GALWAY GLORY: DAQMAN takes aim at the second day of Galway’s September meeting where he thinks he has found a filly that could be making a splash this winter.
COUNTING THE POUNDS: DAQMAN’s BANKER NAP might have been beaten last time out but can get back on the winning trail in receipt of bundles of weight from her main market rival.
ST LEGER COUNTDOWN: As Aidan O’Brien’s Idaho goes odds-on in the final British Classic of the season, DAQMAN makes the case for and against the favourite.
IS IDAHO A LEGER LOCK?
The support in the last week for Idaho has been unrelenting and he currently sits atop the BETDAQ ante-post market at 1.85. Money usually talks in Ballydoyle, but is he the certainty that the market suggests? Here is the case for and against Idaho;
FOR
- He is class horse of the race, failing narrowly in both the Epsom and Curragh Derby and broke a worrying five race losing streak at York last time.
- His trainer has won the St Leger on four occasions, most recently with Leading Light in 2013 and has amassed £5.7 million in prize money in Britain this season.
- He has shown ability to handle all ground conditions and has shaped like a strong staying mile and a half horse.
- He holds the majority of his main rivals on form.
AGAINST
- For all that he has shaped like a strong stayer, he isn’t guaranteed to stay. His full brother, Highland Reel, is probably at his limit over a mile and a half and is just as effective at 10 furlongs.
- The Great Voltigeur hasn’t been a good trial for the Leger in recent years. The last to do the double was Lucarno in 2007 and most winners since then have turned out to be more middle distance performers than stayers (Rewilding, Telescope, Postponed to name a few).
- Idaho is an infrequent winner for a horse rated 120, his record stands at two wins from seven starts.
- Although the money in recent days for Idaho has to be respected, the likelihood is that the value has gone from his price. He shapes as though the extra two furlongs shouldn’t be an issue but it will only be proven when it is put to the test on Saturday and the trend of Voltigeur losers also dampens enthusiasm. For now, he is probably best opposed.
A GIFT FROM THE KING AT REDCAR
1.50 Redcar Kings Gift showed plenty of inexperience over course and distance on debut but make amends in convincing fashion at Ayr next time. He is pitched into nursery company off a manageable mark of 75 here by Michael Dods who has been in top form with 10 winners in the past 21 days.
REJAAH TO MAKE THE WEIGHT PAY
2.10 Worcester Stephanie Frances has been in the form of her life over fences winning her last two but giving 24lbs to Rejaah may be too much of an ask. Rejaah made a solid debut over fences last time and was in excellent form over hurdles this summer. She rates as a banker bet at an early 2.12 in the orange.
ROCK STEADY TIP FOR LEICESTER
3.30 Leicester Rock Steady has been just that in recent starts, quickening well at Windsor to win before just failing to get up last time. George Baker takes the ride for Roger Charlton who has saddled 4 winners in his last 10 and Rock Steady is well worth a shot at this extra furlong.
IN FORM TOWER TO STRIKE AT PERTH
5.10 Perth Round Tower has reportedly had some injury problems in his career which may explain why it took him so long to get off the mark over hurdles but he seems in good heart at present and his win last time was a career best. If he reappears in the same form today he will be very hard to beat and an early show of 2.32 looks attractive.
RETOUR DE FRANCE TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
5.25 Galway Willie Mullins has a strong hand here and Airlie Beach has done all asked of her so far and should be a tough nut to crack. An interesting anecdote about Airlie Beach, she was in a field at Willie Mullins yard as a three year old with some other young horses including current stablemate Miguel Angel, who had just been purchased from France. Despite Mr. Mullins’ impeccable connections in France it somehow was lost in translation that he was still “fully intact” and the result is a three year old that is currently in training at Closutton. This early promiscuity fortunately has transferred to the track for Airlie Beach as she is now unbeaten in three!
But back to today’s race, there was significant word at this time last year about the abilities of Retour En France but sadly she met with a setback and was never seen. What it does mean is that she could now be a high class winter horse masquerading as a summer jumper. It’s tough to know how ready she will be after 736 days off the track but the booking of Ruby Walsh is a positive and she could be worth the chance.
6.25 Galway A competitive Grade 3 novice chase and most of these have been on the go all summer. Bryan Cooper makes his reappearance from a nasty incident at the Galway Festival on Tiger Roll but it may pay to side with the other Gigginstown runner, Tocororo. The four year old filly gets a huge weight allowance here and is the mount of early championship leader Jack Kennedy. She was a very impressive winner at Tramore last time and should only be improving at this stage of her career.
DAQMAN’S BETS:
BET 8pts win KINGS GIFT (1.50 Redcar)
BANKER: BET 10pts win REJAAH (NAP) (2.10 Worcester)
BET 4pts win ROCK STEADY (3.30 Leicester)
BET 6pts win ROUND TOWER (5.10 Perth)
BET 8pts win RETOUR DE FRANCE (5.25 Galway)
BET 9pts win TOCORORO (6.25 Galway)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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