🚨 Enhanced Specials on offer today!
Either Amelia Earhart or Cameo to win at 4pm Epsom Downs NRNB
Aidan O’Brien to train the winner of the Epsom oaks (Amelia Earhart, Cameo or Sugar Island to win) (Min 6 runners for bet to stand)
Gerwyn Price to have the highest checkout and most 100+ checkouts v Labanauskas
Wembanyama & Jalen Brunson to score 25+ each (incl. OT)
Chris Billam-Smith to win the fight in Round 6-10
1+ Goals To Be Scored In All 24 Round 1 Group Matches
Every team to score 1+ goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Mexico, USA & Canada all to win their first match
4+ corners in every game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain, France and England all to reach the world cup quarter finals
England, Brazil & France all to win their respective groups
Brazil to win their group & Scotland to finish second
Scotland to score in all 3 group stage matches at The World Cup
Scotland, Egypt & Australia all to qualify from their groups
Mbappe, Kane & Haaland all to score 4+ goals each at The World Cup
Messi to score in the group stages
Cristiano Ronaldo to score in the group stages
England To Win All Group Stage Matches
England to score over 6.5 goals in the Group Stages of the World Cup 2026
Harry Kane To Score 3+ Goals In The Group Stage For England
England not to concede a goal in the group stage of The World Cup
Harry Kane To Score In All 3 Group Matches
England To Win All Group Stage Matches & Reach The Quarter Finals
SOFT TOUCH OR HOPES DASHED? The opening race at Epsom on Oaks Day today is a big-field 5f Dash for three-year-olds, a minefield handicap for punters, yet they will be glad of it to check out the going and whether there is an advantage in the draw, as they split near side, middle and maybe even far rail.
FOLLOW MURPHY: Daqman looks for opening Proof at 30.0 on BETDAQ, assumes softening of the ground and picks Oisin Murphy and Colin Keane as jockeys to follow.
OAKS HAS FRANKEL LEGACY
🎩 4.00 Epsom (The Oaks) The Ralph Beckett filly A La Prochaine (‘See you soon’) can improve to challenge the best Oaks-trial winner, Legacy Link, whose big, powerful stride won her the Musidora. Form with official ratings:
110 VENETIAN LACE Charlie Johnston’s top-rated seems ‘the one least likely to.’ Not proven on soft, not bred for it: but 1,000 Guineas third and by a Derby winner.
107 THUNDERING ON By Frankel but, like her dam, has excelled at 1m 2f and, though has done well on most surfaces, her stamina for an Oaks is not tested, particularly on soft. See Sugar Island.
105 AMELIA EARHART Followed the route of last year’s winner, Minnie Hauk, in taking the Cheshire Oaks, with A La Prochaine running on third and Sugar Island five-lengths fourth (led, weakened). But surely a sorry sight for breeders if a Classic is won by one in a hood-and-blinkers combo.
105 LEGACY LINK (pictured below) All starts on good to firm: battled to win the Musidora but going away at the finish as if needing further; that and her breeding (Dubawi out of a sister to Frankel) suggest slow ground would be beneficial.
104 CAMEO Has won on soft-heavy and was an impressive Lingfield trial winner but Ryan Moore prefers Amelia Earhart.
104 SUGAR ISLAND Dubawi out of a Galileo mare, in her element in heavy-ground success from the front at the Curragh in the autumn, when she beat Thundering On with Cameo 10 lengths fourth.
100 K SARRA Musidora third, just over two lengths behind Legacy Link. Sire a soft-heavy winner and trainer, who excels with fillies, also runs A La Prochaine and On Message.
099 ON MESSAGE Well beaten on soft in class-4 fillies’ maiden in the autumn but strong at the finish when close third in Goodwood trial.
098 A LA PROCHAINE Sire won French Derby, dam’s sire won Arc and King George. Soft-ground winner in the autumn. See Amelia Earhart.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 4.5 Legacy Link, 18 A L Prochaine
SEAGULLS TO STEAL DIOMED
⭕ 2.40 Epsom (Diomed Stakes) Last year’s one-two-four of Persica, Ice Max and Royal Playwright meet again.
But it’s a stronger field this year, with the one for the money, Seagulls Eleven, and Cambridgeshire winner, Boiling Point, in form at Goodwood the last day but with no winning form on the soft.
Group-3 scorer on the soft at Goodwood in August under today’s rider, Oisin Murphy, Seagulls Eleven made all over a mile in a recent Listed at Longchamp.
But Qirat is a Goodwood specialist who could also take them on from stalls to stands under Colin Keane on this similar track: BETDAQ 13.0.
HE KEEPS ON RESPONDING..
⭕ 3.15 Epsom (‘Nifty 50’) Another Goodwood specialist, Alpha Crucis, second twice at Epsom, goes well on the soft but he’s a 8-9f winner, whereas this race is 1m 2f.
Conversely, Beylerbeyi is a 2m 2f Cesarewitch winner (10lb higher now) but what they have in common is age (six) in a race which goes to younger animals (four and five) only.
I’m always on the look-out for improvers and Respond has risen 23lb in seven races since his opening mark, winning easily last time on a turning track like today’s at Chester. Oisin Murphy keeps the faith.
Karl Burke has thrown everything at getting one ready for a repeat of his 2024 success. Bolster is now a gelding, with a wind op and first-time cheekpieces. BETDAQ 22.0.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.30 Epsom (win-50 total bull’s-eye bet)
BET 1.5pt win and place PROOF
2.40 Epsom (win 25 each)
BET 7pts win SEAGULLS ELEVEN
BET 2.25pts win QIRAT
★ 3.15 Epsom (win 25 nap)
BET 6pts win RESPOND
BET 1pt win and place BOLSTER
4.00 EPSOM (win 25 each, The Oaks)
BET 7pts win LEGACY LINK
BET 1.25pt win and place A LA PROCHAINE
(with AMELIA EARHART for forecasts, tricasts)
To gamble responsibly, please have a look at the range of tools we have available to you. Click on the link for more info on Healthy Betting at BETDAQ: https://t.co/wUp9t9HQJO
DAQSTATS ANALYSIS: Our DAQSTATS identify the key statistics for racing on Friday at Epsom on Oaks Day.
