Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day
By Sporting Life
12:00 · THU May 23, 2024
Matt Brocklebank has the Thursday selections with the Nap running on Sandown's evening card.
On the face of it, NAVAGIO took a real backward step in the Spring Cup, having made a pleasing start to his time with James Horton with a good third in the Lincoln, but Newbury appeared to go wrong from the outset and he looks worth another chance off a 1lb lower mark here. He could never get into a challenging position after missing a beat at the start last time but he's got a decent drawn in six over the mile course at Sandown, with Ryan Moore in for the ride for the first time. Any more rain in the area would be a welcome bonus and I like the switch to a turning course as he put in some excellent efforts around a bend in Ireland last year, including wins at Gowran and Limerick.
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SEASMOKE - 2.58 Market Rasen
SEASMOKE travelled like a very well-handicapped horse before his run rather flattened out at Ludlow a month ago but he's surely going to be a major force (off the same mark) if settling a little better through the early stages on this occasion. The lightly-raced six-year-old was having his first run since January at Ludlow so perhaps it'll have blown the cobwebs away and it's hard to imagine the forecast rain will prove to be a negative for this son of Flemensfirth.
DAZY MAZY - 4.10 Catterick
It was good to firm at the 48-hour declaration stage but there's going to be some ease in conditions come race time at Catterick and that should help DAZY MAZY, who won tidily on soft ground at Doncaster late last month. That represented a decent step forward from her comeback run when fifth at Thirsk earlier in April and there must be a chance - after just four turf starts in her life - that she improves again to shrug off the 6lb rise in the ratings. Stall four looks a handy spot for her to stalk the pace and pounce close home.
GENESIUS - 5.20 Lingfield
Sir Mark Prescott's horses are evidently clicking into gear now and GENESIUS looks well worth chancing on his seasonal debut. The seven-year-old ended the last campaign with a string of placed efforts over this sort of trip and, having won after a break last summer, he's probably one to catch when fresh. All ground comes alike and he looks well placed here in this 0-75 handicap on the Lingfield turf.
POPULAR DREAM - 6.47 Chelmsford
With Eeh Bah Gum, Mick's Spirit, Dark Side Prince and Chief Navy in the line-up, it looks like this is going to be run at a really good gallop and it might play into the hands of POPULAR DREAM. He ended his time with James Tate on a bit of a downer but has made a promising start since switching yards and almost broke his duck when beaten a neck by Dark Side Prince over this course and distance at the end of March. He's a pound better off with that rival now and can reverse the placings on such terms.
Friday's selections
JUANA INES – 3.00 Goodwood (NAP)
We know trainers are creatures of habit but it seems their sons are too with Harry Charlton taking the Roger route with King’s Gambit in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
Charlton snr used to target Goodwood’s May meetings with aplomb as well, so with the stable in good form JUANA INES is on the radar for the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap on Friday.
This Lope De Vega filly finished close up behind the 95-rated Scenic on her British debut at Ascot last autumn, giving her 6lb, so a mark of 84 could be on the lenient side on handicap debut.
D FLAWLESS – 2.40 Haydock
Experience could be vital in the fillies’ novice at Haydock in likely soft ground and, with two runs under her belt, D FLAWLESS can win it for John & Thady Gosden.
The daughter of Make Believe has run well in two starts on the all-weather, winning at odds of 1/6 at Chelmsford last time on the back of an encouraging second at Kempton.
In against a load of newcomers here, she can put those experiences to good use and you would think the soft ground will be no inconvenience to her judging by her pedigree.
CATCH THE LIGHT – 5.00 Bath
Andrew Balding’s 500,000gns filly CATCH THE LIGHT can start repaying her price tag in the FG Bond Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Bath.
This daughter of Siyouni gave the impression she would improve for a bit of time when third behind Oaks hopeful Seaward at Ascot last September and that’s what she’s been given after 259 days off.
Balding’s Bath runners are to be respected at this time of year – he has a 25% strike-rate at this track in the month of May – and this Cheveley Park-owned filly is his only representative on the card.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN – 5.55 Hereford
David Pipe’s BEHIND THE CURTAIN can draw profits for punters in the staying handicap hurdle at Hereford.
The 10-year-old isn’t the quickest but he hinted he might have a race in him off this mark at this level at this track last time when he was only run out of first place late on.
MILBANKE – 8.45 Pontefract
MILBANKE could be hard to catch in the closing FBS Chartered Accountants Handicap at Pontefract.
Julie Camacho’s five-year-old has a first and second from three starts at Pontefract to his name and, while all those runs were over six furlongs, he has the early boot for five.
The trip should make up Ryan Sexton’s mind up for him in terms of tactics and if he’s fit enough after six months off – and he’s gone well fresh before – he can land the finale.
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