Nap of the Day: Irish novice ‘ought to take plenty of beating’

We cross the Irish Sea for the Nap of the Day on Saturday, as a Gordon Elliott-trained novice hurdler is strongly fancied to earn a first win over obstacles.

Gordon Elliott's SERMANDZARAK ought to take plenty of beating at Navan on Saturday - and he rates a smashing bet at odds-against.

The Robcour-owned six-year-old fetched €80k as a store in June 2023 and made the perfect start under rules, winning a heavy-ground bumper at Punchestown eight months later. He actually finished second, but placed first due to the jockey of the other horse weighing in light.

He was tried in the lucrative Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival subsequently and claimed the €59k prize in game fashion, beating 24 rivals.

A well-earned summer break followed, before his hurdling debut back at the scene of his big bumper victory in November, over an extended 2m3f.

He was narrowly touched off by Henry de Bromhead's well-regarded Butch Cassidy, who was disappointing in the Lawlor's Of Naas subsequently. However, he was a significant drifter all day during a quiet time for the yard, so I wouldn't worry about that in regards to letting the form down. He's miles better than that.

Sermandzarak then went to Leopardstown over Christmas and was sent off 6/4f in a warm-looking maiden, but ran absolutely no race. Jockey Danny Gilligan said he never travelled and he reportedly coughed during a vet examination post-race, so a line can be put through that effort.

His second to Willie Mullins' Port Joulain in desperate conditions at Punchestown last time out can very much be considered a return to form. Despite looking a tricky ride, jumping poorly and racing lazily, he stayed on eye-catchingly to finish just over two lengths behind the winner.

A replication of that effort should be enough to win Saturday's race, but I expect a good amount of improvement for a couple of reasons.

He sports cheekpieces for the first time which will hopefully help him concentrate on the task at hand. He also steps up in trip, to an extended 2m6f, which I'm confident will suit. He certainly shapes like a proper stayer.

On top of all that, this is easily his most straightforward assignment of the season so far. By some distance.

He already has the measure of second-favourite Bossofthebrownies, beating him by 10 lengths last time out, while he's rated 15lbs superior to the third favourite. Flemensface (13/2) is given half a chance on the back of his second to an Albert Bartlett hopeful last time out, but half a chance is all it is.

Famous last words, but I see no negatives about Sermandzarak and expect him to open his account over hurdles at the fourth attempt.

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