Ian Ogg has the Friday and Saturday best bets with today's Nap in action at Aintree.
Friday selections
SHERMINATOR - 17:15 Aintree (NAP)
A trip to Fairyhouse was in the offing before the Irish handicapper allotted SHERMINATOR a higher mark than his BHA rating but connections may not have to wait long for compensation. The jockey booking obviously takes the eye for this progressive individual whose form is working out well on the whole. He was behind now stablemate Trustintimes (declared for the first) on debut but has improved from start to start, beating the re-opposing Star Of Guiting and recent Wincanton winner Laughing John on his hurdles bow and has continued on the up for Harry Fry with subsequent winners behind on his last two starts. He could well be hiding a secret or two from the handicapper and his prominent run style should be suited to this track.
WILLIAM YEATS - 16:45 Sedgefield
A chance is taken that Sam England has WILLIAM YEATS ready to roll on his handicap and stable debut. Second in his point to one now with Donald McCain and rated 116, William Yeats showed ability in two modest course bumpers before going hurdling. He's cut little ice in three starts in that sphere but that is reflected in his handicap mark (96) and he appeared to be learning on the job and it would be no surprise if his new yard reaped the benefit of those lessons.
ASMEN WARRIOR - 17:00 Thirsk
A poor run at Ascot on his penultimate start suggests any rain (although cheekpieces were swopped out for a visor) would be a negative for ASMEN WARRIOR who ran his best race since joining James Owen at Kempton last time. On a career high mark, he does have it to prove as his trainers have only managed to get one win out of him which is a poor return for a horse with his talent but this looks a fair opening for Asmen Warrior and perhaps Luke Morris will be able to get the best out of him.
SPLIT ELEVENS - 19:30 Wolverhampton
With the John Butler stable in tip-top form and SPLIT ELEVENS back down to his last winning mark, perhaps a fifth course win is in the offing. He's had a very busy time of things until a less frenetic second half to 2025 but the breaks don't appear to have done him any harm judged by promising runs at Southwell and here last time. The latest effort was his second run back from a lay-off of over 100 days so he's entitled to build on that and could be poised to strike.
Saturday selections
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HILLWALK - 16:40 Chepstow (NAP)
Some solid form in bumpers and between the flags is enough to believe that HILLWALK could be fairly treated for this handicap debut. He was a 2/1 chance and running well when falling in a point won by Koktail Brut which is a strong piece of form and then chased home the useful Sinnatra in a course bumper (third rated 112) before disappointing in that sphere. He can race a little too keenly but there have been glimmers of promise in his three hurdles starts, certainly enough to believe that he has more than enough scope to make light of a rating of 95 if settling better.
GOOD TO BE ALIVE - 13:20 Aintree
Sean Bowen rides stablemate Hold The Serve and that may contribute to GOOD TO BE ALIVE being overlooked in the market. He impressed on debut for Gordon Elliott but achieved little in his next two starts before the owners moved him to Olly Murphy and he's looked a work in progress for the Warwickshire handler for whom he's yet to run a bad race, finishing second to three useful sorts and winning the other. He looks to have been crying out for a stiffer test which he will get here with the step up in trip and long home straight expected to prove ideal and can prove ahead of his mark.
BUST A MOVE - 15:25 Newcastle
Are you ready to take a leap of faith? One is certainly required on the form that BUST A MOVE has shown this season but his gambled on victory over C&D was only three starts ago and although more than a year has passed, it's too soon to be giving up on him. The market may well guide and he was very easy to back at Huntingdon when, again, far too keen and failing to get home but he's on a fair mark, remains unexposed and left the impression in victory that he was capable of a good deal better.
BRAVE NATION - 17:40 Yarmouth
BRAVE NATION has a fairly modest strike rate but there are mitigating circumstances as he was rated over 100 in his juvenile season and struggled at three. He won twice at Doncaster at four off marks of 79 and 80, rising to 86 and posted a series of respectable efforts in defeat last season from a rating that dropped incrementally, including when second over this C&D off 81. He returns to action off 77 so is rated to win again and may be ready to fire first time up with his stable having made a fast start to the turf season.
FORT AUGUSTUS - 19:15 Southwell
The handicapper has given FORT AUGUSTUS every chance and the addition of cheekpieces may help him shed his maiden at the eighteenth attempt. That's not the most auspicious sentence but he has run well at this track and has made a solid start - it's all relative - to 2026 for his current stable. His mark has tumbled from 75 (October '24) to 53 and he's down a stone from his debut for Charlie Wallis in November. He's already proved he can be competitive from around this rating and the headgear may just be the missing piece of the jigsaw.
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2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Peaky Blinder 5/4
- Ferret Jeeter 4/5
- Secret Des Dieux 5/2
- Ballynaheer 5/1
- Overabottleofred 9/4
- Storm Point 4/1 (NAP)
- Simplify 13/2
- Tyson 8/11
- Service Minimum 8/15 (NAP)
- Jack Hyde 7/4
- Power Fizz 2/1 (NAP)
- Daylatedollarshort 9/4
- Codetalker 6/1
- Alther Warden 2/1
- Joyeaux Machin 7/2
- Rath Gaul Hill 100/30
- Magnetude evens (NAP)
- Boultydoolin 8/11 (NAP)
- Hello Sweety 6/5
- Cuban Court 10/11
- Yorkshire Glory 6/5
- Madara 3/1 (NAP)
- Champion Again Ole 7/4
- Let It Rain 5/2 (NAP)
- Kap Vert 6/5
- Elements Of Fire 4/1
- Scorpio Rising 9/2 (NAP)
- Falco Des Pins 9/5
- Platin Moon 11/4
- Bergamo Gold 17/2
- Nikovo 15/8
- Saffron Dandy 25/1
- Blue Carpet 5/1
- I Am Me 2/1
- Delgany Deadline 3/1 (NAP)
- Kool Kid 9/4
- La Luna Artista 15/2 (NAP)
- Bank On Frank 2/1 (NAP)
- Forglen 5/2
- Pretending 10/1 (NAP)
- Flowstate 100/30
- Milcree 85/40 (NAP)
- Borgi 8/1 (NAP)
- Kel Du Large 3/1
- Wicksey 11/8
- Alondra 8/1
- Himself 5/4
- Maria Da Silva 7/4
- Ballin Boy 9/2
- Harbour Vision 6/1
- La Higuera 5/2 (NAP)
- Lord Capulet 6/4
- Made U Blush 11/2 (NAP)
- Eupator 11/8
- Kazar Forez 5/6
- Newton Tornado 9/2
- Ladronne 6/4
- Bel Ombre 85/40
- Morrophore 6/5
- Lewisham Grove 9/4
- Maximising 15/2
- Big Zouk 11/8 (NAP)
- 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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