DAQMAN on Wednesday

Wednesday 7 January FIVE OUT OF SIX: Daqman got a return from two of his three bets yesterday, including Rebel Duke (won 11-8). This follows three races, three pay-outs, on Monday when among his winners was an 8-1 shot. Despite the loss of jumps fixtures, Daqman has recorded 18 winning bets in the six days of the new year for a profit of 73 points. He’s on the trail of top-priced morning place-bets on Betdaq, where the return is better than a win on the favourite. Results so far: Western Charmer 2nd 8-1 (from 14.2), Chookie Hamilton (2nd 6-1). Betdaq backers, starved of top-class racing in the big freeze, have been buying up offers about the Derby favourite. Seldom, if ever, have I seen a horse shorter on the Daq than in the bookies’ ante-post lists. But a run on Crowded House, which started just before Christmas, and which was still ongoing well into the New Year, has seen all rates traded from 11-1 down to 17-2. Brian Meehan’s Racing Post Trophy winner, generally 8-1 with bookmakers, is, of course, under wraps at Manton with five months to go before the big day, and debate will soon heighten in the yard as to whether he goes to Epsom via the Dante or the Guineas. Meanwhile, Meehan has booked Jamie Spencer for his first AW runner of 2009: Bromhead (1.30 Lingfield, Friday), by Johannesburg, is out of an American mare so could be an ideal sand horse. Last year’s stable total of 23 winners on the man-made surfaces was completed on Boxing Day when Miss Beat scored at Wolverhampton. At today’s meeting, note Newmarket trainer Paul Howling, who has had two Wolver winners already from two horses to run there since Christmas Day, so not a turkey between them. Four times a course winner, Figaro Flyer (2.50) is pitted against River Kirov, with the favourite drawn one and up 12lb for his double at Kempton and Lingfield in the last eight days. I can get 5.0 Figaro Flyer which is value in what appears to be a two-horse race, if the market is anything to go by, but I’ll put River Kirov in my Daq Multiples and try to cover my back that way. Today’s AW cards are significantly better, and have attracted top trainers like Bell, Channon, Cole ,Fahey, Haggas, Hannon, Jarvis, Johnson and Prescott. Mick Channon’s last runner, Sky High Kid, was a winner and the West Ilsley team saddles Raimond Ridge (2.20), dropped to a seller. He looked a shade useful at the start of last season with good efforts behind Doughnut and Saxford and, given a break, has faired okay on his two comeback runs. At Great Leighs he looked in need of the run and was given plenty to do before making a bit of headway behind a very well handicapped prospect. Next time at Southwell I was surprised to see him nibbled in the market; if the deep surface at Great Leighs hadn’t suited, it was hard to see him acting at Southwell. Always outpaced over 5f, he made good late headway and, back on a gallopers’ track, he looks a good risk at 5.1 on the Daq this morning. Vodka Shot (3.20) is a place special today at 4.8 as I write (16.0 the win): she goes nicely at home on the gallops and her only good run so far came on today’s course. As I said yesterday, Wolverhampton form stands up at Wolverhampton. Track specialists Royal Amnesty (six wins) and Scamperdale (seven) are 11.5 and 18.0 on the Daq; normally that might suggest that they are being shunned in the market but it’s a very open race at 8.2 the field, as I write. I shall dutch them for a place; at 3.75 and 4.5, my stakes are in the ratio of 6:5. Coill Glas (4.50) was badly outpaced on the debut when running very green in what looked a fair maiden for the grade. He has continued to show up nicely at home and looks an improving sort. The Green Desert gelding has been found a weak race by William Haggas and his recent gallops suggest he will be very hard to beat at this level. Waldorf was backed first time but ran very green; by Sadler’s Wells, he probably wants further but it would be no surprise if he ran a pleasing race at decent odds and is one for the notebook. While 83 is a fair rating for Cape Express (5.50), he was still green and open to improvement when winning last time out so connections are quietly confident he can go on from there.
TODAY'S BETS
BET 3pts win and place RAIMOND RIDGE (2.20 Wolverhampton) BET 2pts win and place FIGARO FLYER (2.50 Wolverhampton) BET 1pt win and 3pts place VODKA SHOT (3.20 Wolverhampton) PLACE-ONLY DUTCH to win 11pts ROYAL AMNESTY and SCAMPERDALE, plus 1pt win on each (4.20 Wolverhampton) BANKER 10pts win COILL GLAS (4.50 Wolverhampton) BET 6pts win CAPE EXPRESS (5.50 Wolverhampton) DAQ MULTIPLES: Raimond Ridge, Cape Express, Coill Glas and River Kirov (2.50 Wolverhampton), charged to the account as 1pt win doubles
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