WAGONS ROLL FOR AINTREE WITH A 5-1 NAP! Daqman is partying already in Grand National week after a fabulous nap yesterday: Our Place In Loule (WON 5-1) won the last race at Musselburgh. So come round to our place for Aintree where there’s BETDAQ value and hot tipping! Like last year’s National winner, Tiger Roll.
EASY AS ABC TO CHECK OUT THE RUNNERS: What will win this year’s race on Saturday? Daqman has dug deep into the stats already this week. Now he assesses every runner against those stats in his unique ABC guide to the entire field as it stands this morning but adding the next four from the elimination list in case of more non-runners.
GRAND NATIONAL ABC GUIDE
5.15 Aintree, Saturday (Grand National)
A Carrying 11st or less (95%)
B Chase winner over 3m or more (92%)
C Aged nine to 11 (85%)
D Last ran no more than 34 days ago (78%)
E Won or placed in a race named ‘National’ (60%)
F Trainer who does well in Nationals
++ Trainer in form
X1 Attempts Cheltenham Festival double (one since 1961)
X2 Last ran more than 55 days ago (96% against)
ABCDEF General Principle ++
Won 2018 Irish National and third in Punchestown Grand National Trial in February. Moderate most other starts in last two years behind Anibale Fly, Folsom Blue and Dounikos.
ABCDEF Vintage Clouds
Third and fourth in both Welsh and Scottish Nationals and runner-up in the Ultima at Cheltenham last month after wind op. Stable capable of improving and strengthening an animal.
ABCDE Pairofbrowneyes ++
Back-to-back Leinster National winner at different venues; last year at Gowran, this year when switched to Naas. Favourite for the Irish National in between but fell early.
ABCD Lake View Lad
Improved 22lb in the last year or so, winning the Rehearsal Chase and the Rowland Meyrick back to back in December, and staying on well third in the Ultima at Cheltenham, giving runner-up Vintage Clouds 11lb (weights unchanged).
ABCD Noble Endeavour
PP Chase winner when only seven and Ultima third at Cheltenham two years ago before Irish Grand National sixth. Only two races since.
ABCD Singlefarmpayment
Loves Cheltenham and took in six straight races on that course since the beginning of 2018, but best form there was short-head defeat in big field for the Ultima in 2017.
ABCD Tea For Two
Beat Cue Card in the Mildmay at this meeting in 2017 before third in that year’s King George. No success in eight races since.
ABCD Ultragold
Won back-to-back Topham Trophies 2017/18, second in the Grand Sefton and third in the Becher Chase (3m 2f) in December, making four consecutive places over the Grand National fences. ‘He loves it there,’ says trainer Tizzard.
ABCD Valseur Lido
Drinmore winner 2014, Punchestown champion novice 2015, Cheltenham Ryanair runner-up 2016, but long losing run (13) since Down Royal champion chaser in November of that year. Dropped two stone as a result.
ABCD Walk In The Mill
Good run at Cheltenham before winning the Becher Chase over the National fences in December and hurdling afterwards to keep his weight down.
ABC One For Arthur x2
Winner in 2017 off 148 (now on 154) but parted company with jockey in two recent starts, and suspicion he’s gone the way of most National winners (see Archive for Monday column).
ABCE Pleasant Company ++ x2
Runner-up last year and now 2lb better off for a head. Poor form before and since, except for Bobbyjo win prior to ninth in the 2017 National. Not seen since Thyestes defeat in January.
ABCE Vieux Lion Rouge x2
Becher Chase winner over National fences 2016; second 2018. Sixth and ninth in the Nationals of 2017/18 after taking Haydock Grand National Trial. Pulled up last twice including same Haydock race.
ABCF Rock The Kasbah ++ x2
Second in the Sandown Gold Cup (3m 5f) last April and winner over almost three-and-a-half miles at Cheltenham in November. Has just had fifth long break, racing only five times since October 2017.
ABC Captain Redbeard
Completed the course over the National fences in the Grand Sefton twice but unseated early in last year’s Grand National.
ABC Rathvinden ++
Won four-mile NH Chase at Cheltenham last March off 150 (now 4lb higher), one of four wins as a novice. Bobbyjo Chase success in February was first senior chase for this late developer.
ABC Regal Encore
Ladbrokes Trophy (ex-Hennessy) third in 2017 after eighth in the National. Listed winner since but poor form in the last year.
ABC Step Back x2
Spring double of his own last year, going straight from novice-chase win at Fakenham to take Sandown Gold Cup (3m 5f) from Rock The Kasbah. Now 8lb worse off but finished well clear. Quiet since.
