Nap of the Day: High hopes for 6/4 Skelton runner on Tuesday

I've returned from an extended weekend in Ireland visiting the Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins yards before taking in both days of Fairyhouse's Winter Festival, and I'm hoping to pick up from right where I left off.

My last four selections for this Nap of the Day column were successful, and we go to Southwell on Tuesday bidding for a five-timer.

After a highly-promising comeback run behind a very well-handicapped Fergal O'Brien inmate, Dan Skelton's MR HOPE STREET ought to pick up from where he left off last season with victory in this 0-120 handicap hurdle over an extended three miles.

The six-year-old son of Jet Away showed next to nothing in bumpers and novice hurdles during 2023, but he began to look progressive when sent handicapping over longer trips this spring.

He broke his duck in a 0-100 affair over 2m4½f at Market Rasen back in April off a mark of 91, and followed up off seven pounds higher at Uttoxeter a month later.

Fast-forward 151 days and the selection reappeared for the current season in a 0-110 contest at Carlisle, finishing just half a length behind the then 111-rated Plaisir Des Flos with the rest of his seven rivals over 13 lengths adrift.

The winner, who racked up a sequence of four victories earlier in the year, rising from a mark of 82 to 111, went close in a Class 3 at Cheltenham last month and is now rated 122, so the selection's rise of six pounds looks justified - perhaps even lenient.

With that run under his belt and further improvement very possible for tackling three miles for the first time, he has outstanding claims on Tuesday.

Although this is officially a step up in class, I'm not convinced it is in actuality. Craven Boy is up to a career-high mark of 122 for winning a modest race just eight days ago, while Toonagh Warrior has to defy a five-pound rise for finishing second. He appears to hold no secrets from the handicapper.

As for the other five runners, I'd be pretty disappointed if they were able to stop Mr Hope Street from making it three wins from four.

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find my Nap of the Day