DAQSTATS have identified key statistical: positives and negatives for today’s racing.
Whether you are a backer or a layer – you can combine the DAQSTATS below with the latest BETDAQ markets to help with your horse racing betting.
POSITIVES
Epsom 1-30: Oisin Murphy has an excellent 25% strike rate with his rides at Epsom, Naana’s Shadow is 6.8.
Epsom 2-05: Pierre-Louis Jamin has a healthy 18% strike rate with his rides at Epsom, Romidijo is 50.0!
Epsom 2-40: Ryan Moore has an excellent 30% strike rate with his rides at Epsom, Skukuza is 19.0.
Epsom 3-15: Michael Bell has an impressive 20% strike rate with his runners at Epsom, Let’s Dream is 36.0.
Epsom 4-00: Aidan O’Brien has an excellent 22% strike rate with his runners at Epsom, Sugar Island is 28.0, Cameo is 10.0 and Amelia Earhart is 3.4.
Epsom 4-40: Ed Dunlop has a healthy 19% strike rate with his runners at Epsom, Sterling Knight is 29.0.
Epsom 5-15: George Boughey has an excellent 24% strike rate with his runners at Epsom, Awaken is 12.5.
Epsom 5-50: Ray Dawson has an excellent 27% strike rate with his rides at Epsom, Crimson Spirit is 12.5.
NEGATIVES
Epsom 1-30: Paddy Bradley is showing a loss of over £25 when backing his rides to level stakes at Epsom, Henrythenate is 50.0.
Epsom 2-05: Eve Johnson Houghton is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing her runners to level stakes at Epsom, Ardad Steve is 11.0.
Epsom 2-40: Ralph Beckett is showing a loss of close to £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Epsom, Qirat is 13.0.
Epsom 3-15: David O’Meara is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing his runners to level stakes at Epsom, Spoken Truth is 19.5.
Epsom 4-00: Charlie Johnston is showing a loss of close to £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Epsom, Venetian Lace is 12.0.
Epsom 4-40: Richard Hannon is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing his runners to level stakes at Epsom, Stem is 6.8.
Epsom 5-15: James Doyle is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing his rides to level stakes at Epsom, Postmodern is 8.6.
Epsom 5-50: David Probert is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing his rides to level stakes at Epsom, Musical Angel is 40.0.
BEST BETS
NAP: NAANA’S SHADOW 1-30 Epsom, at around 6.8 on Betdaq Betting Exchange
LAY: No Bet.
World Cup 2026 Group E Betting Preview
Four time World Cup champions Germany get their campaign under way in Group E, and they’ll be fully expected to top it against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao. In practice though, Germany's recent World Cup history makes nothing straightforward - they have been eliminated in the Group stage at each of the last two tournaments, in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, and the scars run deep. They will carry the full weight of that underperformance into this Group and simply cannot afford another false start. Their main challengers will be Ecuador who finished second in the brutal CONMEBOL qualifying campaign - above Brazil and Uruguay. It would be a surprise if those two didn’t finish in the top two spots, but a fascinating Group awaits.
Group E
· Germany
· Ecuador
· Ivory Coast
· Curacao
Germany (FIFA Ranking: 10th)
Germany qualified by winning UEFA Group A, recovering from a shock 2-0 opening defeat to Slovakia to rattle off five consecutive wins - scoring 16 goals and conceding just one. I suppose underwhelming has been the best way to describe Germany for a number of years now. They will come into the tournament under pressure though – expected to win this Group – they are trading 1.45 at the time of writing. They’ll have to deal with all the questions about whether the recent World Cup Group stage collapses will affect them when the tournament begins. They clearly have a very talented squad, but there are plenty of issues too – for example Florian Wirtz - ranked the best attacking midfielder in the world by plenty of pundits has had a very difficult season at Liverpool. The good thing for Germany is that, on paper at least, they have an easy Group, but you wouldn’t exactly be rushing to take the 1.45. They are 17.5 to win the tournament Outright.
Ecuador (FIFA Ranking: 23rd)
Ecuador's qualification story deserves enormous credit. They finished second in the CONMEBOL round robin - the most competitive qualifying campaign in world football - with 29 points from 18 games, losing only twice, both defeats coming away from home against Argentina and Brazil. That placed them above traditional heavyweights like Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil. A massive achievement really. The squad is built around a defensive record that was the best in CONMEBOL qualifying - just five goals conceded in 18 matches, an extraordinary statistic given the teams they faced, and obviously they should be hard to beat. Whether or not they have the firepower to actually go and win games is another matter, but they are deeply difficult to break down. What is massively in their favour here is that they should be able to beat Ivory Coast and Curacao – then they meet Germany last and they might have a shot at top spot.
Ivory Coast (FIFA Ranking: 34th)
Ivory Coast return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 - a 12-year absence that has felt overdue. They qualified in dominant fashion, topping their CAF group with eight wins and two draws from ten matches, keeping a stunning ten clean sheets throughout the entire campaign. Obviously the opposition was quite weak, but to not concede a goal in qualifying is quite something. The headline name is Amad Diallo of Manchester United, who arrives on the back of a strong season at Old Trafford. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who has attracted interest from several of Europe's top clubs is another to watch out for. They never made it out of the group stage at any of their three previous World Cup appearances. They will be desperate to change that, and the expanded format gives them a genuine chance to do so; granted they could be aiming for one of the eight third placed finisher spots.
Curacao (FIFA Ranking: 82nd)
If there is a story of the entire 2026 World Cup that captures the imagination of non-football fans, it is Curacao. The small Dutch Caribbean island, with a population of under 186,000 people, became the smallest nation by both population and area ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, a feat that made the mainstream news outside of just the football world. Make no mistake, even getting here is a huge achievement – something they should be very proud of – but from a realistic point of view, it would be a surprise if they managed to get a point. They are trading 100.0+ to win the Group. The squad is made up primarily of players of Dutch and Caribbean heritage plying their trade across Europe and North America. They are modest in terms of quality, and they will likely find this tough going.
