DAQMAN SPOTS DALMATIA CRUISE: It started so well. Dalmatia (WON 5-2) seemed a successful launch to Daqman’s four-cornered fun yankee, romping home by seven, 15 and 16 lengths yesterday. But two non-runners spoiled the day and reduced his chances. And the others? Well, they just reduced his Betdaq wallet!
BIG TRIAL? THERE’S A WORD FOR IT: Today Daqman gives you fair warning about Saturday’s Grand National Trial at Haydock, which he says has ‘an incredible record.’ Why? Form figures of the winner after the race are not figures but letters, and the word is: Lay!
TRIAL? IT’S A LAY-DOWN FOR AINTREE..
The Haydock Grand National Trial has an incredible record. For finding the Grand National winner? No for getting to the bottom of a horse and finishing him off for the season.. or worse!
There are still 16 left in Saturday’s test, several of them aimed at Aintree. But, whatever their National odds, it’s buyer beware, as the following results reveal:
Rigadin De Beauchene (2014 winner): Two runs before the race: PP. Three runs after the race: PPP. So form figures: PP1PPP. What a recommendation!
Well Refreshed (2013 winner): Form since winning (with Rigadin De Beauchene in second that year): P03PPFP. So far then two winners of the race were pulled up seven times afterwards!
Giles Cross (2012 winner): Results since success in this race: PPPP. Now it’s 11 pulled-ups, working backwards, from a total of 14 subsequent starts.
Surely, there’s some ray of hope for the race? Indeed there is. Neptune Collonges, second to Giles Cross in the 2012 renewal, won the Grand National two months later. And his subsequent starts? None. That was it: Haydock and Aintree finished him off.
I’ve picked a few ante-post bets for Cheltenham from the trials, three good ones, and one or two bad ones. But I wouldn’t even put Saturday’s Haydock winner in a Grand National sweepstake hat. I’d be too ashamed to let anyone draw it out!
To put it another way: remind me to lay for all money the Haydock winner for Aintree. That is: lay to win, lay to place, lay to get round. Lay, lady, lay!
NAP FIT FOR A KING AT CHEPSTOW
CHEPSTOW An interesting Maiden Hurdle at 2.20 is my first bet of the day at Chepstow. It’s a race that appears to revolve around one runner, King’s Odyssey.
Evan Williams’s charge sets a high standard at a rating of 130 having been beaten just six lengths by Caracci Apache last time out, winner went on to beat Blaklion at Doncaster. He was also second in his two previous runs in a Novice Hurdle and in a Bumper finishing behind two above average sorts.
Imagine The Cat and Champagne Express both look like the main dangers with the former winning first time out at Ffos Las before finishing a distant seventh behind Definitely Red at in a Listed Bumper at Newbury.
Champagne Express has joined the Nicky Henderson yard following two runs in Irish Point to Points. He pulled up first time and then took third behind Champagne Present in April. Both will need to put in very good performances to get near to the jolly though and King’s Odyssey is the pick.
The Mares Handicap Hurdle at 4.05 includes a lightly raced sort from the Venetia Williams yard. Bobble Boru hasn’t been seen since last March but this looks to be a lenient mark off 116 having had three wins under her belt already.
At 17.0 on BETDAQ as I write, she looks the value bet in the race and is worth an each way punt.
In the finale an hour later, the old timer, Pigeon Island is bidding for his first win since April 2013 at Ascot. He has been a fantastic servant for his connections having been a previous winner of the Grand Annual and at 12 years old, he seems to have a great opportunity to add to the £243,470 already won in prize money.
It won’t be easy for the Twiston-Davies trained & ridden grey with the likes of Buckhorn Tom, Financial Climate and Don’t Do Monday’s but at the weights, Pigeon Island could be the one.
MUSSELBURGH Irish trainer Paul Stafford sends Better B Quick to the Scottish venue this afternoon for Horse Racing Ireland Chairman Joe Keeling. The son of Overbury is one that struggles in bad ground and has form around Musselburgh over today’s distance and on better ground, it puts him in the reckoning.
Hunter Chaser Classinaglass showed promise on his Handicap debut last time despite being beaten by 16 lengths but it came on ground that was far from ideal. He’s been lightly campaigned and could be anything but I think he may need to improve a little more to collect this.
Brunello looks to be the biggest danger but I fear that he may be at his handicap ceiling off 99 and the preference is marginally for Better B Quick.
At 3.55, a seven runner Handicap Hurdle is my final bet at Musselburgh. Streets of Newyork sets the standard and is a worthy favourite. He has plenty of previous course and distance form and is certainly the one to beat.
El Beau on the other hand has just the three runs over hurdles so far but was very useful in juvenile races and was quite a decent flat performer previously, rated 76. He has to be very highly respected on his Handicap debut and is very nicely weighted off 127 with just 11-3 on his back. John Quinn’s four year old may cause an upset in this one.
DAQMAN’S BETS (Staked 1-9pts on strength, 10pts for a Banker)
BET 8pts win (Nap) KING’S ODYSSEY (2.20 Chepstow)
BET 2pts win and place BETTER B QUICK (2.45 Musselburgh)
BET 6pts win EL BEAU (3.55 Musselburgh)
BET 2pts win and place BOBBLE BORU (4.05 Chepstow)
BET 6pts win PIGEON ISLAND (5.05 Chepstow)
NEW !!!
You can now follow BETDAQ updates on Google+
For further details – CLICK HERE
£30 FREE BET & 0% COMM MULTIPLES
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.
