MLT
Saturday August 31st 08.03am 🚀 NAP is POSITIVE 3.35 Sandown @ 11/10 Bet365
Result - WON 💣
Clive Cox’s Positive’s form is mightily strong, last time out, he came second to a world class sprinter in Pinatubo at Glorious Goodwood. He also beat Aiden O’Brien’s Lope Y Fernandez by 5 lengths who consequently bolted up at the Curragh yesterday looking a very impressive colt.
He should progress even more today and if he does it is very hard to see him getting beat.
Adam Kirby takes the ride on this Dutch Art colt.
Thursday August 29th 09.06am 🚀 NAP is ITS GOOD TO LAUGH 2.50 Ffos Las @ 5/4 Paddy Power, Betfair, Betvictor
Result - Won 💣(20p Rule 4 = Evens)
This Tamayuz colt was rather expensive coming from a relatively small sire, he cost 100k euros and is obviously highly rated. He ran very well on debut, only beaten by half a length and stayed on very encouragingly. He looks the stand out in this race and if he improves like he should he should win nicely.
Wednesday August 28th 09.55am 🚀 NAP is NARAK 3.20 Catterick @ 7/4 Bet365.
Result - 2nd
George Scott's filly showed plenty of promise in her last run over 7f at Ripon at the end of July. She is out of the Group 1 winning Dam Chachamaidee and has a lovely pedigree. She should improve plenty which could see her take this contest.
Connor Beasley takes the ride.
Tuesday August 27th 11.22am 🚀 NAP is ROSARDO SENORITA 5.00 Musselburgh @ 11/10 Bet365, Ladbrokes
Result -2nd
This is a 700 mile round trip from Newmarket for Rae Guest who is excellent with fillies. She has form over this trip and looks a promising sort.
She made an encouraging debut at Salisbury 12 days ago staying on nicely into 3rd and not knocked about.
Andrew Breslin takes the ride.
Monday August 26th 11.55am 🚀 NAP is FILBERT STREET 1.50 Southwell @ 9/4 Bet365, Skybet
Result 7th
Filbert Street makes his debut for the Appleby yard today and looks like he will go very close.
Recently with Roy Brotherton, Filbert Street should relish the change of scenery and is likely to go well at a track the trainer has a very good record at.
Alistair Rawlinson takes the ride.
Saturday August 24th 8.25am 🚀 NAP is BABY ZEUS 12.50 Killarney @ 7/4 Bet365/PaddyPower/BetVictor @ 8.34am
Result 2nd
Coolmoore stallion Footstepsinthesand is enjoying a cracking season and with recent impressive 2 year old winners Threat, Mums Tipple, Impressor and Govenor Of Punjab amongst others he will be popular over the next few weeks at the yearling sales coming up.
He may well have another on his hands with BABY ZEUS who turned over a 2/9 O'Brien horse on debut but that was after a poor start and coming wide and late.
What was also eye catching though was the trainer interview after when Ger Lyons said "he is a month from being fully wound up" and that was 38 days ago.
He has a penalty but so does today's Fav Raven's Cry (who has Moyglare entry and is to be respected). Zoom Zoom Babe (no Group entries) is another from Footstepsinthesand and she gets 10lb from the selection and may prove to be a danger but Baby Zeus has two Group 2 entries coming up and he may well be special.
Friday August 23rd 11.47am 🚀 NAP is BOWLING RUSSIAN 6.05 Goodwood @ 10/3 Ladbrokes/Coral/BetVictor/BetFred
Result 4th
Disputed lead on debut at Windsor until final furlong but ran out of steam looking in need of the run and experience.
Ran a solid race on second start when 5th behind Fleeting Prince (ran in £147k sales race yesterday and holds Group 1 & 2 entries). 2nd & 3rd that day have both won since and those first three home all had the favoured rail whereas Bowling Russian was forced wide at an inconvenient time.
His third and last start was his best yet however when 5th behind Cobra Eye (several Group entries coming up) with second horse Fuwayrit winning NTO and 4th placed Impressor also winning NTO (Nap selection that day having been involved with scrimmaging with the today's selection).
Up to 7f with ground slow side of good tonight and his opening mark of just 70 could prove very lenient for a trainer whose last 11 handicap debutants has produced 4 winners and for a colt whose pedigree also suggests a step up to 7f can only help.
Thursday August 22nd 9.09am 🚀 NAP is WHEN COMES HERE 3.25 Chepstow @ 6/4 Bet365.
Result 3rd
Lawman colt who has put in some solid performances without reward so far.
A decent second to Eton College at Brighton two runs ago having conceded the rail and the lead to Mark Johnstons winner. He travelled well and traded 1.17 at the furlong pole (that was 6f, 5f today)
LTO he had a wide draw at Goodwood over 7f and was never placed to strike a blow but today is dropped right back to a straight 5f which looks ideal and the Chepstow undulations should be ok as they caused no adverse effect at Brighton.
