Nap of the Day: Shilling can put Salisbury punters quids in

Just a few days to go until the best week in British Flat racing is upon us, but before Royal Ascot we have five meetings taking place in Britain and Ireland on Sunday.

There are four Flat fixtures, three of which are in Britain, with the latest leg of the Sunday Series taking place at Hamilton. Action is also happening at Doncaster and Salisbury and across the water at Gowran Park, while Ireland also hosts a jumps card at Downpatrick. Sunday’s Nap of the Day bids to get off the mark as she tries a shorter trip again following an encouraging run at Windsor last time.

BEATRICE SHILLING’S time might have come as she attempts to finally get off the mark in the Class 5 handicap over a mile.

The daughter of Sea The Stars has had 11 goes on the track so far, finishing second three times. However, having accrued an initial rating of 81 last summer when with Peter Chapple-Hyam, she’s now down to a career-low mark of 72.

Now with Kevin Philippart de Foy, she recorded a clear career best at this track last August when making the frame at Class 3 level, with the first three home from that contest now rated 95, 90 and 98.

That effort was over a mile and a half, and having tried her hand over ten furlongs, Beatrice Shilling dropped in trip again when third over a mile at Windsor last time.

She sported a tongue-tie for the first time that day and put up an encouraging effort to finish third.  She would have been closer but for getting tightened up a furlong out, and gave every indication this stiffer test will play to her strengths.

The selection will have to defeat Hover, who so nearly made a successful return from 1,099 days off the course when beaten a head at Newbury last month.

On a line through the third, that leaves very little between him and Beatrice Shilling. However, he’s four years’ older and will have to overcome the bounce, not to mention a big barren spell since his last win in November 2021.

At the bottom of the weights, Johnjay recorded his second career victory at Brighton last time. It was his second success at Class 6 level, but his form figures in Class 5s read 6836426 so he still needs to step up off 3lb higher.

Beatrice Shilling keeps the tongue-tie, while cheekpieces are also added. It looks to be the best opportunity she’s had in a while and Sunday can finally be her day.

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