FOLLOW TOP TRAINERS ON A ROLL: It’s another blue day without turf racing but Daqman aims to turn blue to his advantage today in his Grand Nationals preview and pick of the evening race at Chelmsford. His column contains a Scottish National prediction and a supernap for tonight. He concentrates on top trainers on a roll.
LIGHT THE BLUE TOUCH PAPER
Gordon’s on a roll. And it goes without saying – which is why the Press keep on saying it – that Tiger Roll has a major chance in the Liverpool Grand National.
But what price a Gordon Elliott Grand National treble? After General Principle defied an outside chance to win the Irish National, at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, he could have the favourite in each of the next two legs.
Tiger Roll will try to follow in the hoofprints of Gordon’s previous Aintree hero, Silver Birch, in that his stepping stone to the Grand National (April 14) was winning the cross-country at Cheltenham.
And likely to be a short shot for him in the Scottish Grand National (April 21) is Folsom Blue.
Folsom Blue was one of the unlucky ones in the scrimmage finish at Fairyhouse, placed fourth by the Stewards, after he was hampered, helping to gift the race to stablemate General Principle.
Now, with form figures of 14414 since he joined Gordon, he could repeat his 2016 schedule.
That year, Folsom Blue was again fourth in the Fairyhouse National (won by his then stablemate Rogue Angel) and, only 19 days later, was unlucky in the Scottish National, brought down when moving up to challenge.
Clearly he can take the exertions of the two Nationals – there is a similar number of days between them this year – a better horse now he is responding to the Elliott magic.
BOYS IN BLUE GETTING EXTRA
7.15 Chelmsford It’s a long drop to Chelmsford, and a different yard, but Saeed Bin Suroor’s boys – and girls – in blue are celebrating prizes from the very top of the tree at Meydan, including the Dubai World Cup.
Extra Mile, 3.6 on BETDAQ early mouse, is a link with the higher echelons of equine ability, through her sire, Frankel.
The dam’s side is Medicean, whose progeny mature late so possibly explaining why Extra Mile is still a maiden.
She has been given a handicap mark which puts her in class 4 for her debut, and she is surely better than that.
Saeed Bin Suroor, who seems to have an easy start to the evening with Great Order (6.45), has a 37% strike rate at Chelmsford.
7.45 Chelmsford Blackheath beat maidens in a class-5 at Wolverhampton in March and the handicapper awarded him just one pound for doing so.
There were previous winners in the first five places (Ambient was sixth) when Poet’s Prince was the ‘moral’, beaten half a length giving 3lb in a higher-grade, class-4 here over today’s Chelmsford CD later in. the month.
The jockey that day, Franny Norton, 7-19 on the course and currently top of the riders in form, striking at 37%, will be keen to get it right this time.
With Blackheath out to 3.2, I could just scrape a few pounds of liquidity at around evens this morning. Banker.
8.15 Chelmsford Dark Side Dream, who has won over further, should get a tow into this from Related.
But they could let in Summerghand, a solo raider for travelling trainer in form, David O’Meara (current form figures 113).
Summerghand (offered 5.0 on BETDAQ) just failed to catch Dark Side Dream when they met at Kempton in the autumn and is now 6lb better off for a head, first run after being gelded.
DAQMAN’S BETS (all staked to win 20 points)
7.15 Chelmsford
BET 7.5pts win EXTRA MILE
7.45 Chelmsford
SUPERNAP: 20pts win POET’S PRINCE
8.15 Chelmsford
BET 5pts win SUMMERGHAND
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