ARISE, SIR DAQMAN! SAME-AGAIN NEW YEAR: Daqman’s very first bet of 2018 was a 3-1 winner at Cheltenham yesterday before he switched to Musselburgh for another hit against Pricewise, putting him 12-5 up and 35 points clear again. Situation normal then.
WON 3-1 TIKKANBAR
WON 5-2 SIR CHAUVELIN
AYR OK: This afternoon’s meeting at Ayr passed a morning inspection with just half a millimetre of rain falling in the last 24 hours. The going remains heavy though.
GETTING THE GOING RIGHT
At the time of writing there are no non-runners on this afternoon’s card at Ayr, despite the ground being heavy.
That’s the simple reason that it is the ground which the horses were declared to run on.
Whilst appreciating the vagaries of the weather, what often causes a blight of non runners is inaccurate going descriptions ahead of racing. Trainers declare expecting one type of ground and then get another. Cue non runners which is bad for the sport and bad for punters.
DAQMAN is in favour of the 48 hours declarations as it helps with the prep-work and hopes they also come in soon for jumps racing but it has to be on the proviso that advance going descriptions have to be as accurate as they are on the day.
BUS LOOKS THE TICKET IN OPENER
12.30 Ayr Brian Hughes can start the meeting at Ayr with a winner onboard Blunder Bus.
The one thing that has become apparent since the five-year-old joined the Chris Grant stable from Elizabeth Doyle is that he seems more effective with give in the ground.
He has been beaten by less than three lengths in his last two starts at Sedgefield and Carlisle and, if anything, this race looks weaker.
Berkshire Downs is back after a break but remains winless after 17 starts and was pulled up when last tried on heavy ground at Kelso. Stable companion Caventara was only a modest third at Hexham behind the odds-on Dame Rose and is by no means certain to be suited by the longer trip.
1.00 Ayr Niceandeasy can complete a four-timer and remain unbeaten.
He looks a soft ground specialist and might well be able to defy an opening mark of 117 to land this.
Skipthescales is appropriately named for this time of the year but could be the danger.
2.10 Ayr ACDC ran a wretched race at Newcastle last time out but might be worth another chance here as he returns to the scene of his course and distance win in November.
The Newcastle race was a much better event and this looks a lot more within his comfort zone.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20 points)
BET 15.1pts win (nap) BLUNDER BUS (12.30 Ayr)
BET 10.0pts win NICEANDEASY (1.00 Ayr)
BET 3.0pts win ACDC (2.10 Ayr)
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