Technically he is 3lb wrong with the paper fav Don't Stop Dancing, despite getting 4lb, but he stole the rail when winning here over 6f and while that form has worked out well he will do well to fend off the Nap with the stalls centre.
Wednesday August 21st 10.59am 🚀 NAP is CRYSTAL OCEAN 3.35 York @ 11/8 PaddyPower/Betfair/Skybet/Bet365/Unibet.
Result 2nd
Clearly the one they have to beat after his epic battle when trying to give 3lb to superstar Enable at Ascot. Ultra consistent (8 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 16 starts) and seems to be at the top of his game and better than ever this year judging by his four start this season.
Looks set for more silverware and will take an incredible performance from one of his rivals today to stop him landing another Group 1.
King Of Comedy (up in trip finally) and Japan may battle it out for the places but would be a shock if either were capable of beating the Nap who easily gets the vote today.
Tuesday August 20th 8.35am 🚀 NAP is LADY MASCARA 4.10 Brighton @ 9/4 PaddyPower/Betfair
Result - WON 💣
Given three easy runs for handicap mark and seemed to have great chance on handicap debut but massive market drifter (2/1 to 6/1). Seemed to get outpaced having looked likely winner before running on again to the line.
Dropped 1lb for that and ran well off 69 at Nottingham again upped to 10f but pipped in a photo having traded odds on in running, the pair clear of the field.
On her last start at Sandown she again traded odds on in running (1.55) but found the stiff finish beyond her finishing a respectable third in a fair looking event.
This 'Maiden Handicap' today looks her easiest task to date and can break her duck with Tom Marquand taking over in the saddle on a track that may well suit her style more.
Monday August 19th 11.53am 🚀 NAP is MAURICIO 5.35 Catterick @ 9/4 Bet365
Result - 5th
Dr Richard Newland trained hurdle winner who has won his last two flat races, albeit two years apart.
The ground should be fine (won on all grounds including soft) and this is a gelding still looks on the to be fairly treated off 69.
He stayed on very well in the closing stages in his last win at Yarmouth and looks like the step up in trip to 1m4f will suit.
Serena Brotherton takes the ride today and she boasts an 18% strike rate and a positive ROI to SP over the past decade in handicaps.
Saturday August 17th 8.01am 🚀 NAP is VENTURA LIGHTNING 2.40 Ripon @ 11/10 Bet365
Result - WON 💣 SP 6/5
No Nay Never colt whose price soared from €37,000 to €165,000 after a very respectable breeze up at Arqana in May when showing a very good attitude to his work.
Overturned the 11/10 Fav on his debut when sent off 13/2 at Thrisk over 5f. He left the impression that 6f would be well within his range though and the softer surface today also looks sure to suit him more than today's main market rival Eton College.
Borsdale Wood gets a 5lb 'unraced' allowance but Karl Burkes tend to improve for a run and hopefully is not fully tuned up for today!
Friday August 16th 11.56am 🚀 NAP is SANDY STEVE 8.45 Chelmsford @ 11/8 Bet365 (6/4 Unibet)
Result - WON 💣 SP 6/4
Owner bred Aussie Rules gelding who was unraced at two and given three 7f blow outs in spring to obtain a mark of 56.
Ran well on handicap debut over inadequate looking 1mile behind handicap plot Potenza in June and dropped 2lb.
LTO at Brighton, upped to 10f, he travelled best but jockey was caught napping when the eventual winner stole a march and pinched a long lead. Flew home though only going down by 0.75 lengths and obliterating the rest of the field (4.5 lengths back to Fair Power in third).
One of 5 three year olds who get the 7lb WFA allowance and PJ McDonald is in fine form the last 2 years and was leading jockey at Glorious Goodwood earlier this month.
Should take all the beating assuming he handles polytrack ok and easily gets the Nap vote.
Thursday August 15th 11.31am 🚀 NAP is MON FRERE 4.10 Lingfield Salisbury @ 13/8 Bet365, William Hill, Betfred
Result - WON 💣
Mon Frere comes into this race off the back of a nice win at Chelmsford. The first time headgear seemed to do the trick and hopefully he can continue to improve here.
He’s proven on the surface and the form of his last took a boost with
second place Trouble Shooter winning at Thirsk last week.
Trainer Sir Mark Prescott is in decent form with 7 of his last 13 all weather handicaps winning and this should go very close.
Luke Morris takes the ride from stall 1.
Wednesday August 14th 11.20am 🚀 NAP is IMPRESSOR 2.20 Salisbury @ 15/8 Betvictor/Betfred
Result - WON 💣
This Footstepsinthesand colt put in a highly promising debut at Glorious Goodwood last month. He was hampered in running and still finished a terrific 4th, staying on well and outrunning his 20/1 odds.
