HOW NIGHT MADE DAQMAN’S DAY: Daqman had to wait until the Great Yorkshire for a return yesterday, a win and place on Night In Milan (3rd 12-1), which put his Bull’s-Eye Bet profits up to 56 points. Unfortunately, there were excused boots from Pricewise so a 14th feature-race profit for Daqman did not count in the challenge (still Daqman 13, Pricewise 8)

ONE-TWO FOR ‘GREAT’ ABC GUIDE: The Great Yorkshire brought more vindication of Daqman’s ABC guides, which had winner and third in its top three for the race on Wednesday, If In Doubt (WON 4-1) and Night In Milan (3rd 12-1).

WHO ARE THE IRISH CHAMPIONS? Yesterday was Trials day at Cheltenham. Today it’s the turn of Leopardstown, which has its own ‘Cheltenham’ this afternoon, with the Irish Arkle and the Irish Champion Hurdle. Daqman v Pricewise is back in the big race.


DAQMAN’S SATURDAY OF FRUSTRATION

PLACE Great run from my bet Smad Place, closing the Hennessy gap on Many Clouds by nearly 19 lengths in the old Argento at Cheltenham. Second at 11-4.

PLACE Analifet came cruising for me under Ruby Walsh in the Mares Hurdle at Doncaster but found very little off the bridle. Third at 15-8.

PLACE Don’t forget Vago Collonges. Another who came to win his race but was just run out of it (candidate for the Ditcheat breathing op). Third at 8-1.

PLACE Night In Milan third at 12-1. If In Doubt won 4-1. Gives me continued heart for my ABC guides (first two in the top three). Here’s my Leopardstown analysis (no place bets but I’ve reduced my stakes):


JEZKI TO GET ANOTHER SUNDAY ROASTING

2.45 Leopardstown (Irish Champion Hurdle) It’s round seven! And the champion was out on his feet in the last round, only just catching the challenger. He came back to score with a familiar one-two.

In fact, as Hurricane Fly goes for a five-timer in this race against the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner Jezki, they’ve met six times before with the score Fly 4, Jezki 2. There are four reasons why Jezki will lose out again today. Here’s my order in:

1 Hurricane Fly Nine from nine at Leopardstown after CD defeat of Jezki and Arctic Fire in the Ryanair but had a fierce battle with Jezki, beating him for the third time on this track but winning only half a length.
Bids for a record fifth consecutive Irish Champin Hurdle today, with his hurdles strike-rate 23 from 28, against Jezki’s 9-14.

2 Jezki Has beaten Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham and Punchestown but never at Leopardstown, though he tried to outrun the champion in the Ryanair at the end of December, giving way only in the final strides.

That was his best performance on the soft. His four successes since November 2013 have all been on ground no worse than good to soft, and Jessica Harrington will be hoping that the forecast sun shines bright until the time of the race.

Four years younger, he has closed the gap on Hurricane Fly down to a pound (168 to 169) but his stable is badly out of form.

Add to the ground and course preferences and the stable form, a fourth factor: Hurricane Fly’s connections will want this more than Cheltenham, where he is a virtual no-hoper at 12.5 against the likes of Faugheen and The New One. Jezki’s target will surely be a repeat that day.

3 Fiscal Focus Went off 116-1 on BETDAQ when winning a Grade-2 over CD on Boxing Day, revelling in the testing conditions, and with lines to form suggesting a high mark should ensue.

In fact, while waiting on the official rating, some experts in that sphere reckon that, with his receiving 10lb today, Fiscal Focus is only that amount behind the front pair and, as a four-year-old, could have improved sufficiently to bridge some of that gap in the intervening 30 days.

But whether he can reproduce that form – it was his only hurdles start – and has the mental and physical capacity to do battle with the best is doubtful.

4 Arctic Fire Regarded as Willie Mullins’ second-string but six-year-old improver who lost his rating after five-lengths defeat in the Fighting Fifth (150>147) but was raised 7lb (147> 154) for running Hurricane Fly to two lengths when third – split by Jezki – in the Ryanair over today’s course and distance at the end of December.

5 Plinth Two stone behind Hurricane Fly in the ratings, he has to make up 17 lengths on Ryanair running, when he set the pace at 66-1. A rare hurdler in the care of Aidan O’Brien.

6 Tiger Roll Even further behind in that Ryanair and prefers top of the ground. A tiger expected to roll over.


GLADIATOR FIRST INTO HURDLES’ ARENA

1.10 Leopardstown The 2010 winner of this was third in the Neptune at Cheltenham and the 2009 winner was fourth in the Fred Winter.

