DECEMBER GOLD CUP ABC: Here’s the famous Daqman ABC check on stats and facts for Saturday’s December Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The guide usually finds the winner in its top half dozen.. or less!
TODAY: JUMPS TRIO: Daqman this afternoon goes for one selection at each of today’s Jumps Meetings at Newcastle, Taunton and Warwick as he looks for a big payout on today’s Racing.
KILLA PUNCH IN SATURDAY GOLD CUP
A Aged 6 or 7 (9 out of 11)
B Carried no more than 11st 4lb (12 out of 15)
C Trained Henderson or Nicholls (6 out of 11)
D Already won a Graded race
AB Barrakilla
Excellent first run back when, though looking big and a bit burly, was made favourite but finished third behind Sound Investment, with No Buts fourth, and Tatenen sixth, at Sandown in November.
That was only Barrakilla’s fourth chase, after he had finished first or second in his Point, bumper and all his hurdles. Same sire as Jezki; related on the dam’s sire to a Punchestown Gold Cup winner. Has won from good to heavy.
AB No Buts
Turned around (by 14 lengths) the Sandown form with Sound Investment three weeks later at Newbury but is 10lb worse off now, which – strictly – swings the pendulum back in Sound Investment’s favour, depending on any jockey claims. Son of Kayf Tara, who hands down his stamina.
AB Workbench
Ultra-consistent (placed 11 from 13, still standing) and has improved a stone since August. Creditable run at Cheltenham in October, but all success on a sound surface. Same sire as Sprinter Sacre but dam brings nothing much to the table so far.
AD Edgardo Sol
Left Paul Nicholls and this is third run for new yard, twice aiming high, runner-up to re-energised Wishfull Thinking in the Old Roan Chase, then down the field in the PP Gold Cup. Best on sound surface; not won since April 2012.
AD Splash Of Ginge
Big winner at Newbury over hurdles in February and fair effort at Cheltenham, only second attempt at chasing in October. But disappointed, back on the course for the prestigious Steel Plate and Sections, finishing last.
BCD Ericht
Scottish Future Champions winner on the soft in February has disappointed since, except when fresh, third at Cheltenham in October at around this trip. He and Workbench are close together on the form of that race.
BD Tatenen
Another Paul Nicholls cast-off, last won a year or so ago on a sound surface at Newbury, but third in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, then fourth in the Topham over the Grand National fences.
Not a bad run back behind Sound Investment and Co at Sandown last month but 10-years-old now. Has raced 11 times on different courses at Cheltenham.
B Carrigmorna King
Has gone well on most terrain, except heavy, but success has come at a lower level. Has been beaten by Tatenen and No Buts in the last year or so, yet races off his highest mark.
CD Caid Du Berlais
Graded hurdler, who was the winner of the PP Gold Cup over CD last month in only his second chase after return to fences. Still only five and this is his second big race with a prohibitive 11st 12lb, though Sean Bowen may give him his claimer’s respite.
– Attaglance
Hasn’t scored since April 2012 and doesn’t tick any boxes here, though has good Cheltenham form: won a hurdle at the festival (2012), fourth last year’s PP Gold Cup and runner-up in a novice chase back at the championship meeting in March. Fair effort on return in September. Doesn’t like a lot of cut.
– Darna
A glass horse, best caught fresh these days, and scored at Sedgefield last month after two years’ off. Has had leg trouble, according to trainer Kim Bailey, who still thinks the eight-year-old (four chase wins from seven) has a touch of class.
– Easter Meteor
On the face of it, nothing much to recommend him for two years now but has changed stables and, despite an unlucky run for Emma Lavelle in the PP Gold Cup of 2013, again disappointed in the race last month, now saddled by David Pipe. Sounds like a morning glory.
– Niceonefrankie
Seems to have been around forever for Venetia Williams, and a stable favourite. Straightforward but best when fresh, and duly won on his reappearance for the second year running last month. Much tougher here.
SOUTHFIELD NAP AT TAUNTON TODAY
TAUNTON In the opener at Taunton, it is very difficult to look beyond the Paul Nicholls trained Southfield Vic. Despite being beaten twice at odds on, he is to be the class horse in this race and should be able to finally get off the mark over Hurdles.
He is stepping up in trip, which appeared to be his downfall on his previous two runs, and with question marks over Upsanddowns with the ground, and the true quality of the Novice Hurdle that Well Rewarded contested a couple of weeks ago, this looks like the perfect opportunity for Southfield Vic. There is likely to be more to come from the others, but I would suspect that Southfield Vic will have the class to edge them.
NEWCASTLE At 2.20, Funky Munky will attempt to add to his win last week and runs today with no penalty. Although he carries top weight, Ryan Day takes off a valuable 7lbs and he is more than capable. He won nicely enough at Catterick last time to suggest that this looks to be his optimum trip and he is taken to score here again.
Jukebox Melody seems to be the most obvious danger to the top weight. He won by a long way last time out at Sedgefield beating Silver Shuffle, who wasn’t able to manage any better in his subsequent two starts. Mubrook also looks to have a chance but he may need a career best effort to win this off a high handicap mark for him.
WARWICK Just ten minutes later, Tony McCoy gets the leg up on Presence Felt in a marathon event over three miles and five furlongs.
This looks to be a competitive enough race but Jonjo O’Neill has won the race in the past and this looks well suited for Presence Felt. He’s been dropping steadily in the Handicap since he was introduced at 115 over fences just under a year ago. Running today off 104 and with the step up to this trip, Presence Felt can capitalise on it for McCoy and O’Neill and, hopefully, give me a cross the card treble.
Although Georgian King is in top form, he looks high enough in the weights for this test. Incentivise also seems to have a solid chance for Jamie Moore and Richard Lee but none is as well weighted for the task as Presence Felt.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Stakes represent chance from 1 to 10)
BANKER: BET 10pts win (Nap) SOUTHFIELD VIC (12.40 Taunton)
BET 6pts win FUNKY MUNKY (2.20 Newcastle)
BET 4pts win PRESENCE FELT (2.30 Warwick)
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