Nap of the Day: Bibe Mus can secure Punchestown victory

There are four UK and Irish meetings coming up on Monday, with jumps action from Punchestown, Hereford and Plumpton preceding the evening all-weather card at Wolverhampton.

In Ireland, it's a hurdles-only card from Punchestown, with seven races due off at the Kildare venue from 13:10-16:10. Monday's NAP was second-best in a Listed race at Aintree in December and is fancied to make a winning handicap bow for trainer Ross O'Sullivan in a contest that has served him well before.

13:40 Punchestown Odds

Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede hold a strong hand in this two-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown with both BIBE MUS and Kibris in the mix.

The latter runs for Joseph O'Brien, with Hugh Horgan claiming a handy 5lb in the saddle, and he has run well in a trio of maiden hurdles at Cork, Galway and Fairyhouse so far.

He has his claims off an opening mark of 118 but that is the same berth allotted to Ross O'Sullivan's Camelot gelding Bibe Mus and, at this stage, he might be better placed to take advantage of it with JJ Slevin preferring his claims as retained rider in the double green silks.

A winner on the Flat in France in the autumn of 2024, Bibe Mus had little impact in two starts on the level for this yard but he made a winning transition to hurdles at Gowran Park (2m½f, yielding) in October under Slevin.

He then ran third up at Down Royal behind Gordon Elliott's Mange Tout, an easy winner of a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse next time with leading Triumph Hurdle scorer Narciso Has behind in second spot.

Bibe Mus meanwhile headed next for Aintree and the Listed Wirral Juvenile Hurdle in early December.

He went off 2/1 favourite under James Bowen but had to settle for second spot behind Donald McCain's front-running winner, Lord.

A couple of the beaten horses from that Aintree contest have done their bit to enhance the form since.

Lord had previously contested a Grade 2 at Cheltenham and put his experience to good use at Aintree, while Bibe Mus shaped as though his stamina would do with further teasing out.

He doesn't yet get that step up in trip, but Punchestown is a stiffer track than Aintree and that at least plays to his favour now.

His trainer won this race a year ago with Slurricane and the yard looks well set for back-to-back wins as Bibe Mus sets about defying a manageable opening handicap mark of 118.

Click the link for all the latest Horse Racing Odds

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day