Who Will Top Group E And Who Will Qualify From Group E?
Germany are the dominant market favourites to win Group E, trading around 1.45. Obviously they have had their issues in World Cup Groups, and they haven’t been the force of old for a while now. The 1.45 isn’t a price that you would be rushing to take. Ecuador are next at around 5.0, Ivory Coast at around 9.0 and Curaçao at 100.0+. I do feel the top two is locked in here with Germany and Ecuador – that being said, on paper the group stage looked like a formality for Germany before, in both 2018 and 2022, and they got sent home.
Ecuador's defensive record is impressive - conceding five goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers is the kind of statistic that does not lie against the quality of opposition they faced. I think the fixtures work out very interesting here. While Ecuador don’t exactly blow sides away, I feel they have enough to beat Ivory Coast and Curacao which will bring us to a final fixture decider between Germany and themselves to decide top spot. I feel from a value point of view, the 5.0 on Ecuador is worth a small bet.
The Ultra Says: One point win Ecuador Group E Winner at 5.0 with Betdaq Exchange.
World Cup 2026 Group D Betting Preview
The USA kick off their World Cup campaign on Betdaq in Group D! While Mexico drew relatively kindly and Canada landed Bosnia and Qatar, the United States got the toughest draw of any co-host. That being said, they are still favourites to win Group D given it’s so open. This is the first Group where you feel anyone could win it - Turkey are ending a 24-year World Cup absence with a squad built around two of the most exciting young players in world football. Paraguay are the most disciplined defensive unit CONMEBOL produced this cycle. Australia are not here just to make up the numbers after reaching the Round of 16 last time out. The USA need a big performance to deliver on home soil. It’s hard to know what to expect from them too!
Group D
· USA
· Turkey
· Paraguay
· Australia
USA (FIFA Ranking: 16th)
As co-hosts, the USA received their automatic berth back in February 2023. They open the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay. The home advantage is obviously substantial in an open Group, but their biggest asset is Mauricio Pochettino who has been in charge since 2024 and has restored some belief after a turbulent period, but there are genuine concerns heading into the tournament though. An automatic spot means we don’t fully know their level – they suffered a 5-2 thrashing by Belgium and a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in their March friendlies, but obviously those two sides are levels above them. 21 of the last 22 host nations have reached the knockout stages. The pressure is immense, and history is on their side, but I feel this USA side could struggle a little in a very open Group. They are trading around 2.52 to win Group D, and that looks a good value lay.
Turkey (FIFA Ranking: 22nd)
Turkey are back at the World Cup for the first time since their extraordinary third-place finish in 2002 - a 24-year absence that now finally ends. They qualified via the UEFA playoffs, finishing three points behind Euro 2024 winners Spain in their qualifying Group before beating Romania 1-0 in the Semi-Final and Kosovo 1-0 in the Final. Their playoff route could have been called easy, but they performed very well in qualifying. The story of this Turkey team is built around two of the most exciting young players in world football. Arda Guler playing for Real Madrid and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz provides another layer of match winning quality. Behind them both is captain Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan. They have a good squad, and surely they will fancy their chances of topping this Group. They meet USA last and it will be interesting to see is that a straight shootout for the Group winner!
Paraguay (FIFA Ranking: 40th)
Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they reached the Quarter-Finals - still their best ever finish. It’s hard to see them getting that far this time; they are trading around 400.0 in the Outright market. They qualified through the CONMEBOL round robin, finishing sixth and securing the final automatic spot in what was a hard-fought campaign. They tend to focus on defensive discipline; conceding just 10 goals across 18 qualifying matches, the same as group winners Argentina, while grinding out results with an efficient, physical style that frustrates. You can see them causing sides problems, especially in a Group where there isn’t a huge level of attacking talent. It’s hard to see them winning games though. They are a side you don’t want to underestimate, but like I said they will be setting up to play in a very cagey fashion to grind out games.
Australia (FIFA Ranking: 27th)
Australia might be higher in the FIFA rankings compared to Paraguay, but they are the outsiders to win Group D here. They qualified through the AFC third round as runners-up in Group C, having lost just once in their qualifying campaign, but obviously it’s quite a low level. Matthew Ryan in goal is Premier League proven, central defender Harry Souttar provides an aerial threat at both ends, and in attack they have exciting young winger Nestory Irankunda of Watford and midfielder Riley McGree of Middlesbrough. It’s hard to see them having the quality to go far in the tournament, but obviously we have quite an open Group here so we can’t write them off. They will look to hit teams on the counter, and we’ll have to wait and see what success that brings.
Who Will Top Group D And Who Will Qualify From Group D?
The USA are favourites to win Group D, trading around 2.52 to top the group. Turkey are their closest challengers at around 3.0, with Paraguay next at 45.1 and Australia the outsiders at around 8.8. Group A, B and C all had odds on favourites to win; this one is the first real open betting heat. The USA's home advantage is obviously a big factor and should not be understated, but I do feel that the 2.52 is worth taking on to win this Group.
Mauricio Pochettino is a world class coach, but the defensive set up has shown real fragility against quality opposition, and the midfield injury problems - with Johnny Cardoso out for the tournament after ankle surgery – I think Pochettino has less depth than he would have hoped when taking over. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Turkey top the Group – they have quite a strong squad but at the same time, I do feel Paraguay might be able to grind out results here too. This is a genuinely fascinating group that could go right down to the final round of fixtures on June 25th – I’m happy with the USA lay.
The Ultra Says: Two points lay (liability) USA Group D Winner at 2.52 with Betdaq Exchange.
World Cup 2026 Group E Betting Preview
Four time World Cup champions Germany get their campaign under way in Group E, and they’ll be fully expected to top it against Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao. In practice though, Germany's recent World Cup history makes nothing straightforward - they have been eliminated in the Group stage at each of the last two tournaments, in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, and the scars run deep. They will carry the full weight of that underperformance into this Group and simply cannot afford another false start. Their main challengers will be Ecuador who finished second in the brutal CONMEBOL qualifying campaign - above Brazil and Uruguay. It would be a surprise if those two didn’t finish in the top two spots, but a fascinating Group awaits.
