Nap of the Day: 5/2 Myre can fire in Staffordshire town

Thursday's selection was, once again, well backed prior to being withdrawn on account of the ground. Frustrating.

But we dust off and go again 24 hours later, as I select another chase debutant for one of my favourite National Hunt trainers as the Nap of the Day.

Three of Lucinda Russell's four winners in the past fortnight were chase debutants, and I think there's a good chance MYRETOWN follows suit.

The seven-year-old is by the same sire - Dylan Thomas - as dual Grade 1-winner Ahoy Senor, and he sports the same silks as his highly-rated stablemate. He's also been labelled a "baby Ahoy Senor" by his trainer. No pressure.

He was bought for £135k following an easy PTP victory in April 2022, making his rules debut in a Hexford bumper around six months later. Despite being sent off an odds-on favourite, he returned a disappointing fourth of eight, beaten over four lengths.

Subsequently out of action for 451 days, he started out over hurdles at Ayr at the start of this year, coming a respectable second - albeit by a long way - to the 122-rated Joshua Des Flos in a two-mile maiden.

He looked set to bolt up when stepped up to an extended 2m4f at the Scottish venue next time, before falling at the final flight. He was about two lengths ahead at the time and was yet to be asked a real question by jockey Derek Fox.

That's fair form. The lucky winner President Scottie, rated 111 at the time, was a whopping 25 lengths clear of the rest of the field and won his subsequent start in a handicap off six pounds higher, before a solid effort off 123 in a £10k contest at Ayr.

Myretown made no mistake at Kelso next time out, taking a modest maiden by 11 widening lengths. A confidence booster, if nothing else.

The plan was to then line up in the G1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National Festival, but unfortunately he suffered a small setback so wasn't declared and then unsuitable ground (good) ruled him out of a useful novice event at Cheltenham's April meeting, so connections called it a day for the season.

He now returns from a 222-day summer break in a limited handicap chase over 2m4f, off a mark of 123.

I'm extremely hopeful he's going to prove a fair bit better than that over the upcoming campaign, especially with improvement expected for jumping fences. He's been clearing them "very well" at home according to Russell, who just the other day admitted she has "high hopes" for the lightly-raced gelding.

This is a tough starting point, with Ike Sport, Resplendent Grey, Classic King and to a lesser extent Autumn Return all of interest too, but given the potential the selection boasts on top of the recent record of the yard's chase debutants, Myretown is the bet for me.

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