MISSILE BANG ON TARGET FOR DAQMAN PROFIT: That man Daqman is lethal! His bid to follow up Sunday’s supernap stalled when his 20-pointer at Windsor yesterday was withdrawn. But, with his money back there, he landed Lethal Missile (WON 6-4) in the lucky last to give him another profit on the day.
TIME TO ASSESS THE TRIALS FOR THE CLASSICS: Today he puts the timeline to the top trials for the 2,000 Guineas over five days from Saturday, giving you a catch-up on the Irish results at Leopardstown when Lady Kaya hit the headlines but anything can happen with runner-up Happen!
PONTEFRACT TREBLE: Three bets on Tuesday – all from Pontefract which DAQMAN also combines in DAQ MULTIPLES.
TRIALS: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
Two out of three already. Hidden by the staging of the Grand National, Classic aspirants took a bow at Leopardstown on Saturday, and Aidan O’Brien grabbed two out of three, the Ballysax and the 2,000 Guineas Trial.
That official trial hasn’t produced a star since 2003 Newmarket Guineas winner for Dermot Weld, Refuse To Bend.
But last season’s O’Brien winner of Saturday’s race, Gustav Klimt, was placed in the Irish 2,000, so the weekend scorer, Never No More, may not be too far down the Ballydoyle rankings.
Never No More had the benefit of a run in beating my Early Bird, Madhmoon, and I expect that one to frank the trial form soon.
But the seeming star prospect of the day was Lady Kaya, who beat four O’Brien contenders in the 1,000 Guineas Trial, making all the running in impressive style.
Lady Kaya had run up to Skitter Scatter in the Moyglare as a two-year-old and she paid great tribute to the Summerhill stables of Sheila Lavery.
There’s some 20-1 around with Corals. It’s early days but at least she’s trained on and more.
But be warned to have another look at Happen, second in the trial for Aidan O’Brien, who also had the second in 2017, Winter, who went on to score in the first fillies’ Classic at Newmarket. The trial season continues like this:
Newbury (Greenham Stakes) SATURDAY for colts. Won by Kingman and Frankel in the decade, suggesting its return to fashion and the days that saw Boldboy, Wollow, Mill Reef and Kris star in a super sequence in the 1970s.
The 2014 Newmarket Guineas winner, Night Of Thunder, was second to Kingman in the Greenham. All Guineas winners since scored on their seasonal debut.
Newbury (Fred Darling Stakes) SATURDAY for fillies. Not lately of the quality of the 1990s when Bosra Sham won it.
Newmarket (Free Handicap) TUESDAY open. Remembered for the Classic seasons of super-sire Danehill (1989), but its last 2,000 Guineas winner was Mystiko (1991) and 1,000 heroine was Harayir (1995).
Newmarket (Feilden Stakes) TUESDAY open. Quiet results this century until Intello (2013), subsequent French Derby winner and Arc third, and Golden Horn (2015), winner of the Epsom Derby, Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Arc.
Newmarket (Nell Gwyn Stakes) WEDNESDAY for fillies. Speciosa (2006) was the last winner of this to take the 1,000 Guineas, but the fourth filly home last year, Billesdon Brook, was also a surprise Classic scorer.
Newmarket (Craven Stakes) WEDNESDAY for colts. This trial
was on a high through Guy Harwood (Dancing Brave) and Sir Michael Stoute (hat-trick) in the 1980s.
But it fell out of favour (Haafdh, 2004, the sole Guineas winner since), though not with Team Hannon, who won it in 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, and for four consecutive years (2012-15 inclusive).
SHOW US ‘WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT, ALFIE’
3.00 Pontefract A disappointing field of three turn out for this novice stakes event but there might be a little bit of value in opposing the Ralph Beckett trained favourite, Rowland Ward, who is 1.67 at the time of writing on BETDAQ.
Trainer form is a constant recurring theme for DAQMAN and with just 2 winners from 30 runners this season the Beckett stable couldn’t hardly be described as hot.
Furthermore, there are question marks about Rowland Ward. His form as a two-year-old was only modest and he is taking a big step up in trip today – his first start for 215 days.
Of course you need to find something to take him on with and given he just has two rivals options are limited.
Those options are exclusively centred around Mark Johnston who saddles both Rochester House and Nordano.
Johnston himself isn’t up to full speed yet but he has a solid chance here with Rochester House who was a 22/1 runner-up to Derby entry El Misk on debut at Newcastle. He was staying on nicely at the end of the 10 furlongs and looks more of a certainty to get the extra trip than the favourite.
Johnston’s other runner (the outsider of three!) is Nordano who finished stone last on debut at Kempton so needs to be a different racehorse today to figure.
4.30 Pontefract Interesting class 2 handicap on the card and the Hugo Palmer (4 winners from last 14) trained runner Dukhan could outclass his rivals.
He generally raced in better company last season (including Royal Ascot) and rounded off with a win at Newbury at this level on good to soft ground but he seems just as versatile on a quicker surface.
He starts the new campaign off on a mark of 5lb higher but seems progressive.
The Kevin Ryan trained Ayutthaya doesn’t have a bad CV but is unproven on quick ground and both his career wins have come with give – at Thirsk (good to soft) and Chester (heavy).
5.00 Pontefract Could develop into a North/South match between Alfred Boucher (Henry Candy) and Rathbone (Kevin Ryan).
Preference is for ‘Alfie’ who was only pipped a short head at Nottingham on his final start of last season by Mohaather who came out to win a Group 3 at Newbury next time out !!
Rathbone has a more exposed profile and the Ryan stable is out of form.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 20 points)
BET 10.6pts win ROCHESTER HOUSE (3.00 Pontefract)
BET 10.7pts win DUKHAN (4.30 Pontefract)
BET 11.1pts win (nap) ALFRED BOUCHER (5.00 Pontefract)
DAQ MULTIPLES 3 x 2pt win doubles and 2pt win treble above three
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