Group E
· Germany
· Ecuador
· Ivory Coast
· Curacao
Germany (FIFA Ranking: 10th)
Germany qualified by winning UEFA Group A, recovering from a shock 2-0 opening defeat to Slovakia to rattle off five consecutive wins - scoring 16 goals and conceding just one. I suppose underwhelming has been the best way to describe Germany for a number of years now. They will come into the tournament under pressure though – expected to win this Group – they are trading 1.45 at the time of writing. They’ll have to deal with all the questions about whether the recent World Cup Group stage collapses will affect them when the tournament begins. They clearly have a very talented squad, but there are plenty of issues too – for example Florian Wirtz - ranked the best attacking midfielder in the world by plenty of pundits has had a very difficult season at Liverpool. The good thing for Germany is that, on paper at least, they have an easy Group, but you wouldn’t exactly be rushing to take the 1.45. They are 17.5 to win the tournament Outright.
Ecuador (FIFA Ranking: 23rd)
Ecuador's qualification story deserves enormous credit. They finished second in the CONMEBOL round robin - the most competitive qualifying campaign in world football - with 29 points from 18 games, losing only twice, both defeats coming away from home against Argentina and Brazil. That placed them above traditional heavyweights like Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil. A massive achievement really. The squad is built around a defensive record that was the best in CONMEBOL qualifying - just five goals conceded in 18 matches, an extraordinary statistic given the teams they faced, and obviously they should be hard to beat. Whether or not they have the firepower to actually go and win games is another matter, but they are deeply difficult to break down. What is massively in their favour here is that they should be able to beat Ivory Coast and Curacao – then they meet Germany last and they might have a shot at top spot.
Ivory Coast (FIFA Ranking: 34th)
Ivory Coast return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 - a 12-year absence that has felt overdue. They qualified in dominant fashion, topping their CAF group with eight wins and two draws from ten matches, keeping a stunning ten clean sheets throughout the entire campaign. Obviously the opposition was quite weak, but to not concede a goal in qualifying is quite something. The headline name is Amad Diallo of Manchester United, who arrives on the back of a strong season at Old Trafford. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who has attracted interest from several of Europe's top clubs is another to watch out for. They never made it out of the group stage at any of their three previous World Cup appearances. They will be desperate to change that, and the expanded format gives them a genuine chance to do so; granted they could be aiming for one of the eight third placed finisher spots.
Curacao (FIFA Ranking: 82nd)
If there is a story of the entire 2026 World Cup that captures the imagination of non-football fans, it is Curacao. The small Dutch Caribbean island, with a population of under 186,000 people, became the smallest nation by both population and area ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, a feat that made the mainstream news outside of just the football world. Make no mistake, even getting here is a huge achievement – something they should be very proud of – but from a realistic point of view, it would be a surprise if they managed to get a point. They are trading 100.0+ to win the Group. The squad is made up primarily of players of Dutch and Caribbean heritage plying their trade across Europe and North America. They are modest in terms of quality, and they will likely find this tough going.
Who Will Top Group E And Who Will Qualify From Group E?
Germany are the dominant market favourites to win Group E, trading around 1.45. Obviously they have had their issues in World Cup Groups, and they haven’t been the force of old for a while now. The 1.45 isn’t a price that you would be rushing to take. Ecuador are next at around 5.0, Ivory Coast at around 9.0 and Curaçao at 100.0+. I do feel the top two is locked in here with Germany and Ecuador – that being said, on paper the group stage looked like a formality for Germany before, in both 2018 and 2022, and they got sent home.
Ecuador's defensive record is impressive - conceding five goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers is the kind of statistic that does not lie against the quality of opposition they faced. I think the fixtures work out very interesting here. While Ecuador don’t exactly blow sides away, I feel they have enough to beat Ivory Coast and Curacao which will bring us to a final fixture decider between Germany and themselves to decide top spot. I feel from a value point of view, the 5.0 on Ecuador is worth a small bet.
The Ultra Says: One point win Ecuador Group E Winner at 5.0 with Betdaq Exchange.
World Cup 2026 Group D Betting Preview
The USA kick off their World Cup campaign on Betdaq in Group D! While Mexico drew relatively kindly and Canada landed Bosnia and Qatar, the United States got the toughest draw of any co-host. That being said, they are still favourites to win Group D given it’s so open. This is the first Group where you feel anyone could win it - Turkey are ending a 24-year World Cup absence with a squad built around two of the most exciting young players in world football. Paraguay are the most disciplined defensive unit CONMEBOL produced this cycle. Australia are not here just to make up the numbers after reaching the Round of 16 last time out. The USA need a big performance to deliver on home soil. It’s hard to know what to expect from them too!
Group D
· USA
· Turkey
· Paraguay
· Australia
USA (FIFA Ranking: 16th)
As co-hosts, the USA received their automatic berth back in February 2023. They open the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay. The home advantage is obviously substantial in an open Group, but their biggest asset is Mauricio Pochettino who has been in charge since 2024 and has restored some belief after a turbulent period, but there are genuine concerns heading into the tournament though. An automatic spot means we don’t fully know their level – they suffered a 5-2 thrashing by Belgium and a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in their March friendlies, but obviously those two sides are levels above them. 21 of the last 22 host nations have reached the knockout stages. The pressure is immense, and history is on their side, but I feel this USA side could struggle a little in a very open Group. They are trading around 2.52 to win Group D, and that looks a good value lay.
Turkey (FIFA Ranking: 22nd)
Turkey are back at the World Cup for the first time since their extraordinary third-place finish in 2002 - a 24-year absence that now finally ends. They qualified via the UEFA playoffs, finishing three points behind Euro 2024 winners Spain in their qualifying Group before beating Romania 1-0 in the Semi-Final and Kosovo 1-0 in the Final. Their playoff route could have been called easy, but they performed very well in qualifying. The story of this Turkey team is built around two of the most exciting young players in world football. Arda Guler playing for Real Madrid and Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz provides another layer of match winning quality. Behind them both is captain Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter Milan. They have a good squad, and surely they will fancy their chances of topping this Group. They meet USA last and it will be interesting to see is that a straight shootout for the Group winner!
