Ian Ogg has the Thursday best bets with the Nap in action at York.
Thursday selections
WALSINGHAM - 14:55 York (NAP)
Sea Force was a big eyecatcher in the Thirsk Hunt Cup and, being drawn well and trained by William Haggas, will be rightly popular. However, a strike rate of two from 10 and a tendency to hang are off-putting and given he's likely to start a short-priced favourite, I'd rather side with WALSINGHAM who has more to offer for David O'Meara. He's won four of his 10 starts since arriving from Dermot Weld but is only 10 lbs higher and while this is more competitive, Walsingham looks capable of ranking higher granted an uninterrupted preparation, this his first clear spring since joining the yard according to connections.
GALLIVANTED - 14:40 Salisbury
Anniversary and Cruden are respected but preference is for GALLIVANTED who denied the latter by a nose at Goodwood. Cruden came from a long way back that day but the selection should again get the run of the race from the front and is, himself, open to further improvement after only three turf starts and with any softening of the ground unlikely to hinder him, can confirm the form.
MOYGANNY PHIL - 15:08 Perth
Olly Murphy has his horses in good nick and MOYGANNY PHIL can follow-up his recent success at Carlisle. One of three in the race for the Warwickshire handler, Moyganny Phil benefitted from the step up to this trip to open his account and it's encouraging that the only horse to have run since Cumbria - fourth home and beaten joint-favourite - has won his subsequent start and Moyganny Phil can go in again from just 2 lb higher.
BEL OMBRE - 18:10 Fontwell
Oakley was a facile winner at Hereford and, understandably, makes a quick return but another chance is given to the relatively unexposed BEL OMBRE who finished second in a competitive race at Perth despite racing too keenly. The application of a hood may help in that regard and, if successful, can aid Bel Ombre in recording a second career success having landed a gamble in fine style on his handicap bow at Taunton.
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Recent winners (Naps competition Apr 26 - )
- Hengest (9/2)
- Matty's Getaway (7/1)
- Star Cast (7/2)
- Split Elevens (7/2)
- Thorneylands 2/1 (dead-heat)
- Cobbler's Boy 5/6
- Ashen 5/4 (NAP)
- Shadow King 6/4
- Quiet Resolve 20/1
- Filibustering 11/8
- Jeffery's Cross 6/1
- Lux Aeterna 11/2
- Magician Of Riga 3/1
- As Fast As Wind 4/7
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