NAP of the Day: Cracking chance for Kelso success

Plenty of excellent jumps are in store across the UK and Ireland with three meetings taking place on Sunday.

They go at Kelso, Huntingdon and Cork – with the Borders National, Peterborough Chase and Hilly Way Chase the featured races respectively at each venue.

Our NAP of the Day is returning to the scene of his best performance and could be set for more Kelso glory.

Sunday's card at Kelso is headlined by the Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase where trainer Sandy Thomson will be aiming to bag the big prize again.

He trains less than 10 miles away and makes this card and this race central to his whole season, as evidenced by winning five of the last eight Borders Nationals, most recently with Flower Of Scotland two years ago. That mare has an excellent chance again from a 7lb lower mark now, despite struggling to find her best form since.

Earlier on the card, our NAP sees another performer with a big-race Kelso success in his back catalogue in the form of CRACKING RHAPSODY.

The Ewan Whillans-trained inmate won the Morebattle Hurdle over course and distance back in March, pocketing a prize of more than £60k for connections. That took his form figures over timber at this venue to 211.

He went up 9lb in the ratings for his troubles and was denied only by a length when finishing third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April on his next start behind smart performers Favour And Fortune and Bialystok.

On his comeback at Hexham in October he ran well for a long way, shaping as though he would come on for the run.

His one start since saw him well fended off in what looked a high quality renewal of the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month as the likes of Burdett Road, Be Aware and Dysart Enos battled it out.

The handicapper has relented, easing the five-year-old a generous 2lb in the ratings as he prepares for this return to his favoured venue.

Rider Craig Nichol has been in excellent form in recent weeks, boasting a 6-25 record, and should have plenty of cause for optimism as Cracking Rhapsody drops in class for this Bring Out The Best By Belhaven Handicap Hurdle back at the Borders venue. 

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