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Two Saturday bets
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Dragon Icon 7/18.00 has all the class to be better than a handicapper
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Winter Oaks filly 11/43.75 is miles ahead of the handicapper
Ryan Moore Superboost
Betfair Ambassador Ryan Moore returns to race riding in the UK on Saturday and the Betfair Sportsbook have superboosted his mount Talis Evolvere to finish in the top four in the 14:00 at Lingfield from 4/71.57 to 1/12.00. Just click on 'Bet now' below to go directly to the betslip.
14:00 Lingfield - Back Dragon Icon @ 7/18.00 1.5pt e/w (4 places)
It's worth keeping the unexposed Dragon Icon - 7/18.00 on the Betfair Sportsbook - on side on his return to the AW, now down significantly in grade into a Class 3 handicap against more exposed rivals.
His absence is a slight concern, but the angle with the hood for trainer Roger Varian is interesting. Backing Varian horses returning from a break of 57 days or more wearing a hood on the AW sees form figures of 1222125 from his last six runners, and he is 4-21 with a 19% strike rate (also worked with the owner/yard mate Dragon Symbol).
Still, the case for this horse gets stronger. In impressive style, he bolted up on debut at Kempton, taking the scalp of Balance Play (now rated 101) effortlessly amongst other good horses in a race that has produced multiple winners. He remained unbeaten on the AW with an eye-popping victory from last to first here at Lingfield on his second start, mowing down the 86-rated Halla Dubai, giving him seven pounds.
His latest start saw him turn out quickly for his first outing on turf in the German 2,000 Guineas but didn't prove as effective there. Still, today is a big drop in grade, return to the AW surface and the scene of victory, and he is the sole runner in the field who has the potential to prove to be a Group horse in the making.
I expect him to win this with a good draw in stall two. Back him at 9/25.50 or bigger.
15:10 Lingfield - Back Oh So Grand @ 11/43.75 3pt
Oh So Grand - 11/43.75 on the Betfair Sportsbook - has been set up for this big prize just as the yard did last year with winner Al Agaila by giving her 45 days off since winning her trial unequivocally.
The four-year-old is highly progressive and won with any amount up her sleeve under hand and heels to come from last to first. She now has a record of 3-4 on the all-weather surface and boasts an upwardly mobile profile, and with her latest course and distance success resulting in just a four-pound rise, she is a stand-out in this field.
The Simon And Ed Crisford filly has won twice off short breaks, and she should get a race run to suit. She makes plenty of appeals, mainly as I see this filly easily making a triple-figure rating in a short time and is, by and large, well ahead of the handicapper off 89.
Back her at 15/82.88 or bigger.
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Recommended bets
Back Dragon Icon to win the 14:00 at Lingfield @ 7/18.00 1.5pt e/w (4 places)
Back Oh So Grand to win the 15:10 at Lingfield @ 11/43.75 3pt win
DARYL'S P/L
2024 P/L = Updated monthly Feb 1st
DARYL'S P/L HISTORY
2021 P/L = +187pts 12% ROI
2022 P/L = + 137.1pts ROI 8.72% +22.7pts BSP 1.44% ROI
2023 P/L = +112.63pts ROI 8.86% +99.4pts BSP 7.84% ROI
2023 P/L (Incl ante) Total = +146.63 ROI 11.5%