SIZING UP THE GOLD CUP BETTING: Are you still a Sizing John man? Or do you think he’s handed the Gold Cup to Might Bite? In fact, market moves suggest that the Cheltenham championship is wide open. Play the BETDAQ ante-post orange or be creative and make your own offers there. Today’s analysis is all part of Daqman’s Fortune Cookies and horses-to-follow updates.
6.0 OFFER IS TEMPTING AT BANGOR: Daqman today finds bets at Bangor, including a 6.0 offer, but tries Daq Multiples at the AW meetings, with a supernap as the hub.
LION ROARS ONTO GOLD SCENE
Make me an offer! Time to stir up the BETDAQ Gold Cup market, particularly if you have ‘overs’ about Might Bite or you want to supplant Sizing John in your wallet.
There was a full ante-post list on BETDAQ last night. But it’s your market. Simply go to the race, and name your price in the most open event for years. There are ‘ifs and buts’ about them all. Ask for what you want.
Might Bite has strong credentials but nine of the next 10 in the list are younger. In recent years, Best Mate and Kauto Star were only seven when they struck gold; Long Run just six.
The bigger market bites in recent weeks have seen Coney Island in from 20-1 to around 7-1 in places, but 13.0 on BETDAQ; Road To Respect 50-1 to 8-1 but 10.5 on BETDAQ. Blaklion, 66-1 to 18.5 on BETDAQ.
It could be that, now he’s climbed the handicap, Blaklion will be trained for the Gold Cup, with his rating update taking him too high in the Grand National rankings.
Most layers are cagy about Sizing John; some still round 5-1 despite his Leopardstown demise, but 9.2 in the BETDAQ orange. You can’t afford to miss what you think might be mistakes.
Blaklion, Sizing John and Bristol De Mai figure in Fortune Cookies for this column. The up-to-date list of horses to follow include two scheduled to run on Sunday at Naas. Here are the updates.
Ainchea (Coln Tizzard) Though it was only his third hurdle, the Sandown winner battled it out, second, in the Ballymore trial on the first day of the year.
Al Boum Photo (Willie Mullins) Unlucky faller when seemed sure to win at the last at Limerick on Boxing Day.
Aristo De Plessis (James Ewart) After back-to-back Wetherby wins over fences will shortly be going for a hat-trick, which he twice achieved over hurdles.
Barra (Gordon Elliott) Ex-French mare. Minor setbacks. Expected to take high rank once she goes chasing.
Cracking Smart (Gordon Elliott) Has an Albert Bartlett trial at Naas on Sunday.
Next Destination (Willie Mullins) As low as 4-1 for the Albert Bartlett and 8-1 for the Ballymore, entered for a Grade 1 at Naas on Sunday.
FORTUNE COOKIES: Ainchea, Blaklion, Buveur d’Air, Bristol de Mai, Next Destination, Politologue, Sizing John
HORSES TO FOLLOW: Al Boum Photo, Aristo De Plessis, Barra, Bullionaire, Cracking Smart, Forest Bihan, Jers Girl, Lady Karina, Le Breuil, O O Seven, Ravenhill Road, Shoal Bay.
BIG SAM IS A BANGOR MARVEL
2.15 Bangor Samuel Jackson is currently filming Captain Marvel (out next year), odds on to do well at the box office, but the eponymous equine hero of a novice hurdle at Taunton in November was 100-1.
Samuel Jackson, the horse – gelding actually (don’t mean to make your eyes water, Mr Jackson, sir) – was the first runner as a permit holder for Richard Mitford-Slade, who had trained him to win a Point at Badbury Rings.
Nearly 20 lengths behind him at Taunton was a Nicky Henderson novice rated 132, yet here Big Sam is easier in the market than the Henderson 129-rated Follow The Bear, who fell heavily on the last day and has been beaten in every race he’s attempted on soft ground.
Tricky Nicky’s horses can always find something you never knew they had but I’m rooting for Samel Jackson at offers around 6.0 on BETDAQ. He really is big, and connections are hoping he can barge his way round Bangor.
Don McCain sees Uppertown Prince as a chaser of the future. He won easily here at Bangor in early December and, with Kayf Tara his grandad on the dam’s side, should relish the step up in trip.
3.20 Bangor The bridesmaid American Life (form figures 2222, still standing) has won just one hurdle in three years, and two seconds in December, since being switched to Oliver Greenall, have lofted his rating to a new high mark.
I fancy we’ll see an improved effort from 8.8 offer Arden Denis, who can be forgiven a poor reappearance run at a time when Neil Mulholland’s yard was struggling in November.
The Bath trainer has had six winners in the last fortnight or so and the Wincanton and Uttoxeter hurdles scorer won a Point at today’s trip.
7.45 Chelmsford They must have hoped that a £13,000-to-the-winner Class 2 would be a draw for runners at Chelmsford tonight but it’s a moderate turn-out.
It gives Udontdodou a chance to do it again, after form on the track of 1131 (all class 3), hiking his weight exactly a stone.
That compares with 2041400 at Chelmsford for Dynamo Wait and 200 for Royal Birth, albeit that second was in a class 2, beaten only a neck, and the horse he ran up to in the Lingfield Dash a month ago has boosted the form since.
However, Udontdodou, returning from a holiday, is the younger horse, and has won twice when returning from a break.
DAQMAN’S BETS (each bet staked to win 20 points, except savers and multiples)
BET 4pts win on each SAMUEL JACKSON and (stakes saver) UPPERTOWN PRINCE (2.15 Bangor)
BET 2.25pts win and place ARDEN DENIS (3.20 Bangor)
SUPERNAP: 20pts win UDONTDODOU (7.45 Chelmsford)
DAQ (AW) MULTIPLES: 3 x 3pt win doubles and 1pt win treble VERCINGETORIX (2.05 Newcastle), DIAGNOSTIC (3.00 Wolverhampton), UDONTDODOU (7.45 Chelmsford)
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