NAPS-RULER DAQMAN WINS AGAIN: Daqman landed back-to-back naps with Russian Ruler yesterday, making a hat-trick interrupted by a faller for which BETDAQ Sportsbook returned stakes. A profit of more than 150 points was possible in the four days.
Monday: profit on the day 3.5 points
WON 10-11 RUSSIAN RULER (nap)
Sunday: profit on the day 5.2 points
WON 5-4 TIP TOP MOUNTAIN (nap)
Saturday: 129.50 potential profit before non-runners
WON 7-2 REMARQUEE
WON 7-2 RUBAUD 7.6 on BETDAQ
WON 9-2 JIMI HENDRIX 9.0 on BETDAQ
WON 4-1 KITTYS LIGHT 9.0 on BETDAQ
WON 11-8 EMILY DICKINSON (Fortune Cookie)
Friday: profit on the day 15 points
WON 1-1 MILITARY ORDER (nap)
WON 11-5 NOVEL LEGEND
TODAY:
* Flat racing from the Derby course at Epsom
* Jumps festival opens at Punchestown
GOSDEN FOR SEVENTH RIBAND
⭕ 2.25 Epsom (Blue Riband Trial) The blue riband of the turf, the Epsom Derby, is said to have been named after the award to the fastest passenger liner.
But if you look up stories about the fastest liner (Mauretania held it for 20 years, 1909-29), it tells you the award is named after the Epsom Derby!
One thing you can be sure of today is that this afternoon’s winner will be all at sea in this year’s Derby, though winning this gives him an automatic entry.
The only winners of note this century have been the Champion Stakes stars, Storming Home (2001) and Cracksman (2017), third in the Derby.
As well as with Cracksman, John Gosden won this trial with Raincoat (2007), Debussy (2009), Christophermarlowe (2015), So Mi Dar (2016) and Crossed Baton (2018).
That’s one reason why Epictetus will start odds on this afternoon. Another is that he is 12lb clear in the official ratings for this, after running up to both Silver Knott (now a 115 colt) – by a neck – and 2,000 Guineas favourite, Auguste Rodin (118), in the Doncaster Futurity.
I won’t go into the breeding of today’s likely one-two, except to say that Greek philosopher Epictetus (died 135) and Roman emperor Hadrianus (died 138) were contemporaries. Their equine sires, Kingman and Galileo, were not!
EDUCATOR IS WELL WEIGHTED
⭕ 3.00 Epsom (City And Suburban) First of two great handicaps. This one, ‘London’s own race’, can be seen on Youtube in 1938, with the Derby course railed off to keep the grass green for the Classic.
Some 90% of modern winners come from the low six stalls, with last year’s, Soto Sizzler, now out one stall into 7.
Since he’s a slow starter, that might not bother him and he’s down 6lb in the ratings. Trainer Gary Moore has been in tremendous form.
The royal runner, Educator, was entered in the Derby early on last year but lost his way. Gelded for a new start in life, with at least 7lb in hand of most of the field. BETDAQ 3.75 taken
Lord Protector, a Spring winner in 2021 who lost his way last year, also looks for a new start after wind surgery, and was well backed this morning. Saver at 4.0.
A string of five strikes has lofted Caius Chorister high in the handicap; he’s a keen-going sort, but stall 9 won’t help Benoit De La Sayette get the rail on this return to a shorter trip. He’s been kept to firm ground until this.
Scampi is another who’s won over further on the firm. Bad Company’s winning form is in class 4. Harrovian has won only at Doncaster since being gelded.
Frankel gelding Fantastic Fox ran an excellent race, third over a mile here in June, staying on, giving weight to the one-two; versatile as to ground.
KING HAS CHAMPION CHANCE
⭕ 3.35 Epsom (Great Metropolitan) This second great handicap dates back 175 years to its sponsorship by an East End gambling pub.
Nine of the last 11 winners have been four-year-olds and, since being shortened from 2m-plus to the Derby distance, railing round the Epsom bends from an easy draw has prevailed more than once. But look out for them jockeying for position up the initial climb to get a rails place at the bend and downhill to Tattenham Corner.
Alan King’s Haseefah has won round the turns of Goodwood and Chester, likes cut in the ground and looks handy in stall 7. Big at 12.5 on BETDAQ.
Stablemate Open Champion was hampered in his run at Kempton, and James Doyle is booked. BETDAQ 7.4.
Madame Ambassador (at 19.0 offers) could be best of the four-year-olds; has twice lasted 1m 4f going with the pace at Newmarket and could ‘do a Johnston’ and shoot into the lead from the one stall.
LAYS LOGIC: Neandra has been beaten both runs on turf, both with cut in the ground, and does not feature in Andrew Balding’s stable tours.
CAN’T GETAWAY FROM MULLINS
⭕ 6.35 Punchestown (Champion Novice Chase) Punchestown is a cafeteria for Willie Mullins this week; he’s likely to take the main course and then add some side places from his multiple entries.
What makes each race harder for the punter is that so many runners have been to both the Cheltenham and Fairyhouse festivals; which among them are tough enough to show a third time, which will be jaded and cry enough?
These are novices and recent winners did well at Cheltenham then waited for today; but only two of them favourite since 2012.
It would seem possible then that the Fairyhouse runners only 16 days ago who had already been to Cheltenham are not the safest of bets: Sir Gerhard, Appreciate It and James Du Berlais.
Classic Getaway (Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.4) and Journey With Me (3.55) missed both. Classic Getaway has been given time and is very lightly raced. He’s the one on breeding to benefit from this step up to 3m.
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.50 Epsom (nap, win 12)
BET 4pts win DIG TWO
Windsor Castle runner-up down in
grade under Oisin Murphy
3.00 Epsom (win 12)
BET 4pts win EDUCATOR
BET 4pts win LORD PROTECTOR
3.35 Epsom (win 22)
BET 3.5pts win OPEN CHAMPION
BET 2pts win HASEEFAH
6.35 Punchestown (win 10)
BET 3pts win CLASSIC GETAWAY
BET 1.25pts win (saver) JOURNEY WITH ME
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.
Did you know? DAQMAN’s tips are posted each and every day so he’s always on hand to help with your horse racing betting.