Paraguay (FIFA Ranking: 40th)
Paraguay are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they reached the Quarter-Finals - still their best ever finish. It’s hard to see them getting that far this time; they are trading around 400.0 in the Outright market. They qualified through the CONMEBOL round robin, finishing sixth and securing the final automatic spot in what was a hard-fought campaign. They tend to focus on defensive discipline; conceding just 10 goals across 18 qualifying matches, the same as group winners Argentina, while grinding out results with an efficient, physical style that frustrates. You can see them causing sides problems, especially in a Group where there isn’t a huge level of attacking talent. It’s hard to see them winning games though. They are a side you don’t want to underestimate, but like I said they will be setting up to play in a very cagey fashion to grind out games.
Australia (FIFA Ranking: 27th)
Australia might be higher in the FIFA rankings compared to Paraguay, but they are the outsiders to win Group D here. They qualified through the AFC third round as runners-up in Group C, having lost just once in their qualifying campaign, but obviously it’s quite a low level. Matthew Ryan in goal is Premier League proven, central defender Harry Souttar provides an aerial threat at both ends, and in attack they have exciting young winger Nestory Irankunda of Watford and midfielder Riley McGree of Middlesbrough. It’s hard to see them having the quality to go far in the tournament, but obviously we have quite an open Group here so we can’t write them off. They will look to hit teams on the counter, and we’ll have to wait and see what success that brings.
Who Will Top Group D And Who Will Qualify From Group D?
The USA are favourites to win Group D, trading around 2.52 to top the group. Turkey are their closest challengers at around 3.0, with Paraguay next at 45.1 and Australia the outsiders at around 8.8. Group A, B and C all had odds on favourites to win; this one is the first real open betting heat. The USA's home advantage is obviously a big factor and should not be understated, but I do feel that the 2.52 is worth taking on to win this Group.
Mauricio Pochettino is a world class coach, but the defensive set up has shown real fragility against quality opposition, and the midfield injury problems - with Johnny Cardoso out for the tournament after ankle surgery – I think Pochettino has less depth than he would have hoped when taking over. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Turkey top the Group – they have quite a strong squad but at the same time, I do feel Paraguay might be able to grind out results here too. This is a genuinely fascinating group that could go right down to the final round of fixtures on June 25th – I’m happy with the USA lay.
The Ultra Says: Two points lay (liability) USA Group D Winner at 2.52 with Betdaq Exchange.
🚨 Enhanced Specials on offer today!
1+ Goals To Be Scored In All 24 Round 1 Group Matches
Every team to score 1+ goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Mexico, USA & Canada all to win their first match
4+ corners in every game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
England, Brazil & France all to win their respective groups
Brazil to win their group & Scotland to finish second
Scotland to score in all 3 group stage matches at The World Cup
Mbappe, Kane & Haaland all to score 4+ goals each at The World Cup
Messi to score in the group stages
Cristiano Ronaldo to score in the group stages
England To Win All Group Stage Matches
England to score over 6.5 goals in the Group Stages of the World Cup 2026
Harry Kane To Score 3+ Goals In The Group Stage For England
England not to concede a goal in the group stage of The World Cup
Harry Kane To Score In All 3 Group Matches
England To Win All Group Stage Matches & Reach The Quarter Finals
DAQSTATS ANALYSIS: Our DAQSTATS identify the key statistics for racing on Thursday.
DAQSTATS have identified key statistical: positives and negatives for today’s racing.
Whether you are a backer or a layer – you can combine the DAQSTATS below with the latest BETDAQ markets to help with your horse racing betting.
POSITIVES
Hamilton 2-21: Karl Burke has an excellent long-term strike rate of 21% with his runners at Hamilton, Little Lady Karen is 8.8.
Hamilton 2-51: Kevin Ryan has an excellent long-term strike rate of 20% with his runners at Hamilton, Belsito is 7.0.
Hamilton 3-51: David O’Meara is showing a profit of close to £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Hamilton, Theoryofeverything is 10.5.
Wetherby 2-42: David O’Meara has an excellent 22% strike rate with his runners at Wetherby, Mardy Bum is 100.0!
Wetherby 3-12: Jason Hart has an excellent 23% strike rate with his rides at Wetherby, Viviana is 6.4.
Uttoxeter 3-00: Kielan Woods is showing a profit of close to £50 when backing his rides to level stakes at Uttoxeter, Mammies Boy is 9.0.
Uttoxeter 3-30: Sam Twiston-Davies is showing a profit of very close to £50 when backing his rides to level stakes at Uttoxeter, I Am The Moon is 3.9.
Ffos Las 7-20: Mark Loughnane is showing a profit of very close to £25 when backing his runners to level stakes at Ffos Las, Toralou is 17.5.
Ffos Las 7-50: Ralph Beckett has an excellent 34% strike rate with his runners at Ffos Las, Mick The Hat is 5.0.
Lingfield 5-40: Paddy Bradley is showing a profit of close to £50 when backing his rides to level stakes at Lingfield, Balon d’Or is 18.0.
Lingfield 6-10: Rossa Ryan has an excellent long-term strike rate of 22% with his rides at Lingfield, Musical Accord is 14.5.
Leopardstown 5-30: Paddy Twomey has an excellent 32% strike rate with his runners at Leopardstown, Alpine Wedding is 4.4.
Leopardstown 8-30: Willie Lee is showing a profit of over £25 when backing his rides to level stakes at Leopardstown, No More Hiding is 28.0.
NEGATIVES
Hamilton 3-21: Jim Goldie is showing a loss of over £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Hamilton, Pearl Eye is 3.25 and Penelope’s Sister is 24.0.
Hamilton 4-21: Iain Jardine is showing a loss of over £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Hamilton, Parisiac is 6.0.
Hamilton 4-51: Mike Smith is showing a loss of close to £75 when backing his runners to level stakes at Hamilton, Glasses Up is 24.0.
