, then Splash Of Ginger. Only seventh in the Imperial Cup, but raised 9lb for his trouble! Still managed fourth in Scottish Champion Hurdle (Limited Handicap).
WARRIOR CAN BATTLE HARD AT EXETER
TOWCESTER As we can expect with the big Christmas meetings just around the corner, Racing today is not of huge quality. However, there a couple of nice races and I’ve got three selections for Towcester including a last race Nap.
Early on in the card, Mudita Moment and Cove look to have a bit of a duel on their hands in the two mile six furlong Novices Handicap Chase. Both are making their Chasing debuts and both looked to well enough tried over Hurdles.
Mudita Moment is the likely favourite but it may prove difficult to give Cove six pounds. Cove had been running well enough in some good Handicap Hurdles and, although she has been a little frustrating finishing second in her last three runs, she could go one better in this one.
In the penultimate contest, a Handicap Chase over two miles three with Vinnieslittle Lamb looking to follow up on her Maiden win under rules here last time out. That over three furlongs shorter though and I have a big question over how much she really wants any further than two.
Wicklewood finished just three lengths behind Vinnieslittle Lamb last time but is the complete opposite and today’s trip is likely to suit him better. His Handicap mark is unchanged from his last run and he may just be suited better to today’s conditions than the jolly.
The concluding Bumper is by no means the weakest race of the day and there are three nice types in this.
Anda De Grissay has had two good runs so far, in Juvenile contests over slightly shorter. She definitely has claims but might be in need of the run.
The same can be said for Element Quarter who is a well bred sort but having her first run on the track.
Presenting Lisa is also well related, a half sister to Moon Over Miami and she won an Irish Point to Point very impressively in mid October. She’s with a very good trainer in Alan King and looks to be the best bet of the day.
EXETER It’s a tricky day’s racing at the Devon track this afternoon with just two of today’s selections coming from there.
At 2.50, a Handicap Chase is a very open contest. The top weight, Trickaway is looking for a second win after scooting home to a six length success at Wincanton in November. He got a 9lb rise for that which looks harsh.
Sun Wild Life also got a rise in the weights which could be his undoing as he got three pounds for finishing second last time. Although you still need to respect him, his lack of wins is a concern and his connections may need to wait a little longer for him to lose his Maiden tag.
The Happy Warrior would appear to be the most solid option in the eight runner field. He is quite a consistent sort and has run very well on his last two outings with a win, beating River D’Or and a second behind the improving Knockalongi at Taunton. Today’s conditions are suitable and he’s got a good pilot claiming seven pounds in Gary Derwin.
The final race at Exeter is not one to go wild with but there is good value in an each way bet on Always Bold. He’s a very experienced horse and has been running with great credit of late. Despite having an inexperienced rider on his back, 8.6 in the BETDAQ Each Way Market is very tempting in a race where anything could happen.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Strength 1 to 9; banker is 10).
BET 4pts win COVE (1.10 Towcester)
BET 5pts win THE HAPPY WARRIOR (2.50 Exeter)
BET 3pts win WICKLEWOOD (3.10 Towcester)
BET 8pts win (Nap) PRESENTING LISA (3.40 Towcester)
BET 2pts win and place ALWAYS BOLD (3.50 Exeter)
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