3-1 NAP NETTED FOR NATIONAL WEEK: Just the ticket for diving into the big-odds bets in Grand National week, Daqman had the layers all at sea with a 3-1 nap yesterday, and topped up the afternoon’s fishing by winkling out a Pearl at 5-2. Profit on the day 14.50 points.
WON 3-1 ROYAL MER (nap)
WON 5-2 CIARA PEARL
DAQMAN’S EASY-AS-ABC AINTREE FORM: Here’s Daqman’s ABC Guide to the Grand National, which attempts to locate the stamina and quality, and position in the handicap, of the right-aged horse for Saturday’s marathon. The top 10 are numbered; the rest in ABC order with notes on the two most likely to get in, if there are non-runners.
GRAND NATIONAL ABC GUIDE
⭕ 4.00 Aintree, Saturday (Grand National)
A Winner or placed over 3m+ in quality staying chase (95%)
B Carrying 10st 3lb to 11st 6lb (11-13)
C Aged eight and nine (7-8)
D Last ran no more than 35 days ago (80%)
E Won or ran well in the ‘National’ or key stamina test (65%)
F Has won on soft-heavy ground.
G Has jumped the National fences
H Has never fallen or unseated rider.
1: MR INCREDIBLE (ABCDEFG) Lightly-raced seven-year-old improved for long trips when runner-up in the Warwick Classic (heavy) in January and third in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.
2: VANILLIER (ABCEFG) In-and-out performer, won the Albert Bartlett (2021) and then the Florida Pearl novice chase later that year, but place form only on big-race scene after. Fell, first-time cheekpieces, in the Leopardstown Chase in February but close second later that month in the Bobbyjo.
3: I AM MAXIMUS (ABCEFH) Irish Grand National winner a year back (Panda Boy fifth), and completed a Fairyhouse hat-trick in small fields for the Drinmore and last time out the Bobbyjo, beating Vanillier.
4: MAHLER MISSION (ABCEF) Lightly raced, 12 out of 13, still standing; consistent but not spectacular career, though might have won Newbury Gold Cup (3m 2f) in December; second, lost both front shoes.
5: STATTLER (ABCEH) NH Challenge Cup (3m 6f) winner at Cheltenham in 2022, runner-up in the Irish Gold Cup 2023; prepped for this by Willie Mullins on the Banks course at Punchestown
6: CHEMICAL ENERGY (ABCE) A big price because of the rain; you must hope the course dries – it can do so quickly – or that his courage carries the day. Second on soft, running on, in the NH Challenge Cup (3m 6f) at Cheltenham 2023.
7: GALIA DES LITEAUX (ABC) Runner-up in the Warwick Classic (3m 5f) is trained by Dan Skelton, close contender for top trainer.
8: CHAMBARD (ABDEFG) Won the Becher Chase over the National fences in December, beating Coko Beach but now 12 years old. See Meetingofthewaters.
9: CORACH RAMBLER (ABDEFG) Now rated 16lb higher than when winning last year’s National from Vanillier, with Noble Yeats fourth, Roi Mage seventh, Ain’t That A Shame tailed off, last.
Had won the Ultima at Cheltenham twice and he was third in the Gold Cup in March, for which he was marked up.
10: PANDA BOY (ABCEF) See Meetingofthewaters and I Am Maximus.
11: MEETINGOFTHEWATERS (ABDEF) Hit the headlines, and raised 15lb, when landed a gamble in the big Leopardstown chase at Christmas, beating Panda Boy with Adamantly Chosen tenth.
Good third in the Ultima at Cheltenham, when The Goffer was fifth, Kitty’s Light seventh and Chambard eighth.
OTHERS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
ADAMANTLY CHOSEN (ABDFH) Beaten in five consecutive Grade 1 last year and not fared much better dropped in grade since the autumn, though beat Roi Mage at Down Royal (3m 2f) See Meetingofthewaters.
AIN’T THAT A SHAME (ABFG) Runner-up 2022 Munster National and, back to form, won the Thyestes in January on heavy ground. Glengouly was second; led after five out, not fluent and no extra.
CAPODANNO (ACDG) Champion Novice at Punchestown 2022 but pulled up last year’s Grand National. Sole recent success in Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m 1f).
COKO BEACH (ACEFG) Eighth 2022 National; led at Chair in last year’s race but then bad mistake and pulled up after.
Fine autumn, third in the Munster National, won the Troytown and second in the Becher. Back to form in a banks race the last day, with Stattler fourth.
CONFLATED (ADF) Third in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and in this year’s Ryanair. High weight and 10 now.
DELTA WORK (ABEFG) Irish Gold Cup winner of 2020, back to form following the stable’s Tiger Roll route to Aintree, winning the 2022 cross-country at Cheltenham and third in the Grand National behind Noble Yeats and Any Second Now. Won the same cross-country last month.
