IT’S ALL TO PLAY FOR: As you monitor the Cheltenham Festival BETDAQ betting, consider the Friday-Saturday trials on the course this week, and the Sunday specials at Cork and Punchestown, with top mounts for top stables. Here Daqman gives you a leg up.
CHELMSFORD NAP: DAQMAN concentrates on the evening all-weather card at Chelmsford tonight with his nap running in the maiden auction event at 7.05pm.
SUNDAY PACKS A PUNCH IN IRELAND
Two days of Cheltenham tests for Cheltenham horses. But Friday and Saturday in the Cotswolds could easily be outpointed by some stunning Kildare fields at Punchestown on Sunday, with Cork not far behind with a few Munster monsters.
Those who know that Irish eyes are always looking ahead to Cheltenham should sharpen their pencils for the two-meetings-in-one-day blast of quality horses.
The Cork card has produced animals of the stature of Black Hercules, Golden Silver, Rathvinden, Road To Riches, Felix Yonger and Vroum Vroum Mag on their way to the festival season of Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in the Spring.
Punchestown itself has seen Apache Jack, Djakadam, Don Cossack, Noland, Rock The World and Yorkhill stake their claim in recent years.
They tell me that Katherine Jenkins is a sell-out for the City Hall, Cork, on December 14-15. There’s still time for her to arrive early and carol Dreaming Of The Days to racegoers on Sunday.
Dreaming with her will be Gordon Elliott, with Dounikos or Monbeg Notorious (two engagements), and Willie Mullins (Screaming Rose) as the big two stables do battle in the Grade-3 novice hurdle.
In fact, Douvan has already had his day: 11 winning days in a row, in fact; including at all three major meetings in the big festival season. He is likely to turn out for the Hilly Way Chase (2.15), so expect a small field.
Gordon Elliott may run The Game Changer, and any result other than ‘Douvan first; the rest nowhere’ would be a game changer indeed.
Mullins, who won the mares’ novice chase (2.45) with Vroum Vroum Mag last year, can choose between two new sequence horses, Westerner Lady and Listen Dear.
That likely small turn-out against Douvan confirms that the Grade-1 betting race of the day on Sunday will be the 50,000-euros to the winner Punchestown Chase (2.00) at the premier Irish venue.
But there’s another Mullins monster in the line-up: Djakadam who, believe it or not, is officially a pound better horse than Douvan in the ratings.
Who will test Jack? Well, Sub Lieutenant has a new lease of life and Mouse Morris has a Smashing horse (four out of five, still standing).
But, with 16,000 euros to the runner-up, nearly 8,000 to the third and prizemoney right down to sixth place, you can expect Djakadam to have a stablemate or two for company.
Willie Mullins could also run Black Hercules (five wins out of six still standing) and Aleichi Inois (in the first four for seven consecutive races).
TEA TIME NAP AT CHELMSFORD
Chelmsford (nee Great Leighs) has always been a good circuit favoured by trainers and it’s great to see it back on the map and supported by the Newmarket based trainers – as indeed it should be given the proximity of the Essex track.
A couple of good bets for me on tonight’s card but the standout is Sea Tea Dea in the maiden auction over seven furlongs at 4.55pm.
She has performed with credit on both starts here – finishing second to Melissa Jane on her debut over six furlongs and then finishing fifth to the Sir Michael Stoute trained Parlance last time out on her first try over seven furlongs.
The winner is undoubtedly well above average and the second in that race, Indian Blessing, went on to win her next start at Newcastle.
Those that have already run have shown very modest form and the market, so far, is not speaking for the debutants so hopefully it will be third time lucky for Sea Tea Dea who was trading at around 3.3 on the lunchtime BETDAQ market.
ZEEHAN TO ZIP HOME
Long term maidens can send punters to the poor house but I’m prepared to make an exception with the Clive Cox trained Zeehan in the 6.55 at Chelmsford over 1m 5f.
The grey is eight runs without success but is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time today and has previously shown her best form on the all-weather – going closest to a first success at Wolverhampton when a head second to Jive Time.
POLAR TO EMERGE FROM FOREST AGAIN
In the finale at 7.25pm Polar Forest can defy top weight. He is burdened with an extra 6lb for his Newcastle win but scored with plenty in hand and would appear to be still well handicapped.
He’s won of much higher marks in the past and is preferred to With Pleasure who was a 33/1 second here last time but may struggle over the longer trip.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked 1 to 9 for strength)
BET 8pts win (nap) SEA TEA DEA (4.55 Chelmsford)
BET 5pts win ZEEHAN (6.55 Chelmsford)
BET 4pts win POLAR FOREST (7.25 Chelmsford)
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