Wetherby 4-12: Cam Hardie is showing a loss of very close to £25 when backing his rides to level stakes at Wetherby, Riddikulus is 40.0.
Uttoxeter 2-00: Dan Skelton is showing a loss of over £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Uttoxeter, Loriko is 1.68.
Uttoxeter 4-00: Tim Vaughan is showing a loss of close to £50 when backing his runners to level stakes at Uttoxeter, Bells Of Ufford is 25.0.
Ffos Las 6-50: Archie Watson is showing a loss of over £25 when backing his runners to level stakes at Ffos Las, Real Trouble is 4.0.
Ffos Las 8-20: Ed de Giles is showing a loss of over £25 when backing his runners to level stakes at Ffos Las, Oceanides is 60.0.
Lingfield 5-10: Billy Loughnane is showing a loss of over £50 when backing his rides to level stakes at Lingfield, Yehudi is 4.1.
Lingfield 6-40: George Boughey is showing a loss of very close to £100 when backing his runners to level stakes at Lingfield, Kaori is 5.4.
Leopardstown 6-00: Ger Lyons is showing a loss of over £75 when backing his runners to level stakes at Leopardstown, Mallavelly is 12.5.
Leopardstown 6-30: Dylan Browne McMonagle is showing a loss of over £75 when backing his rides to level stakes at Leopardstown, Yousaynothingatall is 15.0.
BEST BETS
NAP: MICK THE HAT 7-50 Ffos Las, at around 5.0 on Betdaq Betting Exchange
LAY: LORIKO 2-00 Uttoxeter, at around 1.68 on Betdaq Betting Exchange
DAQMAN STEADY AS A ROCK: Daqman’s bid for six winning naps in eight days failed by a neck yesterday when Gatehouse (15-8) was touched off but our man was later on the mark with Rock Of England (WON 4-1).
🎩 BUT BIG RACE GETS WEAKER: With thunderstorms forecast today, the going for Saturday’s Derby is still a matter for speculation but – says Daqman – the quality of the field is also open to question. See below: The Derby’s Gone Soft.
🎩 TOMORROW: The Oaks form and facts
THE DERBY’S GONE SOFT
⭕ 4.00 Epsom, Saturday (The Derby) Don’t be swayed by all the talk and hullabaloo about runners in Saturday’s big race, particularly on soft ground, and don’t fall for any fancy prices about the winner for the Arc.
The last great Derby star was Golden Horn (2015), who beat the subsequent Irish Derby winner and won the Arc after bagging the Champion Stakes from the subsequent 2016 Arc scorer, Found.
But there’s been very little in the way of class among English and Irish colts since then; none has won the Arc, which – luckily for UK and Ireland – has been dominated by fillies.
Found, herself, as well as Enable (twice), Alpinista and Bluestocking scored against the home team; otherwise France 4, Germany 1.
How can you stand up these Derby-winning colts, often shown as irrelevant by what they beat in the big race at Epsom?
🐎 Serpentine (2020): made virtually all at 25-1: afterwards scored 1-27 (won an Aussie Group 3). The runner-up never won again, while the third was beaten next time out in a maiden and didn’t break his duck until the following April on AW.
🐎 Adayar (2021) the second horse home was 1-6 afterwards, and the one win was in a maiden.
🐎 Desert Crown (2022) the second horse home was 1-12 afterwards, and Desert Crown himself quit through injury after being beaten in a Group 3.
🐎 City Of Troy (2024): the second horse home was afterwards 1-15 and that one win was in a novice hurdle!
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
⭕ 3.51 Hamilton The rains have also arrived in Scotland (good to soft in places) leaving single digit field sizes across Thursday’s seven race card with just three runners in the opener.
Feature race on the card is this class 2 handicap over a mile which looks like a North v South battle on Betdaq Betting Exchange between Altareq (Jim Goldie) and Eternal Force who is William Haggas’ only runner on the card – which could be a tip in itself.
Altareq remains a maiden after four starts (the first three when trained by the Gosdens) but more than proved himself at this level when finishing third to Warrant Holder in a class 2 at York which looked a better contest than this one. He is however yet to face ground with give in it.
Eternal Force has no problems on the ground front. He won three races in a row last season (two on good to soft) and shaped well on his reappearance in the Doncaster Lincoln when a close-up seventh – beaten less than three lengths. He still holds an entry for the Royal Hunt Cup and might just have the experience and proven ground ability to take this en route.
GOLDIE AND SILVER
⭕ 4.51 Hamilton Whatever the fate of Altareq, Jim Goldie shouldn’t leave the course empty handed as he is well represented here by Gallus Norman and Annandale who both bring decent recent form to the table.
Whilst the preference has to be for Gallus Norman who made all to win by five lengths at Musselburgh last time out and the 6lb hike won’t be stopping him if in the same kind of mood.
Annandale is on a run of 16 since his last success but his latest effort at Wolverhampton was much more like it and with the stable in good form (7 wins from last 30) he can land a podium finish.
I’ll back both Goldie runners for a WIN 20 return with a cheeky RF thrown in.
GHOST TRAINING ON
⭕ 8.50 Ffos Las Lingfield looks trappy tonight so I’ll head to Ffos Las for a (late) nap.
Ghost Story enjoys give in the ground and shaped well at Lingfield on her reappearance after a 188 day break. She’s run well over a similar trip before and shouldn’t lack in the stamina department.
Biggest danger may come from the only other mare in the race Mighty Quiet who is another who likes the softer ground and may have needed the run at Nottingham back in April.
