Saturday 21 November
DAQMAN
DOUBLE OF LAYS AGAIN: It’s like a shooting gallery as Daqman floors the paper favourites one by one. He aimed with both barrels yesterday and landed two out of two for the second day running, as hot-pot Song Sung Blue (2nd 11-10) proved chicken-hearted and Haar (tailed off) was never at the races.
48 OUT OF 59: That followed another two on Thursday to bring him to seven in a row and his recent sequence to a massive 48 from 59 - taking his grand total to 303. – so that his current strike-rate is now up to 81%. It only seems like yesterday that a 13 sequence ended; his record is 18.
DOUBLE-WHAMMY IN ASCOT BIG RACE: Daring Daqman, who needs two winning naps for a century after two out of two this week, today goes for a maximum stakes lay and maximum stakes nap in the same big race at Ascot.
There are two ‘unbeatable’ horses of the highest class today but I believe that one of them won’t win: he’s never tasted defeat but he’s a definite lay at the price
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In the ‘mini Gold Cup’ at Haydock, speculation about Kauto Star is all in a racing day but the stats are really stacked against Zaynar in the Ascot Hurdle.
It’s all in the hands of the hungry hunter, Tony McCoy. Britain’s most amazing athlete does a double stint, stalking the prizes at Huntingdon and Ascot, and it’s Zaynar’s scalp he most wants to bag.
Haydock starts with Donald McCain laying it on the line to the Southern raiders, with Any Given Day taking on Pepe Simo, and Thumbs Up attacking Mr Thriller. I fancy David Pipe to come out on top with his ‘Thriller’: yes, I’m Sure Josie Sure!
1.30 Ascot: There are some emerging novices here, too, none more so than Ravello Bay; it’s only a class-3 and she looks well handicapped, with the weight – alleviated by the boy’s claim – no problem for a stout Supreme Leader.
2.35 Ascot (Ascot Hurdle): I can’t find a four-year-old (in fact, only one five-year-old in the last decade) to have won this: you need a crack older horse, a toughie at a trip like Hardy Eustace or a killer-paced Baracouda, both previous winners.
Zaynar is only four. I’m laying him, even though favourites do well and there hasn’t been a winner bigger than 7-2 SP since way back when we still believed in bookmakers.
At their young age, there has to be some experiment in the training of a Zaynar: if you don’t open a horse’s parameters, you don’t really know what you’ve got.
Nicky Henderson needs to find out whether his Triumph Hurdle winner could diversify; if not quite up to Champion Hurdle class, could mop up prizes over further.
With the same stable’s Binocular as Champion favourite, other options must be opened, or Zaynar might be left in no-man’s-land for a year. This is the perfect start for him; remember, the Triumph is 17 furlongs with an uphill finish, so there’s every chance he’ll get today’s trip.
But will he get it better than today’s rivals with the likes of Lough Derg in the field? The old boy will make sure Nicky knows about Zaynar’s stamina; many a gut will be ‘busted’ before he gives in.
Forget Lough Derg’s run back: he’s won or been placed seven times from nine starts at Ascot and his stout heart is a gift for bet-and-lay boys. Me? I shall be waiting on that man McCoy, as he stalks the leaders on course-and-distance winner Karabak.
Karabak, who got within two lengths of the magical Mikael d’Haguenet at the Cheltenham Festival over 2m 5f, has already had the ‘parameters test’ and been found wanting over 3m. But, with McCoy – and Lough Derg - to ensure proper use is made of him, today’s stiff 19-furlongs-and-a-bit at Ascot is ideal.
I’ve piled up the successful lays and the winning naps to small stakes. Today’s a day to dive in the deep end, to the maximum, or be a coward and carry on playing in the shallows. I’m in. I’m laying Zaynar, and napping Karabak.
Maybe it won’t cost me, anyway: that’s if I can manipulate some cash from the margin of a bargain back-and-lay, Lough Derg. That’s betting the Betdaq way.
2.20 Haydock: Older horses haven’t had a look-in here; all four winners of the race have been six or seven.
Diamond Harry goes well fresh and is in great form at home but the testing conditions are perfect for Pennek, a staggering 18.0 on Betdaq,as I write. He has improved no end over the summer and is ‘expected’ to turn around past form with Kayf Aramis at the weights.
A bigger danger may be the improved Rathcor (17.0): he was well behind the leading pair last year but a breathing op transformed him up the hill finish at Towcester, and the form has been franked. Burton Port is the obvious saver.
Karabak, Pennek and Franchoek (12.35), with McCoy making that A1 detour via Huntingdon, are set to make it an amazing day for Alan King. That’s not to mention Voy Por Ustedes (but I will a few lines further on).
2.55 Haydock (Lancashire Chase): Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, and Kauto Star would be on four in a row here had he not stumbled after the last in 2008.
He finally meets the Irish pretender, Notre Pere, who has missed most of the class big races, apart from winning the Guinness Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival, in favour of the rough-and-tumble stuff of the Welsh National (won) and the Irish Hennessy (second).
He’s, therefore, seemingly more in the mould of Halcon Genelardais (Welsh National 2006) and Madison Du Berlais (Newbury Hennessy)
David Pipe has been snatching prizes – like Well Chief’s defeat of Master Minded – by having his artillery ready to fire first time, and ‘Madison’, who wouldn’t normally beat some of these, would be the one to snipe at any weaknesses had he got his ground.
Notre Pere certainly showed a weakness last time out but has been well backed throughout the week after an excellent schooling session. Today is not a school, however; it’s a top exam when only claiming a Star will do.
Kauto Star’s prep has gone perfectly and there’s no reason – ground or anything else –why he shouldn’t remain top of the class in the ‘big school’ here.
3.05 Lingfield (Betdaq Golden Rose): This is a cracker (even Borderlescott has been beaten in it) with five in the field already winners at Listed level or higher, but high numbers usually prevail.
Prescription is fit and laid out for the race, unbeaten over CD and with a strongly-run 6f ideal for her.
Himalya is fancied but is drawn low and three-year-olds have yet to make an impact on the race.
I wouldn’t fancy Rowe Park over the extra furlong, and Ceremonial Jade was a disappointing favourite last year. You can’t leave Green Manalishi out from stall 12 but I’ll follow the vibes for Prescription, a huge 11.0 on Betdaq as I write: she’s not won in this class but have you ever known a Prescott animal to reveal itself until he’s ready?
3.10 Ascot: If you think the jumping spectacle is over for the day, try this on for size. Voy Por Ustedes v Planet Of Sound, with Monet’s Garden making the pace.
Yes, I know Schindlers Hunt has twice been close to ‘Voy Por’ but, at age nine, he’s not likely to be the improver and, for me, will remain a voyeur.
Third in the Arkle, Planet of Sound is the progressive one, as he showed at Exeter, when – I’m told - not even ‘ready’ that day. He’s at the top of his game now, and could surprise if ‘Voy Por’ is not 100%.
3.40 Lingfield (Betdaq Churchill Stakes): They say class will out, and Presvis, with Group-1 form to his name, goes well fresh.
The entire, Tranquil Tiger has five Listed wins to his name, one of them over 12 furlongs, and the expected pace from Plum Pudding suggests a stayer’s race.
Tranquil Tiger’s 6.0 on the Daq this morning was just plain wrong. With Presvis as the perfect saver, likely to trade evens or better at some time before or during the race, I helped myself to the 6.0, albeit to low liquidity. It’s a day to put some tiger in your tank.
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