FIVE IN A ROW FOR MULLINS: Willie Mullins monopolised Gold Cup day at Punchestown yesterday with a remarkable five winners in a row plundering all three Grade 1’s with Jasmin De Vaux, Bambino Fever and 22 length winner Galopin Des Champs in the feature.
DOUBLE DOSE: Daqman looks at the two Grade 1 races on Thursday’s Punchestown card at 5.25pm and 6.00pm – topped up with an evening selection from Chelmsford.
LEGS ELEVEN: 11 runners have been declared for the first British Classic of the season on Saturday the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Leading contenders Field Of Gold, Ruling Court and Expanded have all been declared. Don’t miss Daqman’s big race preview later this week.
MAJ TO MAKE AMENDS
⭕ 5.25 Punchestown (Barberstown Castle Novice Chase Grade 1) It’s hard to look beyond Willie Mullins again and the JP owned Majborough who has taken well to chasing and is rated a full 12lb superior to his Betdaq Betting Exchange main rival Only By Night
On Cheltenham Arkle form you could argue Only By Night is the value play here given the pair were second and third with Only By Might a short head superior.
However it doesn’t really tell the full story as Majborough threw away his chances with bad blunders at the second last (in particular) and the last and did well to be beaten a less than a length.
He looked a hugely unlucky loser of the race and you can imagine he’s had plenty of help in the schooling department since then. With a better round I think his latent talent gets him home.
The race should revolve around the pair given that the promising Rubaud had his limitations exposed when raised to Grade 1 level at Aintree.
THE HIDDEN HORSE
⭕ 6.00 Punchestown (Champion Stayers Hurdle Grade 1) This looks a lot more competitive with Willie Mullins saddling two outsiders in Asterion Forlonge and Winter Fog. He couldn’t, could he? The ratings say no with both facing a stiff task.
Gordon Elliott saddles the probable favourite in Teahupoo but the yard just aren’t firing this week and head into the third day 0-18.
In the same colours as Teahupoo, I’ll chance Hiddenvalley Lake to follow up on his Grade 1 win at Liverpool. He had previously disappointed at Gowran with perhaps the much more testing ground to blame.
SHE MEH BE A STAR
⭕ 7.15 Chelmsford (Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes Listed) A black type race brightens up the Essex card with the Simon and Ed Crisford trained Arabian Dusk likely to dominate the market.
She’s clear on ratings and brings both a Group 2 win and solid reappearance run at Newmarket when fourth in the Nell Gwynn to the table.
But Daqman wonders whether she is too short given she has yet to face the all-weather?
Star Of Mehmas is 2-2 on the AW and ended last season with a Listed win at Ayr. She needs to find further improvement but the stable are going well and Ryan Moore is booked.
DAQMAN’S BETS on Betdaq Betting Exchange
★ 5.25 Punchestown (supernap)
BET 20pts win MAJBOROUGH
6.00 Punchestown (win 20)
BET 3.2pts win HIDDENVALLEY LAKE
7.15 Chelmsford (win 20)
BET 3.7pts win STAR OF MEHMAS
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