Nap of the Day: Kargese does it?

Back-to-back winners for Nap of the Day followers - can we complete the hat-trick on the big stage, at the Dublin Racing Festival, on Saturday?

Fingers and toes crossed Leopardstown passes the 8am inspection and the selection is allowed to strut her stuff in the Irish capital.

The 158-rated Romeo Coolio, unbeaten in three starts over fences including two at the highest level, should win the Irish Arkle. Right?

Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old son of Kayf Tara is starting to live up to the lofty reputation he garnered as a £420k point-to-point recruit back in March 2023 and I'd have a hard time denying he's the best horse in the race.

However, I think connections' decision to run him over two miles instead of 2m5f on the Sunday is a mistake.

KDTA Racing's star looks a significantly better horse over intermediate trips - and as far as I'm concerned there might be even more to come over three miles.

Over the minimum he's won an ordinary bumper, a maiden hurdle and a couple of underwhelming Grade 1s.

Last time out, over the Irish Arkle course and distance on Boxing Day, he was all out to beat 12/1 shot Irish Panther for Eddie & Patrick Harty, needing every single yard.

Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on the latter, who'd won his last two races by a combined 39 lengths, but ultimately Romeo Coolio was 8/15f and expected to oblige in good style.

Conditions will make it more of a test, which he'll enjoy, but with just three runners set to face the starter, it could quite easily be a slowly-run affair that turns into a bit of a sprint.

In that case, I think Willie Mullins' KARGESE will be too quick for Romeo Coolio and Downmexicoway.

The six-year-old mare was a top-class juvenile, winning a Grade 1 at this meeting in 2024 before back-to-back seconds to Majborough and Sir Gino at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.

On her second run in open company, she won the County Hurdle off a mark of 141, before finishing third behind State Man and Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace in the top grade at the Punchestown Festival.

During a quiet spell for the Mullins yard, she made a modest start over fences in a Grade 2 at Cork in early December, but left that a long way behind when bolting up by 14 lengths at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Further improvement is expected and whether she tries to make all or tracks Romeo Coolio all the way round - I think she's versatile enough to do both - I'm hoping her superior turn of foot, still evident in deep ground, will decide it.

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