DAQMAN DAY OF OUTSIDERS: Daqman, who showed a return to form at a backable price with a 4-1 winner yesterday, takes on the layers at 8.5, 10.0 and 29.0 in England and Ireland today.
LONG WEEKEND: Look out for his pick of 13 meetings from Friday through Sunday.
WILL DO WEIGHTED TO WIN
⭕ 2.25 Punchestown (Grand National Trial) Gordon Elliott, who has won this five times in the last seven years, has five players today.
He has a galloper and a stayer in Will Do, only today getting a real crack at a proper trip, after fifth in the big Christmas handicap at Leopardstown (Nick Rockett fourth), first time in blinkers.
Nice weight now; the more rain the better; and BETDAQ betting exchange offers of 8.5 this morning.
Will Do was recently sixth in the Thyestes (3m 1f), won by Nick Rockett from Velvet Elvis (11lb worse with Will Do), and Favori De Champdou (8lb worse). Bushman’s Pass was fifth that day.
Ask Anything was runner-up in the Ulster National last Spring (the winner was a lesser light of Elliott’s) after a neck second to Bushman’s Pass at Navan.
This Grand National trial is an arduous race needing a lightweight and is not likely to be won back to back, but Where It All Began, also trained by Elliott, fair bolted up a year ago and is still sub-11st.
‘DONALD’ DIVES IN GRADE
⭕ 3.45 Huntingdon Barring a Willie Mullins tidal wave at Cheltenham, Dan Skelton is home and dried for the trainers’ title and, while they add very little to the pot, his lesser lights are as cunningly placed as his stars.
Far Away West, winner of £5k, needs a reasonably sound surface and Huntingdon – due east of his Midlands yard – could supply it this afternoon, though he is still a maiden after 13 starts.
But I am advised not to ignore the travelling team in this race, Gary and Josh Moore, up from Sussex. In four days (10th to 13th), they scored six times this month.
Donald Llewellyn, who has won before after a long break, and has attempted class-3 novice hurdles, dives in grade to around the level of his AW hat-trick at Kempton. Win and place at Betdaq Betting Exchange 29.0.
‘MON’ RYAN’S EXPRESS: 10.0
⭕ 6.30 Newcastle Badri has been a strong finisher here before and was back to form at Southwell the last day, down 20lb from this time last year. Still a stone lower, drawn 3 on the far side with Paddys Day in 2.
Paddys’ Day, who is 142011 at Newcastle, goes for a hat-trick on the course, the double helped by Alex Jary’s 5lb claim and using a high draw or a small field to operate on the near side of centre, but he’s far flung here.
Elegant Erin beat ‘Paddy’ here in June, then gave him 10lb and beat him again at Beverley in September.
Mondammej knows the score, as a hold-up horse who has won from a low draw among eight Newcastle runs (four wins) between November and mid-January. Overall hike of 16lb.
Master Of My Fate landed a hat-trick at Lingfield (2) and Southwell, climbing from class 5 through class 4 to strike in class 3, all in January.
He might have made it four last week but was knocked out of his stride at Southwell and could not then find a way through. Equally, he might have started his winning earlier but was short of room when low drawn (in 2) here at Newcastle in December. Today’s 8 stall should give him a clear run on the near side, where Spartan Arrow (out of 10) is likely to be the pace horse.
Has raced only once in 20 months and was at his best on the fast turf tracks of Brighton and Goodwood.
The ‘hidden horse’ is Mon Na Slieve, a contender on the near side who has slipped 10lb down the ratings and is recently gelded. Ran in a handicap at Royal Ascot after tackling Big Evs in a Listed at York.
Mon Na Slieve is trained by Kevin Ryan, who has had his last 10 runners ALL finish in the first four, three of them winners, ALL over the shorter distances. BETDAQ 10.0 this morning.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
2.25 Punchestown (win 30)
BET 4pts win WILL DO
3.45 Huntingdon (win 30, win 10)
BET 1pt win and place DONALD LLEWELLYN
BET 5pts win FAR AWAY WEST
★ 6.30 Newcastle (win-50 bull’s-eye nap)
BET 5pts win MON NA SLIEVE
(5pts place to win 10)
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