COUNTDOWN 2022: FORTUNE COOKIES Daqman today presents his revised Fortune Cookies for the new year and on to the Cheltenham Festival after six winners in a row since their launch.
COUNTDOWN 2022: BETTING TARGETS Tomorrow he makes his new-year resolutions with his betting targets for 2022.
STAGE SET FOR NEW STAR
FORTUNE COOKIES: Jumps 2022. The stage is set for another Bravemansgame. Paul Nicholls has successfully followed the same path with a second novice.
Stage Star yesterday completed the identical Newbury double landed last year by Bravemansgame.
He soon looked the dominant factor in the Challow Hurdle field, a race also previously won by Champ.
I’m deleting both Janidil and Vanillier from the current Fortune Cookies list and replacing them with Stage Star and Redemption Day, winner of Tuesday’s bumper at Leopardstown.
Out of an unraced sister to the Champion Bumper winner of Cheltenham 2012, Redemption Day has several bumper chances and I have my eye on Aintree as well as Cheltenham.
Stage Star could also go to Aintree. Bravemansgame took in both the Ballymore at Cheltenham (third to Bob Olinger) and the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree (second to Ahoy Senor).
It is now known that he was taking on the absolute top class, and his Boxing Day revenge on Ahoy Senor, switched to fences, does him huge credit. Revised list:
Allaho (Willie Mullins)
A Plus Tard (Henry de Bromhead)
Blazing Khal (Charles Byrnes)
Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls)
Commodore (Venetia Williams)
Edwardstone (Alan King)
Fil Dor (Gordon Elliott)
Jonbon (Nicky Henderson)
Protektorat (Dan Skelton)
Redemption Day (Willie Mullins)
Stage Star (Paul Nicholls)
SEE HOW THEY RAN (for next race only) Adrimel, Beakstown, Garry Clermont, Makkari, Pic d’Orhy, Quoi De Neuf.
RESULTS SO FAR: WWWWWW200 Profit 52 points (odds-on shots not staked); profit on all selections 51.77.
IRISH HILL IS IRRESISTIBLE
⭕ 12.45 Taunton Paul Nicholls’ yard is ‘irresistable’ when looking for future stars and Irish Hill, whose dam has that name, could be one of them.
By the St Leger winner, Kingston Hill, he has already won on the Flat in France, and gets 7lb from the previous winners, Brainstorm (pulled up the last day) and Graystone, who broke his maiden third time lucky, but beat nothing well.
⭕ 1.50 Taunton Ben Pauling’s yard is in top form, and Bangers And Cash – second three times in four starts over hurdles – is up in trip, which will suit, and switched to fences.
Mille Sussumi has already put in solid performances over fences; second in both starts. Cruising through at Uttoxeter when she lost a shoe.
⭕ 2.05 Haydock Blaklion and Vieux Lion Rouge are both 13 on Saturday and youth may prevail against them in this heavy-ground stamina test.
Chef d’Oeuvre (BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE 8.8), who won this in 2018, was made to look good when Saint Palais completed a hat-trick yesterday.
He kept on well, giving that one 9lb at Wetherby, the last day and is visored first time this afternoon.
Bobo Mac and The Two Amigos are consistent but rarely show enough finish, so Captain Cattistock, who stays further, may be the danger.
SAVING UP FOR A RAINYDAY
⭕ 2.25 Taunton A cracking mares’ novices (Listed) hurdle, which sees Rainyday Woman attempt the hat-trick, dropped back in trip.
The mare has won four races for Paul Nicholls, since moving from Pam Sly’s yard, two bumpers and two hurdles.
As a Kayf Tara, she improved for a step up to 2m 4f and more for back-to-back wins at ‘home’ around Wincanton. She made all in both so I expect to see her exert early in this two-miler.
Ahorsewithnoname has probably been given several (unrepeatable) epithets by punters after three seconds at Newbury but her eight–lengths defeat by Elle Est Belle (Champion Bumper third) was boosted by a decent effort by the winner behind Jonbon in a Grade-2 at Ascot.
I like subtle names and the Yeats mare, Wheres Maud Gone, is on my roll of honour. She travelled well until encountering the Cheltenham hill the last day, trying for a third bumper victory.
Game On For Glory’s hat-trick from a bumper and a novice hurdle is on here. Bumper winner on good ground, she handled the Lingfield mud far better than any of her rivals on the hurdles debut.
BALKO LOVES HEAVY GROUND
⭕ 2.40 Haydock Celebre d’Allen won here a month back after a long lay-off; it was his first run in England since 2017; Homme Public (third) is 6lb better off and has had a further wind op.
Mister Watson steps up in grade; Rattle Owl gets weight all round but has no hurdles form on soft or heavy.
Chti Balko (BETDAQ 5.4) is the most likely winner, down in the weights, with a Haydock record of 1412332102 and heavy-ground returns of 141331241.
BANKERS COULD BOOST CAT
⭕ 3.30 Taunton What happens to Bangers And Cash in the 1.50 race will help you decide here between Tip Top Cat and Time To Tinker, both dual winners.
Tip Top Cat (BETDAQ 3.95), who beat a big field at Exeter, followed up there, well clear of Bangers And Cash if he hadn’t hit the last; still held on four lengths.
Time To Tinker’s connections will be hoping there are only light showers. He’s won two out of three at Taunton and scored at Wincanton the last day, all three races on no worse than good to soft.
Yet another trained by Paul Nicholls, Tinker carries top weight and will be giving pounds to all bar Sizable Sam, including 13lb to Tip Top Cat.
Alrightjack has won at today’s level, but was prone to errors in better, faster company at Newbury.
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.05 Haydock (win 20)
BET 2.5pts win CHEF D’OEUVRE
2.25 Taunton (nap)
BET 10pts win RAINYDAY WOMAN
2.40 Haydock (win 10)
BET 2.25pts win CHTI BALKO
3.30 Taunton (win 10)
BET 3.3pts win TIP TOP CAT
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
