COUNTDOWN TO IRISH CHAMPIONS WEEKEND: Daqman checks out the ratings for Saturday’s big races in Ireland, with Mishriff still having the edge in the Champion Stakes but the world’s second best racehorse of last season faces a strong three-year-old challenge from Vadeni, Native Trail and Luxembourg. Lookout for Daqman’s verdict on Saturday.

GOODWOOD NAP: Daqman heads to Goodwood on Tuesday for his NAP and has two other selections. The going is now soft at Goodwood.

SATURDAY IRISH RATINGS AND STATS

⭕ 3.45 Leopardstown, Saturday (Irish Champion Stakes) STATS: AGE: 3yo 5-8. FAVOURITES: 5-7. TRAINERS: Aidan O’Brien 10, John Gosden 4, Jim Bolger 2. JOCKEYS: Frankie Dettori 6, Seamie Heffernan 3, Ryan Moore 3.

123 MISHRIFF 2021 York International was his last success. Eclipse second.
122 VADENI Won the French Derby and beat Mishriff in the Eclipse Stakes.
121 NATIVE TRAIL Won Irish Guineas; placed English Guineas and Eclipse.
120 BAY BRIDGE Five wins in a row; second Royal Ascot, fifth in the Eclipse.
118 TITLEHOLDER Three times Group-1 winner at Hanshin, Japan, up to 2m.
117 LUXEMBOURG Unbeaten 2yo; third 2,000 Guineas, won the Royal Whip.

⭕ 4.55 Leopardstown, Saturday (Matron Stakes) STATS: AGE: 3yo seven in a row. FAVOURITES: 1-7. TRAINERS: Aidan O’Brien 3, Jim Bolger 2, Sir Michael Stoute 2. JOCKEYS: Wayne Lordan 3, Ryan Moore 2.

121 INSPIRAL Unbeaten 2yo; won Coronation Stakes and Jacques Le Marois.
120 HOMELESS SONGS Won the Irish 1,000 Trial and then the Guineas itself.
119 ALCOHOL FREE Coronation, Sussex Stakes wins last year; July Cup this.
118 TUESDAY 3rd English 1,000, 2nd Irish (to Homeless Songs); won Oaks.
116 SAFFRON BEACH Won British Champion Fillies & Mares; 2-2 this summer.

SIGNS STRONG FOR SIRONA

⭕ 4.10 Goodwood Charlie and Mark Johnston is usually a pretty good starting point at Goodwood and the Middleham team look to have an outstanding chance in the maiden fillies at 4.10 with Sirona.

She needs to defy a penalty but still could be ‘anything’ judged on her facile debut at Beverley last month when bolting home by five and a half lengths with the remainder of the field well spread out too.

Given the yard’s runners usually improve significantly from their debut starts then I think Sirona easily rates as the nap of the day over her more experienced rivals.

Richard Hannon’s Land Of Summer has been nibbled at early morning on the Betdaq Betting Exchange . She tries a longer trip for the first time here having finished a course fourth over six furlongs last time out. She has become a little exposed though after a promising start and struggled in better quality races.

There’s probably more to come from Fariba who won nicely on her second start where she was running on at the end of the Kempton mile so it’s a slightly concerning to see her dropped back to seven.

NUTS TO IGNORE CASHEW

⭕ 5.20 Goodwood Some Nightmare is a course and distance winner who scraped home at Chepstow last time out and then struggled on his return to the track off his revised mark. I think he looks high enough in the weights now and other options are preferred in this six furlong handicap.

Preference is for Cashew who is going the other way in the weights and now also gets her preferred soft ground thanks to the overnight thunderstorms in Sussex.

Her two career wins have both come on soft and she looks a sporting option in a competitive race.

TILLY THE TOP FILLY

⭕ 5.35 Catterick The race takes on a new complexion with the defection of the forecast favourite Lucky Shake.

Bryan Smart’s Tilly The Filly is 0-9 but gets soft ground for the first time and maybe the value play now she is dropping in the weights.

There are question marks over the two at the top of the market.

Motashaweq flopped on testing ground at Sandown whilst Sheikh Maz Mahood has no experience at all on a testing surface and is by no means certain to appreciate it on breeding.

DAQMAN’S BETS

4.10 Goodwood (win 10, nap)
BET 8.1pts win SIRONA

5.20 Goodwood (win 10)
BET 1.5pts win SOME NIGHTMARE

5.35 Catterick (win 10)
BET 2.7pts win TILLY THE FILLY

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.