Nap of the Day: Montgomery fancied for Haydock prize

There are three Monday meetings in the UK as the festive racing programme continues into the new week.

Jumps fare comes from Haydock and Taunton while there is all-weather racing at Wolverhampton into the evening. My Nap of the Day represents a Venetia Williams team fresh from a weekend double, now bidding to get his first win over a marathon trip.

Trainer Venetia Williams enjoyed a productive time in November, boasting a 24 per-cent strike-rate with eight wins from 33 runners.

L'homme Presse was a fair third in the King George on Boxing Day at Kempton as he returned from an absence and there was some proper festive cheer for the handler on Saturday with an across-the-card double at Newbury and Leicester via The Famous Five and Zertakt.

Regular pilot Charlie Deutsch was on board the former and will get the leg up on MONTGOMERY in the Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock on Monday afternoon.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding joined this yard from the Christian Williams team after just three spins over hurdles.

He made his fencing bow at Bangor (3m, heavy) in February and scored in good style before following up with further successes at Leicester (2m6½f, soft) and back over the previous course and distance at the Welsh layout.

He signed off a satisfactory first season over fences when down the field in the CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase during the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr in April, his mark having risen 22lb along the way.

He made his comeback at Sandown earlier this month, tackling a trip in excess of three-and-a-half miles for the first time.

That effort can be filed as satisfactory, beaten as was around six lengths in finishing fifth as Mr Vango took the London National prize under Nico de Boinville for trainer Sara Bradstock.

Montgomery has been left on a mark of 127 for that run and this race is likely going to be less demanding. He saw out the trip well enough in that return three weeks ago and should come on for the run.

Last-time-out Ascot runner-up The Big Breakaway and Fantastikas, third recently at Uttoxeter, are dangers for Anthony Charlton and Nigel Twiston-Davies respectively, but Montgomery can continue a good festive spell for his trainer by taking out this marathon contest.

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