Matt Brocklebank has the best bets from around the tracks in the UK this Monday.
Monday selections
I AIN'T YOUR MATE - 2.30 Hereford (NAP)
Rodney and Pepe Le Moko bring respectable form to the table in Hereford's handicap chase but I AIN'T YOUR MATE is lurking on a dangerous mark at the weight of the weights on handicap debut. Christian Williams' charge has some eyecatching point-to-point form, including a neck second to current Supreme favourite El Cairos, and he promises to really enjoy this step up in trip having qualified with three novice/maiden hurdle runs at the start of the year. The last of those outings over timber saw him finish fourth (of 14) to The Sainted Canary (now rated 112) and that form brings him right into the equation having been allotted just 100 for his first go in a handicap.
KINGKEER - 15:40 Lingfield
KINGKEER definitely lost his way for Hughie Morrison but he's joined an in-form yard in Simon Dow and is looking nicely handicapped again having gone off 2/1 favourite at Windsor off this mark of 73 in May before filling the runner-spot at Kempton the following month. If he's back to anything like that sort of form, the unexposed son of Kingman should still have more to offer on all-weather surfaces and perhaps the drop back to a mile for the first time will also help spark a resurgence on his return to the the fold.
MART - 18:30 Wolverhampton
MART looks the one to be on in Wolverhampton's seven-furlong handicap. He's won four times off higher marks than his current 67 throughout the past couple of years and looked on the way back to peak form when beaten just a length into fourth over six furlongs at Lingfield on New Year's Eve. This longer trip is a new challenge but one he might just appreciate at this stage of his career and the booking of in-form jockey Neil Callan looks a plus too.
Tuesday selections
BIG ZOUK - 14:48 Ayr (NAP)
BIG ZOUK may have come up short, having been well backed, in two hurdles starts since joining Nicky Richards this season, but the point-to-point winner was bred to be a chaser and could find significant improvement now his attentions have been turned to the larger obstacles. He runs off the same mark (96) as when third behind Snowrocco, who has scored again since off 11lb higher, last month and this 0-100 contest looks a touch weaker if anything.
LETHAL NYMPH - 16:15 Newcastle
Heavenly Heather is going to be popular here running off 4lb higher than when winning over six furlongs here last month, but Tracy Waggott's mare has never raced over the minimum trip and faces a useful rival here in six-time winner LETHAL NYMPH. His latest success came over this course and distance in November and he was a shade unlucky (blocked in the run) when a close third in his follow-up bid. He's been a bit below that level since but will be happier back down in trip and could be hard to peg back if getting a decent early position in this small field.
INVITED - 18:00 Southwell
INVITED did admittedly get a soft-ish lead when providing Billy Loughnane with his milestone winner at Lingfield on New Year's Eve, but I liked the horse's attitude through the final furlong and, having gone up just 2lb for the neck victory, he's still able to compete at 0-85 level for the time being. A course winner around this time last year, he won't mind the switch back to Southwell and seven furlongs shouldn't post any problems on this surface either. He's backed to go in again at the chief expense of Shiplake, who went up 7lb for winning a Class 5 event here in November.
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2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Silver Thorn 3/1
- Merrimack 13/8 (NAP)
- My Champion 11/4
- Fasol 4/1
- Nebras 7/2
- Mapledurham 5/2
- Soldierofthestorm 9/4
- Lake Como 11/10
- Ballymackie 5/6 (NAP)
- Kruger Park 3/1
- Indeevar Blue 9/2
- Kitzbuhel 13/8
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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