Nap of the Day: 11/8 Jasmin to land four-timer on Tuesday

It's a quiet Tuesday on the racing front, but there was one runner at Southwell who piqued my interest and is selected as the Nap of the Day.

Anthony Honeyball's JASMIIN DE GRUGY recorded a hat-trick over just 23 days back in May and is fancied to pick up from where he left off as he makes his debut over fences at Southwell on Tuesday.

The five-year-old son of Masked Marvel was a fairly expensive (€82k) store purchase prior to three runs between the flags in spring last year, before as many frankly dreadful efforts in novice hurdles that autumn and into the winter.

He was awarded a lowly opening mark of 73 for those exploits and made instant and rapid progress through the handicap ranks, following up a solid second to the now 122-rated Plaisir Des Flos at Wincanton in March with a trio of wins - two at Ffos Las and one at Uttoxeter.

The last of those was off a mark of 101, a whopping 28lbs higher than just two months before, and he appeared to have more in the locker still. I think he's one of those types that just does enough, which is exactly what you want from an improving handicapper.

A rise of seven pounds, with fences hopefully bringing out further improvement, might not be enough to stop him. In a recent stable tour with the Racing Post, Honeyball said as much, suggesting "he should still have more scope off his mark and could be a smart staying chaser".

Of course, a chance is taken on fitness, but Honeyball is in fair form with three winners - all making their seasonal reappearances - from 13 runners (23 per cent strike rate) in the past fortnight.

For me, his main rival for this 0-110 handicap chase over 2m4½f is Jonjo & A J O'Neill's Imperial Bede, who dons the same green and gold silks of JP McManus.

He's undoubtedly well-handicapped on his best form, which includes a course and distance victory in February off a mark of 116, but his performances towards the end of last season were unrecognisable and the way he faded at Wetherby on his reappearance the other week is cause for concern.

Otherwise, it's a very winnable race in my book and hopefully Jasmin De Grugy can do just that.

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