DAQMAN’S SEEING DOUBLE TODAY: A horse that could be ‘really good’ at Chelmsford and one at Leicester that’s been given a rating ‘wholly inadequate’ if subsequent, collateral form is any guide. These two make up Daqman’s nap and double today.
PUT SOME BUTTER ON OUR TOAST! That’s Daqman’s plea to Frankie Dettori, with today’s announcement that the jockey extraordinary, who once rode through the card at Ascot, is joining Channel-4.
SMILE! IT’S THE NOT-SO-CANDID CAMERA
I am just a ghost. That is to say, I was the ghostwriter for jockeys and trainers in their newspaper columns. I interviewed them, then wrote it up in their own name, as if they were speaking.
Among them, I ‘did’ John Francome and Laughing Willie (Carson), the one canny and laid back, the other exuberant and positive, though I always had to talk to Willie’s agent as well, to be sure of the riding agenda (‘I don’t know; ask Ted!’)
Apart from confirming or denying what was already in the Press about their runners, I rarely got much ‘information’ from any of them, barring that forward planning. Except the Americans.
Gary Stevens once marked my card for the Breeders Cup and gave me seven winners. Cash Asmussen supplied a splendid in-depth study of his rides. Then he would send ME a letter, thanking ME for interviewing HIM!
How come this discrepancy? Maybe our jockeys know nowt! Maybe they are just too scared of their retaining trainers, or of the rules about ‘inside information’ (you know that stuff which circulates on the inside but which becomes an offence if anyone outside is known to be receiving it).
So, when I read that Frankie Dettori is going to tag along with Channel-4 when he can, I can’t help but ask: why? Yes, the celeb factor (for the ladies, perhaps) and a certain smile.
Other than that, he’ll just be light relief and bang on and on (and on) about Toast Of New York. Spread it around a bit, Frankie! We’d all like a bit of butter on our toast.
CHARLIE’S PRETEND CHELMSFORD NAP
You could hit the jackpot with this one. Chelmsford has a terrific feature race, a class 2 called the Jackpot Handicap (3.10) and, whether you win or lose today, there’s a cracking animal in it worth following.
The name is Pretend. ‘I think the world of this horse. He’s got a way to go. But he’s going to be really good’ (quote, unquote jockey Adam Kirby).
Pretend is unbeaten at this trip, two out of two at Wolverhampton but a winner as a two-year-old over 7f on Kempton’s Polytrack, so should be happy on today’s surface and see the race out well, particularly off the expected strong pace.
His trainer Charlie Appleby is in terrific form, with 13 AW winners this year for a 33% strike-rate, rising to 45% with those aged four or more in his care. Like Pretend.
Fear Or Favour could be a danger today. He seemed stuck in a rut, racing only at Bath (three runs, two wins) but made the leap from class 4 there to be narrowly outpointed in a very much tougher class-2 contest at Newmarket.
He hasn’t been seen for a while, suggesting that he’s a ‘glass horse’ but he won first time last year after a long break, and he gets weight all round in this contest.
Basil Berry is from a stable in form. In fact, Chris Dwyer goes for a hat-trick here, having his first runners today since a double at Wolver on Friday.
There are other possibilities but four-year-olds usually come into their own at this time of year. It’s only a month or so since they were progressive three-year-olds and, for some – hopefully Pretend – the improvement is by no means over.
IT ALL POINTS TO A GOLDEN CHANCE
3.30 Leicester (Golden Miller Hurdle) There’s a real race at Leicester, too, though it’s cut up a bit. They’re all winners.
Theregoesthetruth is a CD winner here at Leicester but is up in grade and up in weight. Conversely, Allthegear No Idea is back up in trip but seems fairly flexible. His mark is a worry though.
Themanfrom Minella, who has tried a Grade 1, is dropped back to his winning distance but they don’t like his ratings assessment and are claiming off him.
St Johns Point should be suited to the undulating Oadby track, as he won up the hill at Towcester, and has been given a fair handicap mark.
Though finishing more than 20lb behind St John Point, the third horse home that day has won since, and been given an official rating of 122. That Points up (pun intended) St John’s 115 mark as wholly inadequate. Nap.
1.50 and 4.20 Newcastle Tony McCoy goes on the long road to the Geordie shore but Zip Top (1.50) was menaced in the BETDAQ market this morning by Fascino Rustico until that one took over, narrowly, as favourite.
That McCoy stays on, combing his hair in the dressing-room mirror, waiting for one more mount in the last, suggests that High Bridge is worth getting involved in the rush-hour traffic. Daq Multiples.
DAQMAN’S BETS (1 to 9 for strength; 10 is a banker)
BET 7pts win PRETEND, and 1pt win and place BASIL BERRY (3.10 Chelmsford)
BET 8pts win (nap) ST JOHN’S POINT (3.30 Leicester)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 3pts win double Pretend (3.10 Chelmsford) and St John’s Point (3.30 Leicester) plus 4 x 1pt win trebles and 1pt acca with Facino Rustico (1.50 Newcastle) and High Bridge (4.20 Newcastle)
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