ABC Warriors Tale ++
Second in Great Yorkshire on soft but pulled up 2018 National on heavy. Back to form over the National fences by winning the Grand Sefton in December.
ABDEF Folsom Blue ++
Modest form since fourth 2018 Irish National, after winning his second Punchestown Grand National Trial. Fourth in the Irish National three years ago for Mouse Morris.
ABDF Jury Duty
Grade-1 hurdler placed Punchestown and Gowran Park champion novice chases and Galway Plate third. Winner over 3m 2f on reappearance. All wins on soft-heavy.
ABDF Monbeg Notorious ++
Improved a stone in four months in early 2018, Punchestown Champion Novice runner-up and Thyestes winner. Stayed on in Leinster National on the last day.
ABD Magic Of Light
Won the mares’ handicap at the Punchestown Festival and third in the Troytown Chase last year. Seventh in the Ultima in March.
ABEF Dounikos ++ x2
Pulled up Irish Grand National last year when still a novice. No show in the autumn but came good in Punchestown Grand National Trial (3m 4f) in February. Raised 7lb.
ABE Ramses De Teillee
Second in Coral Welsh National (heavy) and Haydock Grand National Trial (good). Still only seven but connections tempted to have a go.
ACDF A Toi Phil ++
Graded chaser as both novice and senior but success only in small fields since winning the 2017 Leopardstown Chase. Not won at 3m.
ACD Mall Dini
Fourth over Irish National course but pulled up in the race itself last year when it came a bit soon after his Kim Muir second at Cheltenham. Creeping into form since, sixth in Thyestes in January but second over shorter on the last day.
ACD Up For Review
Not won a chase at 3m. Still a novice last year, emerging aged 10 when third in the Thyestes, but weakened out of the Ultima at Cheltenham over the last three fences.
AC Livelovelaugh
Just one chase win at beginners’ level but good second in the Leopardstown Chase in February.
AC Warriors Tale ++ x2
Beaten a head in old Great Yorkshire Chase last year. Won the Grand Sefton (2m 5f) over the National fences in December. Unpredictable.
AD Blow By Blow ++
Former Punchestown bumper champion and Cheltenham Festival hurdles handicap winner 2018. But just debut chase win then six defeats.
BCDEF Tiger Roll x1 ++
Last year’s winner off 150 is 9lb higher now. National success is usually the end of the road but in devastating form, returning with Grade-2 hurdle win in February and running right away with Cheltenham Cross-Country, which he’d won last year.
BCDE Anibale Fly
Fourth last year after being third in the Gold Cup. Old-fashioned staying horse, just gallops from fence to fence. Now 4lb better off with Tiger Roll, which doesn’t seem enough, but he was badly hampered early and made late headway on heavy ground.
BCDF Don Poli ++
RSA winner 2015; Gold Cup third 2016. Lexus second and Irish Gold Cup third 2016-17. Frustrating ‘nearly horse.’
BCD Minella Rocco
NH Chase (4m) winner three years ago and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up two years back. Twice fourth in Graded chases last year but no show this.
BCDF Mala Beach ++
Troytown Chase winner (2017) who has had long breaks between races since. Needs soft ground.
BCEF Ballyoptic
Graded level over hurdles, fourth in 2018 RSA at Cheltenham before second in Scottish National. Poor form since.
BCF Go Conquer x2
Won Autumn Gold Cup at Ascot (2017) for Jonjo O’Neill. Out of form since until taking the old Great Yorkshire in January.
BCF Outlander ++
Won 2016 Lexus and Down Royal Champion Chase the following year. Runner-up in 2018 Irish Gold Cup. Ten defeats since has seen his rating drop 8lb.
BC Valtor x2
French import won the Ascot Silver Cup first run for Nicky Henderson in England in December but pulled up afterwards behind Frodon at Cheltenham.
RESERVES
ABDEF Bless The Wings ++
Third in this last year and better off at the weights but aged 14 now. Second twice in the Irish Grand National but has won just the once in his last 22 starts.
ABCDE Joe Farrell
winner of the 2018 Scottish Grand National. Good run, second at Newbury in March.
AB Just A Par x2
Former winner and second in Sandown Gold Cup; completed course in last two Grand Nationals but 12 now.
ABCD The Young Master
Won 2016 Sandown Gold Cup; sixth 2017 National; back-to-form third Kim Muir in March.
NR: Sandymount Duke (leg injury)
DAQMAN’S BETS TODAY
BET 7.5pts win (nap) THAT’S A GIVEN (2.10 Wincanton)
BET 5pts win TOOSEY (3.45 Wincanton)
BET 3.5pts win COLLOONEY (4.05 Market Rasen)
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.