He should’ve learnt a lot from his debut and should be a lot stronger for it.
Trainer Marcus Tregoning is in good form (his last two runners have won at prices of 11/4 and 11/8).
He has interesting entries in the Champagne Stakes (Group 2 at Doncaster) and the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2 Newbury) which shows connections must rate him highly and any forecast rain may not inconvenience him as much as his market rivals.
Monday August 12th 12.13pm 🚀 NAP is DANA FOREVER 7.50 Wolverhampton @ 11/4 Bet365/Boylesports/888Sports
Result- 2nd
Tom Dascombe trained Requinto filly who cost £55,000 from Goffs as a yearling.
She was only 4th/5 on debut but the winner Never In Paris was only beat 4 lengths in the Super Sprint (£123k to winner) and the second Exclusively had an O/R of 85.
On her only other start she finished second, again over 5f, to an Archie Watson colt but was flying home late on and today's step up to 6f back at the same venue/surface looks ideal.
All the morning money has been for the unraced James Tate filly Melodic Charm so she must clearly be going ok at home but at the current prices Dana Forever looks better value given her experience. Also when you consider Tate is only 6/96 with filly debutants while Dascombe has 11/70 last two years on 'third run' with a cracking profit of £77 to £1 stakes.
Sunday August 11th 10.33am 🚀 NAP is APLOMB 3.50 pm Leicester @ 6/5 Ladbrokes & Coral
Result - WON @ 2/1 SP 💣
This Lope De Vega gelding comes into this race on the back of two very good runs. One winning as a 6/4 favourite at Nottingham and one a decent 6th place finish in a hot race at Newmarket.
The surface should be absolutely fine for the William Haggas trained gelding and he should have too much for his rivals here.
Tom Marquand takes the ride today.
Saturday August 10th 9.17am 🚀 NAP is COUNTRY 4.05 pm Redcar @ 6/5 Bet365,William Hill, Betfair, PaddyPower
Result - WON @ 6/4 💣
The William Haggas’ trained Country has won his last two races rather easily and should win on his first handicap run.
He’s fitted with cheekpieces which should further enhance his performance.
This Dubawi gelding is an impressive animal and should have too much for this field.
He also has course form having won at Redcar earlier on this season.
Liam Jones takes the ride.
Friday August 9th 9.38am 🚀 NAP is BARCA 9.10 pm Chelmsford @ 6/4 Ladbrokes/BetVictor/Coral
Result - WON 💣
Cost $900,000 as a yearling and raced for AP O'Brien before moving on to Seamus Durack. His mark dropped from 77 to 70 but he was out of sorts on his 3 runs for him at trips ranging from 8-10f.
Switched again in February this year to Marcus Tregoning who gave him a blow out over 7f before gradually upping him in trip to 9f, 11f, and 12f whilst his mark plummeted. He ran his best race on all weather three starts ago when trapped wide the whole way round. He looked to have stolen it on the home turn but the Fav, who had an easy run round on the rail (3lb pull with him today), grabbed him late and he had to settle for 2nd, going down just a neck.
Two runs ago he was disappointing on the face of it (turf 5th/14) when sent off 5/1Fav but the winner hacked up 8 lengths and won again since and Barca is USA bred anyway.
Forum selection LTO upped again to 14f but let them get away at a critical point on the home turn before staying on strongly.
Now upped yet again and he may be drinking in the last chance saloon but everything looks perfect with a 3lb pull against the LTO winner off a mark of just 57 from stall 2.
Also Marcus Tregoning has a phenomenal record with horses upped in trip, actually showing a positive ROI even to SP.
Thursday August 8th 11.49am 🚀 NAP is MR KIKI @ 11/10 Betfair/PaddyPower (6/5 if you have an 888Sport account)
Result - WON 💣
€40,000 Euro foal but price soared to 450,000gns at the Tatts yearling sales (Book2).
Narrowly went down in a close four way finish at Ascot on debut two weeks ago. However he would surely have held a much better chance if he hadn't veered violently right as he left the stalls, losing ground but he recovered extremely well. Testament to his ability and went about his work well.
This looks a lot weaker on paper and should prove to be a good stepping stone to his Mill Reef (Group 2) entry for his connections.
Callum Shepherd rides for Michael Bell
Wednesday August 7th 10.08am 🚀 NAP is THE PINTO KID 7.30 Kempton @ 5/4 Bet365/Betvictor.
Result - 2nd
This James Fanshawe trained gelding absolutely loves Kempton having won his last three starts at the track. He last won there in June with an impressive display as a 9/2 shot. He's up 4lbs today but theres no reason he shouldn't defy that rise. He should improve again at his favourite track and maintain his 100% record there.
