Nap of the Day: 11/8 Hombre can be the man on Thursday

It was a frustrating start to 2025 for followers of my Nap of the Day column as Salver fell at the last when bang in contention in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

However, the wait for a winner hopefully won't be long, for I've got high hopes about Thursday's selection up in Scotland.

I'm pleasantly surprised that HOMBRE DE GUERRA is, at time of publication, odds-against for this novices' handicap chase over an extended two miles at Ayr.

Nick Alexander's seven-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune was a fairly modest hurdler, but he made a highly-encouraging debut over fences at Carlisle last month that suggested he's rather well-handicapped off a lowly mark of 112.

He was just five lengths behind Paul Nicholls' 151-rated Caldwell Potter, off level weights, in Cumbria, finishing over three lengths clear of his other five rivals - including the reopposing Imaginary Dragon who was pulled-up.

It would be unwise to take that form literally and suggest the selection is a 140+ horse, because Harry Cobden was motionless on top of the vastly-superior winner, but there's certainly depth to it.

The third-placed Grand Albert won his subsequent start by 25 lengths - helped by his main market rival unseating at the 14th of 19 fences - and is now rated 130, while the fourth-placed Taras Halls hacked up by 15 lengths at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. His rating is yet to be reassessed, but I'd imagine it'll be around 120.

I think it's fair to suggest the selection ran to at least 120 at Carlisle on his chasing debut and first appearance after wind surgery. That's a big step up on anything he achieved over flights.

There ought to be more improvement to come on Thursday, as he goes straight into handicap company against modest rivals. It's no surprise connections have decided to come here over Newcastle on Saturday in a higher grade.

Park Annonciade is the only danger in my book. He was going okay when departing three out in a decent contest at Doncaster a few weeks back, but it was too early to estimate how he'd have fared if staying on his feet and that's now three DNFs in as many starts in this sphere. He's unreliable.

Even with a clear round, I refuse to believe he's anywhere near as well-handicapped as the selection and therefore Hombre De Guerra rates a confident Nap.

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