Flat-breds can score but the last three successful had strong jumps sires in Old Vic, Flemensfirth and Kings Theatre. The 2008 winner was by Celtic Swing, sire of Celtic Nobility here.

But the one whose caught the eye on the track is Gladiator King, with Tony McCoy riding for Tony Martin, who has Ruby Walsh riding a lightweight for him later on and fields an outsider in the bumper he loves to win.

By Dylan Thomas, the Gladiator showed a smooth style without being knocked about, third, on the last day here at Leopardstown over Christmas. Previous winners were first and second.

1.40 Leopardstown (Arkle Novices’ Chase) A disappointing turn-out but by no means a formality for Un De Sceaux. Winning this would cement his short Cheltenham-Arkle odds, though – in the last decade – only Benefficient (2013) has gone on from success here to win at Cheltenham and that was in the Jewson not the Arkle.

Un De Sceaux is a nervy horse who likes to go off fast and furious, as at Fairyhouse when so impressive on the last day. Gilgamboa, on the other hand, was patiently ridden at Limnerick and slammed a Willie Mullins yardstick 24 lengths.

Clarcam can’t be left out of this tactical contest. He looked a natural when dwarfed by Vautour on his chasing debut, and sure enough it was his terrific jumping ability that dazzled in two subsequent wins at Navan and here at Leopardstown.

Small the field may be, but whoever wins this will surely go on to better things. At the weights today, Clarcam appeals as a bet at 5.3, getting 10lb from the two others.

2.10 Leopardstown With the trip not ideal, his jumping letting him down recently, and off topweight here, the bridesmaid Champagne James – second five times in eight races – seems opposable. But the snag is finding an alternative.

Paddy O’Dee has a featherweight and is entitled to be thereabouts on form but his stable hasn’t had a winner this season from 213 starters. One Cool Shabra is probably better than the bare form but they’re claiming off him.

The Roche stable has been entrusted with the J P McManus assault, so I shall split my pound between Golden Ticket (5.6) and Sitcom (11.5).

2.45 Leopardstown (Irish Champion Hurdle) SEE ABOVE

3.15 Leopardstown This race, which has produced a winner, second and third at Cheltenham since 2006, has Willie Mullins going for a four-timer today, with three chances.

He knows where he stands with Martello Tower through Outlander, and he ran Shaneshill second to No More Heroes at Navan, while his Royal Caviar was runner-up to Windsor Park on today’s course.

Willie certainly knows the time of day here, and Ruby Walsh has probably got it right picking Killultagh Vic who, on his second to L’Ami Serge over the minimum, will appreciate the return to 20 furlongs. A tasty 7.8 early mouse on BETDAQ.

3.50 Leopardstown Ruby is down to 10st 6lb to ride Heathfield for Tony Martin, with the obvious danger, and sole market threat, Bishops Road giving them 20lb.

4.20 Leopardstown Martin’s form in the three runnings of this bumper is 112, and he pays more than Lip Service to his ability today.

Willie Mullins, with the odds-on Fugi Mountain, and Gordon Elliott (Robin Thyme) are the only other trainers in decent form for this.

Of the two others placed so far, He’s Our Robin was second in a very ordinary maiden hurdle, and Catalaunian Fields has suggested in two hurdles runs that he needs at least another half-mile.

So I’ll have a punt on Lip Service at 14.5 but put Fugi Mountain in with him for my mixed bets on Daq Multiples, with which I’ve tried to cover my back. Have a champion day!

DAQMAN’S BETS (Rated 1 to 9 for strength; 10 is a banker)
BET 6pts win GLADIATOR KING (1.10 Leopardstown)
BET 4pts win CLARCAM (1.40 Leopardstown)
BET 2pts win GOLDEN TICKET and 1pt win SITCOM (2.10 Leopardstown)
LAY 5pts JEZKI and BET 10pts win (banker nap) HURRICANE FLY (2.45 Leopardstown)
BET 3pts win KILLULTAGH VIC (3.15 Leopardstown)
BET 7pts win HEATHFIELD (3.50 Leopardstown)
BET 1pt win and place LIP SERVICE (4.20 Leopardstown)
DAQ MULTIPLES: 4 x 1pt win trebles JEZKI and HURRICANE FLY (2.45 Leopardstown) with HEATHFIELD (3.50 Leopardstown) and with LIP SERVICE and FUGI MOUNTAIN (4.20 Leopardstown)


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