George Wood takes the ride.
Tuesday August 6th 10.50am 🚀 NAP is OASIS PRINCE 7.20 Ripon @ 7/4 WHills/Ladbrokes/PaddyPower/Bet365.
Result -3rd
Won 4 of his 9 starts, two in handicap company off 88 & 91. Crept up to 96 for last two outing finishing 6th and 2nd but had excuses on both and this looks an easier race. Two potential front runners in this small field and he should get a chance to take aim at them . Dropped back to a mile and Joe Fanning can get this Oasis Dream colt back into the winners enclosure for trainer Mark Johnston who is enjoying a purple patch.
Monday August 5th 10.25am 🚀 NAP is IRONCLAD 4.15 Kempton @ 11/10 Bet365/PaddyPower/Betfair.
Result 4th
Previous selection for us when winning in a Lucky15 @ 9/2, impressing again at Newmarket LTO. He battled on well but was a comfortable winner and was worth more than the winning margin may suggest.
Typical Dubawi colt improving with age and despite a 5lb higher mark he still looks well handicapped. Selino is another who will probably end up racing off a higher mark in the future but the gelding may well have to play second fiddle against Hugo Palmer's colt and may need further in time.
James Doyle rides Ironclad in the famous Khalid Abdullah silks
Sunday August 4th 10.01am 🚀 NAP is SERMON 2.00 Chester @ 6/4 Bet365
Result -2nd
Ran with credit on debut but no chance with the now rated 99 Dubai Station. Another solid effort when trying to make all on his second start, getting caught close home going down by just a neck.
His last start, 36 days ago, was over C&D but he had the widest draw around this sharp track and seemed to have thrown away any chance by veering right as he came out the stalls. However he soon got back into contention despite racing widest of all and went down in a four way blanket finish. Admittedly the form has not worked out great but today he has stall 2 and with some give underfoot he can out sprint his rivals to the line.
Trainer Tom Dascombe recent form figures reads very well - 2132111305510101003 (7 wins last 19 runners) and he has wasted no time giving the 'snip' to this son of Dark Angel.
Saturday August 3rd 10.47am 🚀 NAP is MUTAMAASIK 3.55 Chelmsford @ 11/8 Bet365/Unibet
Result - WON 💣
Unraced at two and gelded in November. Had the misfortune to bump into a race fit Land Of Legends at Kempton FTO, who then won NTO on handicap debut off 91 (now rated 96, runs today 4.50 Goodwood). However Mutamaasik looked potential superstar, not coming away well and racing wide.
He then also franked that line of form winning at Wolverhampton NTO, easily beating an 83 rated horse (7.5 lengths clear of third) with the minimum of effort.
He looks destined to go onto bigger things and despite stall 12 (statistically speaking that's not a bad draw anyway), the 6lb penalty and two fair colts in opposition he should comfortably hold the aces again.
Roger Varian's last seven runners on their third start have a phenomenal record finishing 1-1-2-1-1-0-1 and Jack Mitchell can make it 6/9
Friday August 2nd 10.31am 🚀 NAP is JUBILOSO @ 6/5 Ladbrokes/WilliamHill/BetFred/Bet365
Result - 3rd
Smart Shamardal three year old filly who won her first two starts very easily over 6 & 7f. Upped straight into Group 1 class in the Coronation Stakes (8f) at Royal Ascot. Again impressive finishing 3rd but this represents a big drop in class today.
Will take all the beating with a 6lb allowance back at 7f and with the low draw and the fresh strip of ground to help can land the prize granted a trouble free route through.
Ryan Moore takes the ride for Sir Michael Stoute.
Thursday August 1st 10.53am 🚀 NAP is HERMOSA 3.35 Goodwood @ 9/4 Skybet/BetFred
Result - Unplaced
Galileo filly who showed vast improvement from 2y/o to 3y/o when a 14/1 surprise all the way winner of the 1,000 Guineas in May. However proved that was no fluke when destroying the field easily in the Irish equivalent on her next start landing back to back Group 1s. In both those 1 mile races she was doing her best work inside the last furlong leaving the impression 10f would not be an issue.
On her last start at Ascot she was taken on for the lead from a wide draw and set the race up for a French raider who tracked the leaders before taking dead aim. Hermosa battled on well though and with no natural pace on today she may be able to stack them up before kicking on in the home turn and win this for the third time in four years for AP O'Brien.
Five of the field are in receipt of the 8lb WFA allowance and that may hinder the other four older horses chances.
Ryan Moore takes the ride and despite the criticism he gets and I'm always keener on the facts. In the last 10 years he is 15/49 over this C&D, an incredible 31% strike rate with an A/E of 1.29, I.V of 1.79 and ROI of 35%