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
3.51 Hamilton (win 10)
BET 5.0pts win ETERNAL FORCE
4.51 Hamilton (both win 20)
BET 3.3pts win GALLUS NORMAN
BET 1.2pts win ANNANDALE
Plus 1pt RF the above pair
★ 8.50 Ffos Las (win 10, nap)
BET 5.5pts win GHOST STORY
To gamble responsibly, please have a look at the range of tools we have available to you. Click on the link for more info on Healthy Betting at BETDAQ: https://t.co/wUp9t9HQJO
🏴 England v New Zealand 🇳🇿
▶️ 1st Test
🏏 Our cricket expert The Edge previews the start of the English summer 👇
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The English summer of cricket officially gets under way on Betdaq with the 1stTest between England and New Zealand on Thursday at Lord’s. This is the first of three Tests, and it forms part of the current World Test Championship cycle, but all the talk around this series will still revolve around off-field matters. This is their first Test since the Ashes disaster - a 4-1 hammering in Australia that was effectively done and dusted with two matches to spare, by what was billed as the best England squad to tour Down Under in years. The fallout has been brutal. The ECB review concluded with Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key all keeping their jobs, and that decision went down like a lead balloon in some quarters.
Michael Atherton said fans would find it “extraordinary” that nobody lost their job, and Geoffrey Boycott was furious, as always! Throw in questions about dressing room culture, the off-field issues on tour, and the picture painted after the Ashes was quite bleak. There’s also been plenty of noise between the international set-up and the counties; which has been a huge issue for McCullum and Key to be honest. They have since been doing the rounds trying to smooth things over, and the message this time has been that County Championship form will actually matter. That’s reflected in the squad – three uncapped players in Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker and James Rew have been rewarded for domestic runs and wickets, while Zak Crawley’s spot at the top of the order and Shoaib Bashir’s place are both under real scrutiny.
New Zealand, by contrast, arrive in good order and with their feet under the table. They’ve just warmed up by absolutely hammering Ireland in Belfast - an innings-and-79-run win wrapped up inside three days at Stormont. Tom Blundell helped himself to 186, Rachin Ravindra got a century as they recovered from a wobble at 86 for 4 on the first morning. How much that warm-up is worth is debatable; Ireland have no domestic red ball cricket system and their players only play a handful of times a year because of money issues with the board. New Zealand might have been better served warming up against a County side. Nevertheless, a fascinating Test awaits. England need results this year with everyone under pressure.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Lord’s is a cracking place to start a summer. As we know these days, Lord’s is all about what cloud cover we have – no clouds and the wicket is quite flat – but the ball can do plenty when there’s cloud cover and a bit of moisture about, and the slope at Lord’s helps the seamers get the ball moving both ways. That makes the day-to-day forecast very important and obviously the toss too. Lord’s has turned into a result venue; the last nine Tests here have had a result. Indeed, from the last 27 Tests there’s only been four results. I know the way England play Test cricket has had something to do with that – Bazball speeds up the game – but it’s definitely been a result venue. A forecast with a bit of rain around wouldn’t be a disaster either because if it’s grey and muggy, batting is exceptionally difficult here.
RECOMMENDED BET:
There’s no surprise to see England as favourites on home soil, but the 1.83 doesn’t jump off the page as good value here in my opinion. There’s been a tonne of issues off the field to work through, and coming off an Ashes hammering, they’ve got three uncapped players in the squad, real uncertainty at the top of the order, and crucially no Jofra Archer in the attack either. New Zealand impressed in Ireland, and while I know Ireland aren’t in the best place in Test cricket, it was a good warm up that should leave them spot on for this. They have the bowlers to do real damage against England in these conditions, and they look the value call at 3.35.
The Edge Says: Two points win New Zealand to beat England at 3.35 with Betdaq Exchange.
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Test match trading at Lord’s is all about the new ball periods and the overhead conditions. It generally pays to support the batting side when the sun is out, and support the bowlers when there’s cloud cover. The strongest early angle for me is taking on the England top order in helpful morning conditions - its an unsettled line-up against a New Zealand attack that’s in rhythm and knows how to bowl in England. Lord’s has really turned into a result venue in recent years too, so it would be nice to get a low draw lay in – it’s trading 6.2 at the moment but if we see it trade sub 3.0, I’d be happy to be against it.
🏴 England v New Zealand 🇳🇿
▶️ 1st Test
🏏 Our cricket expert The Edge previews the start of the English summer 👇
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The English summer of cricket officially gets under way on Betdaq with the 1stTest between England and New Zealand on Thursday at Lord’s. This is the first of three Tests, and it forms part of the current World Test Championship cycle, but all the talk around this series will still revolve around off-field matters. This is their first Test since the Ashes disaster - a 4-1 hammering in Australia that was effectively done and dusted with two matches to spare, by what was billed as the best England squad to tour Down Under in years. The fallout has been brutal. The ECB review concluded with Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key all keeping their jobs, and that decision went down like a lead balloon in some quarters.
Michael Atherton said fans would find it “extraordinary” that nobody lost their job, and Geoffrey Boycott was furious, as always! Throw in questions about dressing room culture, the off-field issues on tour, and the picture painted after the Ashes was quite bleak. There’s also been plenty of noise between the international set-up and the counties; which has been a huge issue for McCullum and Key to be honest. They have since been doing the rounds trying to smooth things over, and the message this time has been that County Championship form will actually matter. That’s reflected in the squad – three uncapped players in Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker and James Rew have been rewarded for domestic runs and wickets, while Zak Crawley’s spot at the top of the order and Shoaib Bashir’s place are both under real scrutiny.
New Zealand, by contrast, arrive in good order and with their feet under the table. They’ve just warmed up by absolutely hammering Ireland in Belfast - an innings-and-79-run win wrapped up inside three days at Stormont. Tom Blundell helped himself to 186, Rachin Ravindra got a century as they recovered from a wobble at 86 for 4 on the first morning. How much that warm-up is worth is debatable; Ireland have no domestic red ball cricket system and their players only play a handful of times a year because of money issues with the board. New Zealand might have been better served warming up against a County side. Nevertheless, a fascinating Test awaits. England need results this year with everyone under pressure.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Lord’s is a cracking place to start a summer. As we know these days, Lord’s is all about what cloud cover we have – no clouds and the wicket is quite flat – but the ball can do plenty when there’s cloud cover and a bit of moisture about, and the slope at Lord’s helps the seamers get the ball moving both ways. That makes the day-to-day forecast very important and obviously the toss too. Lord’s has turned into a result venue; the last nine Tests here have had a result. Indeed, from the last 27 Tests there’s only been four results. I know the way England play Test cricket has had something to do with that – Bazball speeds up the game – but it’s definitely been a result venue. A forecast with a bit of rain around wouldn’t be a disaster either because if it’s grey and muggy, batting is exceptionally difficult here.
