Nap of the Day: No shock if Startled succeeds at HQ

It's the start of the Craven Meeting, which for me kicks off the flat season proper, at Newmarket on Tuesday - and I'm HQ-bound on Nap of the Day duties.

It's a Richard Hughes handicapper with lots in his favour that gets the vote. Here's the full case.

Up in trip and down in grade, I'm backing STARTLED to strike at Newmarket on Tuesday.

Richard Hughes' three-year-old was third, less than a length off the pace, on seasonal reappearance at Lingfield in February, attempting to defy a nine-pound hike for his victory at Nottingham in October. More on that in a moment.

That was over six furlongs and the son of Bated Breath was a significant eye-catcher, making late headway and daring to trouble the judge in unlikely circumstances.

That's been a regularity throughout the gelding's career to date. 'Did well in the circumstances' was the Racing Post assessor's comment on the selection's handicap debut over the minimum trip at Chelmsford last August, when third behind Ollie Sangster and Archie Watson inmates - the latter a next-time-out winner - following a troubled start.

Then at Lingfield next month, he tried to make all of the running back over six furlongs having emerged from all the way out in stall 11, being pestered for the lead throughout. A fine effort to finish only one-and-three-quarter lengths behind the winner, who went on to frank the form off four pounds higher on his subsequent start.

Startled earned a much-deserved success at Nottingham on his final run of the season, winning a 0-70 nursery handicap by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths. That form looks decent too, with the runner-up obliging next time out and the fourth-placed Mad Unicorn rated 10lbs higher six months later.

There was lots of encouragement to take from his aforementioned return at Lingfield in a Class 2 worth £23k to the winner. Once again, he shaped like he's crying out for further, which he gets on Tuesday in a Class 4 with one of the best in the business, William Buick, taking over in the saddle. Another string to his bow.

Having that run under his belt could prove decisive when push comes to shove on the Rowley Mile. The majority of the selection's rivals, including the six others with a single-figure price at time of publication, are returning from layoffs of over 100 days.

There's lots to like about this one - and he's a very backable price too. Nap of the Day for me.

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