THREE OUT OF THREE WITH NAP, PLACE AND FORECAST UP: Boosh! Daqman tipped three out of three yesterday, including his nap, Tarboosh, at Musselburgh where he started with a strong place bet. He finished up dancing when he wrote about the two who finished first and second in the last at Wolverhampton, so literally hot forecasting all day.
WON 10-11 TARBOOSH (nap)
WON 9-4 FORBIDDEN DANCE
WON (w/p 2ND 8-1) place GARNOCK VALLEY
CHAMPIONS-DAY TRACK-SWITCH DECISION TOMORROW: Ascot is still on a knife-edge about racing on Saturday. The British Champions Day would currently be run on heavy ground with waterlogged sections forcing some races to be switched to the hurdles course. A decision will be made tomorrow. Meanwhile, Leicester today is lost to the weather and Nottingham tomorrow depends on an 8 am inspection.
IRISH CHALLENGE FOR BIG SPRINT
1.35 Ascot (British Champions Sprint) Ireland’s huge improver Make A Challenge, who has recorded three wins on soft-heavy, has been supplemented for Saturday’s British Champions Sprint at Ascot a cost of £40,000.
He’s won six of his last eight races, the last one at the Curragh, easily, on Sunday, and his addition to the list in the style of yesterday’s column would look like this:
119 Make A Challenge (3-4 on soft, one on heavy) Denis Hogan
Why no mention of the bookies’ favourite, Advertise, in that list? Simply because he has never raced on soft or heavy ground, and the course, though experiencing dry weather yesterday, was still waterlogged in places this morning. A decision on whether to utilise the hurdles course will be taken tomorrow.
Now here are the ratings and soft-heavy records for the second race, the fillies and mares stakes, with jockey bookings:
2.10 Ascot, Saturday (British Champions Fillies and Mares)
Only soft-heavy ground winners listed (in ratings order)
122 Magical (2-7 on soft) Aidan O’Brien –
116 Anapurna (2-2) John Gosden, William Buick
115 Hermosa (1-1) Aidan O’Brien
113 Delphinia (1-4) Aidan O’Brien
113 Star Catcher (2-2) John Gosden, Frankie Dettori
110 Pink Dogwood (1-2, one on heavy) Aidan O’Brien
108 Red Tea (1-5) Joseph O’Brien
108 Tarnawa (1-2) Dermot Weld
106 Klassique (1-12, one on heavy) William Haggas, James Doyle
105 Who’s Steph (1-3, one on heavy) Ger Lyons
104 Antonia De Vega (1-1) Ralph Beckett, Harry Bentley
GLORY CAN LIVE UP TO HIS NAME
2.05 Musselburgh With form figures of 222603 Alix James looks one to take on at a short price – even allowing for the fact his better efforts have come on softer ground.
He faces a likely improver here in the shape of Le Chiffre who made his debut here when fourth and improved on that effort last time out when runner-up to Melody King at Thirsk. The winner went on to run well again at Ayr next time out and the form looks fairly solid. Le Chiffre shouldn’t mind any more rain and should relish the test of stamina.
Hua Mulan was beaten six length over course and distance and debut when an unconsidered 28/1 shot and has chances of place money here in a race where the remainder can be fairly readily discounted.
2.10 Huntingdon A couple of decent prospects make their hurdling debuts here at a course which can often throw up a star of the future.
Preference is for Glory And Fortune – impressive winner of a Listed Cheltenham bumper on New Year’s Day – he only had to be shaken up for a four and a half length success and justified market support.
Get Back Get Back has the benefit of a recent start but he was a beaten favourite here last time with no obvious excuse and faces a much tougher rival today. I’m surprised there’s not more between the pair in the market and the NAP vote has to be with Glory And Fortune.
5.25 Musselburgh Starplex looks very short in the betting with 9-10 to carry and it’s no surprise to see him drifting slightly from even shorter earlier prices. The Keith Dalgleish trained runner is back with the stable after a spell with Kenny Johnson but his form over the flat and jumps has becoming really disappointing and it’s a massive leap of faith to assume he can bounce back here as favourite.
Smart Lass looks a much more sensible alternative after her course win last time out over the shorter 1m 4f trip. She was staying on strongly that day, fully suggesting that this longer trip, if anything, could suit her better and she will be hard to beat – despite a 4lb hike in the weights.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
BET 5.0pts win LE CHIFFRE (2.05 Musselburgh)
BET 6.25pts win (nap) GLORY AND FORTUNE (2.10 Huntingdon)
BET 2.0pts win SMART LASS (5.25 Musselburgh)
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