RECOMMENDED BET:
There’s no surprise to see England as favourites on home soil, but the 1.83 doesn’t jump off the page as good value here in my opinion. There’s been a tonne of issues off the field to work through, and coming off an Ashes hammering, they’ve got three uncapped players in the squad, real uncertainty at the top of the order, and crucially no Jofra Archer in the attack either. New Zealand impressed in Ireland, and while I know Ireland aren’t in the best place in Test cricket, it was a good warm up that should leave them spot on for this. They have the bowlers to do real damage against England in these conditions, and they look the value call at 3.35.
The Edge Says: Two points win New Zealand to beat England at 3.35 with Betdaq Exchange.
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Test match trading at Lord’s is all about the new ball periods and the overhead conditions. It generally pays to support the batting side when the sun is out, and support the bowlers when there’s cloud cover. The strongest early angle for me is taking on the England top order in helpful morning conditions - its an unsettled line-up against a New Zealand attack that’s in rhythm and knows how to bowl in England. Lord’s has really turned into a result venue in recent years too, so it would be nice to get a low draw lay in – it’s trading 6.2 at the moment but if we see it trade sub 3.0, I’d be happy to be against it.
World Cup 2026 Group C Betting Preview
Group C opens on June 13th on Betdaq and its Samba time! All the talk around this Group will be about Brazil – Neymar Jr getting the call only added fuel to the fire too. Brazil usually come into a World Cup as favourites, but they haven’t been a force for a while now and we have three sides currently trading shorter – Spain 6.0, France 6.0 and England are 8.2 before we get to Brazil trading 10.5. The five-time world champions will still be a massive talking point though, especially under the management of the most decorated coach in Champions League history in Carlo Ancelotti. Add in Scotland making their first World Cup appearance since 1998 - with real quality through the spine of the team and a nation absolutely buzzing – and we have a cracking Group.
Group C
· Brazil
· Morocco
· Scotland
· Haiti
Brazil (FIFA Ranking: 6th)
Brazil qualified through the CONMEBOL round robin, finishing fifth in the South American standings - a qualification campaign that was underwhelming for a nation of their stature. They lost a third of their matches and finished ten points behind world champions Argentina. However, if any appointment was designed to shake off the cobwebs and restore belief, it was the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti in May 2025. The man who has delivered five Champions League titles as a manager knows exactly how to get the best out of elite attacking talent. Obviously Brazil have a huge number of stars, but that brings its own problems too. Vini Jr has clearly been a negative force in the Real Madrid dressing room this season – you have another huge ego with Neymar Jr too. Barcelona's Raphinha has been in the form of his life this season. Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle is among the best midfielders in the world. Marquinhos at PSG anchors the defence. They should sail through this Group to be honest; they are 1.33 to win Group C.
Morocco (FIFA Ranking: 8th)
It’s hard to believe Morocco are ranked 8thin the world, but here we are. The market will tell you the difference between them and Brazil are to how it rates the sides! That being said, Morocco are a top class side these days. Morocco are no longer a surprise package and come into the World Cup 60.0 to win it - everyone knows exactly what they are capable of after Qatar 2022, when they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup Semi-Final, knocking out Spain and Portugal along the way. They have since been crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions and their qualifying campaign for this tournament was nothing short of immaculate - eight wins from eight games, 22 goals scored and just two conceded. They did have a weak Group though in fairness. They have captain Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid, and they should comfortably finish second behind Brazil in this Group.
Scotland (FIFA Ranking: 43rd)
Scotland qualifying is a great story; and no doubt we’ll have some fantastic scenes from their fans. That being said, this World Cup is very expensive for the supporting fans, which is a shame. That’s America for you. They are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 - a 28-year absence that felt at times like it might never end - and they qualified in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. They topped UEFA Group C containing Denmark, Greece and Belarus, but it came down to the final game at Hampden Park. Classic Scotland; but they fully deserved their place – they have been superb for a few years now. The squad is genuinely the best Scotland have had in a generation. Scott McTominay is arguably the star - the former Manchester United midfielder transformed himself entirely at Napoli. They will be hopeful of getting a result against Morocco, and getting into that second spot. The key to any success is winning the opener against Haiti, which is an absolute must.
Haiti (FIFA Ranking: 83rd)
Haiti's story is one of the most remarkable qualification journeys of the entire tournament. They are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974 - a 52-year absence - having topped CONCACAF qualifying Group C, finishing ahead of Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Weak sides, but in fairness with the World Cup expanded – sides like Haiti have obviously had the benefit. Due to the ongoing turmoil and instability in the country, Haiti were forced to play all their home qualifying matches at neutral venues, so fair played to them getting here. It is a superb achievement, but they are miles out of their depth all the same – it would be a surprise if they managed to get a point, but they do deserve credit for getting to a World Cup.
Who Will Top Group C And Who Will Qualify From Group C?
Brazil are the red-hot favourites to win Group C, trading around 1.33 to top the Group. No surprises there, and to be honest it would be a massive shock if they didn’t top the Group. Morocco come in as the clear second favourites at around 5.8, with Scotland at 13.0 and Haiti a remote 100.0+ outsider. It’s hard to see past Brazil here, so from a betting point of view this Group isn’t as exciting as Group A or Group B where we had nice bets on offer.
The real interest here might be the fight for second place between Morocco and Scotland. Morocco are the clear market favourites for second spot and it is not hard to see why; however Scotland have made real progress in recent years and they do have a once in a lifetime squad for this tournament. The key fixture for qualification is then Scotland v Morocco on June 19th. Scotland have a very favourable schedule in my opinion, opening against Haiti, which is essentially a must win obviously, before taking on Morocco and then facing Brazil in the final game when they might have already secured qualification. McTominay is in the form of his life, maybe he can drag Scotland into second here but they are in a good position for one of the eight best third finishes given they should be able to hammer Haiti.
The Ultra Says: No Bet here.