NAP of the Day: Delinquent to prove a problem at Southwell

When it rains, it pours. In the same week I had a 5/2 shot backed into odds-on before getting pulled at the 11th hour, I was done by the finest of margins in a photo finish (Into The Light at Sandown on Friday).

It's been a frustrating few days for Nap of the Day backers, but hopefully there'll be something to celebrate at Southwell on Saturday.

Karl Burke's in fine form, operating at a 29% strike rate in the past fortnight courtesy of 10 winners from 35 runners. That bodes well for his three-year-old colt DELINQUENT at Southwell on Saturday evening.

The son of Mehmas returns to course and distance after a highly-encouraging run in a more-competitive handicap just 18 days ago.

He finished third of seven in Nottinghamshire, just under two lengths behind the winner Gatehouse. Sean Woods' three-year-old, who obliged on his previous start, will run off a new mark of 81 (+4) in the Betfred "Nifty 50" Handicap at Epsom on Tuesday.

The runner-up, Sovereign View, is also waiting to appear again, but he did the business on handicap debut off just four pounds lower at Newcastle before his visit to Southwell and looks equally progressive.

I was hoping to see the fourth-placed Deported, my NAP on the day, frank the form at Doncaster on Friday, but unfortunately he was a non-runner on account of the ground. I'm convinced he's ahead of the handicapper too.

Magical Merlot and Captain Fox, fifth and sixth respectively, were thought enough of to be backed into 7/2 co-favourites alongside the victor, while Island Bear in last had form behind the likes of Wild Desert (rated 106), Goodwood Galaxy (100) and Isaac Newton (106) at two.

For my money, it was a strong race for the grade - and the majority of the field are on my radar going forward.

Delinquent shaped particularly well, I thought. He was denied a clear run at the two-furlong pole and forced to switch right, making good progress when seeing daylight. His chances of winning were all but over at that point, though.

I think there's more to come as he drops in class, off the same mark (70). He ought to take plenty of beating.

Frustratingly - as if there hasn't been enough of that this week - his opening price of 11/4 as of the time I started writing this is long gone, and he's into odds-on.

I suspect, and hope, he'll come back out again, so for Saturday's NAP I'm advising taking SP. For anyone that isn't aware, that stands for 'Starting Price'.

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