A ROYAL DATE WITH DESTINY: The news from Sir Michael Stoute that Dartmouth will contest Saturday’s King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes for The Queen is good news for Fortune Cookie followers, and a date with destiny for the race named after her parents. Daqman reviews the target dates for all 12 of his fortune hunters below.
ANOTHER TOP TWO-YEAR-OLD: He also details the target dates for all eight of his Lucky Seven two-year-olds. Yes, it’s ‘lucky eight’ now, with the addition of one of the weekend winners. Fortune Cookies and Lucky Eight are mainly geared to York and Goodwood.
TOMORROW: KING GEORGE ABC GUIDE: Look out tomorrow for Daqman’s guide to the King George runners in an order-in dictated by the stats and form facts of the race and the runners.
FORTUNE-COOKIE DARTMOUTH FOR KING
Racing’s horse whisperer has spoken! Sir Michael Stoute, renowned for getting improvement in older horses, will pit one of our Fortune Cookies against Postponed in Saturday’s King George.
Dartmouth, The Queen’s Hardwicke winner at Royal Ascot, has been supplemented for the race, which will have a maximum of 10 starters:
Ajman Bridge, Erupt, Highland Reel, Postponed, Second Step, Shogun, Sir Isaac Newton, Western Hymn, Wings Of Desire and Dartmouth.
Sir Michael has additionally set Dannyday, also in our list, on course for the Ebor Handicap at York next month.
– 3 Awtaad (Kevin Prendergast) target Sussex Stakes, Goodwood, July 27
220 Cotai Glory (Charles Hills) King George Stakes, Goodwood, July 29
–1 Dannyday (Sir Michael Stoute), Ebor Handicap, York, August 20
– Dartmouth (Sir Michael Stoute), King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday
–2 Easton Angel (Michael Dods), King George Stakes, Goodwood, July 29
–03 Exosphere (Sir Michael Stoute), International, York, August 17
232 Found (Aidan O’Brien), International or Yorkshire Oaks, York, August 17-18
211 Minding (Aidan O’Brien), Sussex Stakes or Nassau Stakes, Goodwood, July 27 or 30
–1 So Mi Dar (John Gosden) Yorkshire Oaks, York, August 18
114 Profitable (Clive Cox), Nunthorpe Stakes, York, August 19
–2 US Army Ranger (Aidan O’Brien), International, York, August 17
–10 Usherette target race undecided
THERE’S NONE SO SMOOTH AS VELVETEEN
Now it’s lucky eight! I feel I have to add Velveteen to my Lucky Seven two-year-olds to follow, published last week.
Velveteen was drawn one on the far side at The Curragh, leading two out but facing a cavalry charge of high-drawn horses down the stands’ side of a 21-runner EBF breeders’ fillies’ race on Sunday.
Velveteen raced virtually alone the whole time but, though the pack had something to race with, their battle to outdo each other failed to overhaul the Exceed And Excel filly.
Trainer Ger Lyons feels she is one to campaign with this season – she’s entered in the Lowther and Moyglare Stud Stakes – but dam’s side relatives include Guineas and Derby placed colts. ‘Could be anything’ as long as the going is on top. The rest of the list:
Boynton Entered in the Gimcrack Stakes at York on August 20.
Caravaggio Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh on August 7 and the Gimcrack Stakes at York on August 20, but quoted by bookmakers for the Nunthorpe Stakes on August 19.
Churchill Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh (August 7) and the National Stakes at The Curragh (September 11)
Endless Charm Lowther Stakes at York on August 18.
Gulliver Weatherbys Hamilton £300,000 2yo Stakes at Doncaster on September 8 and the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy on October 1.
Lady Aurelia Phoenix Stakes and the Lowther Stakes but quoted by bookmakers for the Nunthorpe Stakes.
Roly Poly Phoenix Stakes, Lowther Stakes, Weatherbys Hamilton £300,000 2yo Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes (The Curragh September 11).
Velveteen Lowther Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes
TRYING TO FIND THE HOT TIPS
We’re having a heatwave. It’s official – it must be, it’s in the Daily Express! Temperatures (allegedly) rising to 95F but ‘be careful’ warns the Express.
Deeply unpleasant conditions you would think for horses too. We can now add them to the list of mad dogs and Englishmen who go out in the midday sun. Just like humans, you would expect some handle the sun better that others too. But that’s one angle DAQMAN doesn’t have a steer on – sorry !!!
MATHS PUZZLE SOLVED AT FFOS LAS
Hats on for the weather and hats off for the Queen (and an early good omen for Dartmouth!). There should be a Royal winner of the opener at Ffos Las this afternoon courtesy of the Roger Charlton trained Maths Prize.
The two-year-old went into plenty of notebooks when finishing second on debut to Larchmont Lad on debut at Sandown. On that form he should again account for Naval Warfare (4th) and it would be disappointing if he wasn’t good enough to beat Prerogative who has done nothing wrong in four starts but doesn’t seem to be improving.
The two debutants are of interest on breeding but are not attracting any particular support on the early BETDAQ market.
CHUCKING A FEW NOTES ON CHOOKIE
Chookie’s Lass is firmly in the grip of the handicapper who has raised her a pound for being beaten last time out.
However, she is continuing to run well in races better than this and I can see her going well off her feather weight in the 3.15 at Musselburgh.
Whilst an infrequent winner – she runs this course well and it’s a tough test with the steep finish. She was just beaten by Bronze Beau over course and distance last time out and can grab a place today.
I certainly have no interest in the top weight Bashiba who is up 2lb after scrambling home at Windsor last time out.
ASCOT MISTER TO STRIKE AGAIN
One top weight I do want to be with today is Misterioso in the 7.20 at Chelmsford.
He’s up 5lb but that doesn’t look too harsh given his last win came in a hugely competitive handicap at Ascot.
His all-weather ability is limited as this is only his second start on the surface but he finished fifth of six at Lingfield (only beaten just over a length) in a Listed race last year.
DAQMAN’S BETS
BET 8pts win (nap) MATHS PRIZE (2.00 Ffos Las)
BET 2pts win and 3pts place CHOOKIE’S LASS (3.15 Musselburgh)
BET 4pts win MISTERIOSO (7.20 Chelmsford)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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.
