McCOY NAPPED AT UTTOXETER: Daqman waves the red flag about the Sedgefield affair today. And he has two tips each at Fontwell and Uttoxeter, with the nap on Tony McCoy at the Staffordshire track, but opening with a 14.0 outsider at Fontwell.
TOMORROW: HEXHAM INSPECTION: Daqman checks out the ante-post offers and reviews his chances of Money-Box multiples before Christmas. He hopes to be betting at Hexham but there is likely to be an inspection, with high winds and rain forecast.
RIGHTING THE WRONG IS NO EXCUSE
We needed to be taught that life is unfair. That’s the only reason I can find for School Rules which applied when I was a nipper, and I remember one in particular.
Only prefects were allowed to use one of the exits. You puzzled over such an absurdity and it aroused the rebel in some of my classmates.
Once, those particular double-doors were removed from their hinges for the day for repair and, drawn to that exit like a magnet, several likely lads went thataway home. The following day all were identified and punished. In those days, that was a flogging in the headmaster’s study.
In the Sedgefield affair, six professional jockeys were banned for 10 days for failing to pull up their mounts, though the race wasn’t actually due to be stopped: the ‘little man with the flags’ waved the wrong one.
But you see, had the doors been there, they would have been closed. Had the little man who waved the wrong flag actually been waving the right flag, or had the wrong flag been the right flag, the jockeys should have stopped. So, when he’s waving the wrong flag, they should always assume that it’s the right flag. Else where would we be?
I have the solution: the rider of the lead horse could carry a megaphone and, whenever he sees a flag, should call to the man ‘Oi mate; is that the right flag?’ Alternatively, he could text him, but that might hit a snag. The flagman might be using his mobile to make a call at the time!
Whatever means were used, the lead rider could then wave the rest of the field on its way. After all, it seems that it’s entirely the jockey’s fault if officialdom fails, so it is he who must ascertain the true facts.
The new rules for the Grand National start will apply in April, 2015. The standing together, the walk in, and then the trot to the tape, as introduced for the Becher Chase on Saturday.
Somewhere right now, stewards and ‘stipes’ are cogitating about the penalties that will be imposed, should there be a false start. Let me help.
Broke the line standing, three-day ban. Broke the line walking, five days. Broke the actual tape, a month off. Failed to see the right flag or the wrong flag (it matters not), six months’ holiday, with free miniature flags for the jockey to stick on his birthday cake.
Flags and tapes are a total anachronism in this day and technological age and it’s time we had a proper lead from the authorities, instead of this sour-ostrich approach; head in sand, punishing everyone else. But not before I add another Rule please.
This one is based on an actual event, with its appended ‘punishment’. That precedent is a race meeting in the 1990s, to which I have witnesses: Starter slipped and fell on rostrum steps, drunk. Punishment: enforced holiday; one week in Barbados.
VIBES ARE GOOD FOR A POSITIVE BET
FONTWELL Brendan Powell likes to have one lined up for the opener (12.40), and his form figures in the race since 2005 read 1102. One of those was a filly getting 7lb allowance, just like Little Flo, who drops in grade here.
Norse Legend’s claimer, Sean Bowen, has had three winners in December so far, only one out of the first four, and his mount has bags of stamina.
The favourite, Bidourey, a big beast who has been winning bumpers, is no certainty to jump hurdles, and Full Blast is an NH bred who needs time. I’ll have my pound on Norse Legend at 14.0 on BETDAQ this morning.
The trainer to follow in the handicap hurdle (2.40) is Gary Moore (with figures of 11041 since 2007). Mr Fickle, paper favourite for the trainer, has had nine chances this year without success, but is 12lb lower now than he was in the Spring.
His rival in the betting forecast was The Sneezer, who hadn’t scored over hurdles for more than five years when he finally won a small race for Flat jockeys
In fact, the two paper fovourites were overtaken on BETDAQ this morning by Aficionado. Four-year-olds do well in the race, and his stable is spot on right now.
UTTOXETER Venetia Williams has a couple of boxes heading up the M6 this morning for a four-horse raid on Uttoxeter.
Beacon Lady (12.20), Lochnagar (1.20) and Uranium (1.50) have all been supported into favourtism, or nearly so, in BETDAQ exchanges, though Rosa Fleet (2.20) is a drifter.
In Rosa Fleet’s race, Emral Silk, Maller Tree (too easy to back) and Storm of Swords are all down in grade for this. I’ll take Emral Silk, who tried a class 2 on the last day and was not entirely disgraced.
When second and third favourites in the market are maidens against A P McCoy at the front of the betting, riding rarely for a stable (he’s one from one for Richard Woollacott), then you have to take notice. The only worry about Positive Vibes (2.50) is the ground, so a nap not a banker.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Stakes represent chance from 1 to 10, which would be a banker)
BET 2pts win and place NORSE LEGEND (12.40 Fontwell)
BET 7pts win EMRAL SILK (2.20 Uttoxeter)
BET 7pts win AFICIONADO (2.40 Fontwell)
BET 9pts win (nap) POSITIVE VIBES (2.50 Uttoxeter)
NEW !!!
You can now follow BETDAQ updates on Google+
For further details – CLICK HERE
£30 FREE BET
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.