ELDORADO ALLEN (ABD) Fourth 2022 King George and 2023 Newbury Gold Cup and last won a race there (Denman Chase) two years back.
FAROUK D’ALENE (BCDF) Not won beyond 2m 4f; last success was small-field chase two years back. MINELLA CROONER and JANIDIL not won beyond 2m 4/5f. EKLAT DE RIRE poor form since 2021
FOXY JACKS (ABE) Won Midlands National at Kilbeggan last July; third Kerry National in September and won Cheltenham cross-country November. Not won chase on soft or heavy.
GALVIN (ABE) Won NH Chase at Cheltenham; second cross-country there in 2023. Dropped 11lb below last year’s mark in the National, when he unseated at the first fence. Not won on soft in a chase.
GLENGOULY (ABC) Won only one chase (December, 2022). See Ain’t That A Shame.
LIMERICK LACE (ABDF) Runner-up to Coko Beach in the Troytown and mares double since, Silver Vase at Doncaster and Mares Chase at Cheltenham Festival.
LATENIGHTPASS (ABEFG) Fourth in the Foxhunters over National fences last year; winner and runner-up in autumn cross-countries at Cheltenham.
MAC TOTTIE (ABDFG) Won Grand Sefton 2021, and Topham (2022) over the National fences but winning form all sub-3m and 11 now.
MINELLA INDO (ABEF) Cheltenham Gold Cup winner 2021; second in both Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup 2022. Good prep, fourth in Christmas cross-country at Cheltenham. He’s 11 now.
NASSALAM (ADEFGH) Won Welsh Grand National trial and then the big race itself, back to back both in December, both on heavy.
NOBLE YEATS (ACDEGH) Won the 2022 Grand National and fourth last year after same position in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Has prepped over hurdles, beating Paisley Park in the Cleeve in January.
ROI MAGE (BDEFG) A 12yo, has won only three times since 1980. See Corach Rambler, Adamantly Chosen
THE GOFFER (BDH) Not won a chase on worse than yielding or beyond 2m 6f but fourth and fifth in the Ultima; fifth Sandown Gold Cup. Stays well and still only seven.
ROI MAGE (BDEFG) Seventh last year but now 12 and has won only three small-field chases since 2020. See Corach Rambler, Adamantly Chosen
RUN WILD FRED (ABDE) Second 2021 Irish Grand National; not won since November, 2021; fell 8th in 2022 Grand National when rated 9lb higher; failed to finish last three starts.
MISSED THE CUT
No 35 KITTYS LIGHT (ABCDEH) Needs to bounce back to form of brilliant treble last Spring of Eider Chase, Scottish National and Sandown Gold Cup.
No 36 MALINA GIRL (ABF) Winner of the Ulster National when only six and won the 3m 3f Cheltenham handicap in November. Stamina no problem; jumping excellent.
GUINEAS TRIALS SUPERNAP
⭕ 1.30 Deauville (Prix Imprudence) The 3yo colts and fillies trials over 7f at Deauville this afternoon used to throw up Guineas winners but have not been so high-brow lately.
This is the fillies’ test, in which Charlie Appleby challenges the French with Romantic Style, winner of the Bosra Sham Listed (6f) at Newmarket in October on ‘French soft’ (i.e. heavy ground).
David Menuisier saddles Tamfana, who has already scored in the French top bracket, winning the Miesque at Chantilly in October (7f heavy).
Both English-based raiders today have to beat Christopher Head’s Justify filly, Ramatuelle, winner of the Robert Papin against the colts and pipped in the final strides of the Morny, here at Deauville, by subsequent Middle Park winner, Vandeek.
Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber was third in both races.
Romantic Style at 5.8 offers on Betdaq Betting Exchange is a bit of value over the 4-5 favourite, but it will be a major shock if the 1,000 Guineas hope Ramatuelle (bred for this new trip) is beaten here.
⭕ 2.40 Deauville (Prix Djebel) David Menuisier attacks the French colts and geldings with Devil’s Point, runner-up in the Futurity at Doncaster to a 2,000 Guineas outsider.
The French field the unbeaten at Listed level, Lazzat, but I take a chance with in-form Jean-Claude Rouget’s Blue Point colt, Keran.
Keran has kept a low profile so far but was an eye-opener for this when prepping on the Polytrack at Cagnes-sur-Mer.
⭕ 4.15 Thirsk Showalong went into the notebooks (not too many, I hope) when showing up at the business end of his big-field reapppearance run at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting.
Showalong has won second time out in two separate seasons to date, and trainer Tim Easterby is among the April winners. BETDAQ 6.4.
DAQMAN’S BETS
1.30 Deauville (supernap)
BET 20pts win RAMATUELLE
2.40 Deauville (win 15)
BET 5pts win KERAN
4.15 Thirsk (win 27)
BET 5pts win SHOWALONG
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