5-2 HIT FOR WINNER-A-DAY DAQMAN: Another winner, shading another overall profit on the staking plan. That’s winner-a-day Daqman with Equinus (WON 5-2) yesterday, the day the jumps returned. But not for long: Exeter, Leicester and Market Rasen have been abandoned and only Southwell AW saves the day today.
‘SURPRISE’ CLARENCE HOUSE ENTRY: Daqman previews a revamped Clarence House Stakes, transferred from the abandoned Ascot card. Desert Orchid Chase winner, Editeur Du Gite, is a supplementary entry by trainer Gary Moore, a surprise to the owners but who afterwards said they back the move.
EARLY CHAMPION CHASE DECIDER
BETDAQ ante-post: The front two in the BETDAQ market for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, 1.71 Energumene and 3.45 Edwardstone, are set to clash in Saturday’s Clarence House Stakes, switched from Ascot to the Cheltenham Trials meeting.
⭕ 1.20 Cheltenham, Saturday (£100k Clarence House Chase) STATS (run at Ascot): Favourites 8/10. New course.
WINNERS’ RATINGS: 169, 179, 165, 168, 168, 170, 175, 166, 159, 172 (last year).
TRAINERS: Willie Mullins (3). Probables in ratings order:
176 ENERGUMENE (W.Mullins): Runner-up by a length to Shishkin in this a year ago; but then won the Champion Chases at Cheltenham (Old course) and Punchestown. Hilly Way winner on his return in December.
170 EDWARDSTONE (Alan King) Five wins in a row including 2022 Arkle at Cheltenham (Old course). Took the Tingle Creek on his return but blundered 5th and unseated rider (5-2 on) in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. See Editeur Du Gite.
160 EDITEUR DU GITE (Gary Moore) Landed a hat-trick, still standing, in 2021 including the Red Rum Chase at Aintree, before 4th in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (Old course) last March. Returned to form at Kempton over Christmas, beating Funambule Sivola (36-lengths 4th) and Sizing Pottsie (four lengths further back 5th) in the Desert Orchid Chase; Edwardstone unseated rider.
159 FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (Venetia Williams) Outsider at 40-1, beaten more than eight lengths by Energumene in the Cheltenham Champion Chase. Hampered and weakened out of the Tingle Creek won by Edwardstone.
151 AMARILLO SKY (Joe Tizzard): Back-to-back wins after the break, including defeat at Cheltenham (Old course) of Fugitif, despite giving that one 9lb.
145 SIZING POTTSIE (David Pipe): Beaten 10 lengths by Energumene at Cork in December 2021; rating slipped 12lb under Jessica Harrington. Has won a hurdle race for David Pipe but overall back up only 2lb.
TRIGGERED IS WORTH A SHOT
⭕ 6.30 Southwell today Triggered has crashed, literally like a stone lower in the handicap after 18 defeats since scoring at Lingfield (turf) in June 2021.
He is 0-11 on AW but his renaissance has come here at Southwell and at Kempton in narrow big-field seconds.
Now it’s the turn of Billy Loughname to lift dad’s seven-year-old (in eye-shields first time) over the line.
His main threat is Deputise but you don’t need an eye-shield, rather a seebackroscope, to find the gelding’s last AW success 26 races ago in December 2018.
Deputise briefly ran well in class-2 races early the following year and achieved a rating of 101 on turf. That has slumped by almost half to 57.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 3.75 Triggered
SONIC TONIC AT BETDAQ 17.5
⭕ 7.00 Southwell A class-2 race which is worth a blast on the whistle when the last train leaves Rolleston Junction for Nottingham (21 minutes). It’s a long time since I did that!
But I hope my outsider of the day, May Sonic, will wet my whistle at 17.5 on BETDAQ this morning.
Her trainer, Charles Hills is on a hat-trick. He’s had four winners already this year (4-8 which is 50%), spread across Lingfield, Wolverhampton (2) and here at Southwell, three of them favourite.
May Sonic made all three times running at Kempton before her rating shot up to 104 to start last year but, after being beaten twice when the money was down, has slipped back to 91 today.
May Sonic has been best at 6f but the race could be fast and furious with class-5 Southwell winner only last week, Kim Wexler, making the pace.
Runner-up Murbih is 4lb better off but Billy Loughnane’s 5lb claim wipes out Kim Wexler’s penalty.
⭕ 8.00 Southwell A pinstickers’ race for maidens but we have to dabble on 8.8 offer The Toff who, with cheekpieces on, could be the Charles Hills winner!
The overnight punt was David’s Diva but she is drawn even wider in stall 13. Among the low numbers, Hazel Bear (from 4) and Third Batch (6) are well fancied.
THIS IS A SHOO-IN FOR LACE
⭕ TODAY’S NAP (2.25 Down Royal) You would expect a six-year-old to win this; sure enough horses of that age are 4-5, three of them favourites.
You’d expect Gavin Cromwell’s runners to go well; he’s had six winners in seven days.
Add the facts together and you get Limerick Lace, a J P McManus novice chaser who jumps really well and drops back to a trip for which fast fencing is an essential.
I rarely supernap in a novice chase but I could win nine for an outlay of 10 this morning on BETDAQ.
⭕ 1.15 Down Royal The meeting starts with one of the unluckiest novice hurdlers this season so far. Well backed in fields of 16 and 21, second both times and for why?
An Mhi was six lengths in front of the main body of Fairyhouse finishers when slammed by the unbeaten (in six starts) Facile Vega, now odds on for the Supreme at Cheltenham.
Then he tries to make all over a trip too far but again beats the rest when a Willie Mullins’ ace goes by.
I think An Mhi can make all today at 5.4 on BETDAQ as I write in a race unlikely to throw up a third Cheltenham hope!
DAQMAN BETS
1.15 Down Royal (win 10)
BET 2.25pts win AN MHI
2.25 Down Royal (supernap to win 18)
BET 20pts win LIMERICK LACE
6.30 Southwell (win 10)
Bet 3.5pts win TRIGGERED
7.00 Southwell (win 20 in total)
BET 1pt win and place MAY SONIC
8.00 Southwell (win 10)
BET 1.25pts win THE TOFF
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