Nap of the Day: Fifty Nifty can prove apt winner at HQ

The Betfred Guineas Festival gets underway at Newmarket on Friday and I've focused on the action at HQ for my Nap of the Day.

I'm putting my faith in an appropriately-named runner in the fifth race on the card.

Fittingly, I fancy FIFTY NIFTY to win the Betfred "Nifty 50" Handicap at Newmarket on Friday.

Tom Clover's four-year-old is a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Obviously, who picked up three Grade 1s and a whopping £1.4m in prize money during his career in the USA, and it's fair to say he looks smart in his own right.

The son of Ten Sovereigns made his belated debut as a three-year-old last season and ran four times. He was victorious on debut at Yarmouth last April and took a handicap off a mark of 87 on Newmarket's July Course in August, either side of a couple of credible defeats.

Vets ruled him out of action at the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster in September and the ground was deemed unsuitable back at HQ a couple of weeks later, so connections sensibly called time on his campaign.

Fast forward to April 16 and the selection reappeared in a seven-runner handicap over course and distance, finishing runner-up by a narrow margin.

I thought he was desperately unlucky to miss out. He was bumped upon exit of the stalls and squeezed out moments later, causing him to take a keen hold for a furlong or two. He was then stuck for room when push came to shove at around the two-furlong pole and when the gap appeared, it was little too late. He finished strongly under Oisin Murphy, but couldn't quite get to the winner.

It was an encouraging return from a lightly-raced individual who's been raised two pounds as a result. I'd like to think he's more than capable of coping with that.

The betting for Friday's 0-105 handicap over seven furlongs on the opening card of the Betfred Guineas Festival suggests Miss Information is the main danger.

Andrew Balding's filly, who has Murphy on board this time, has around three lengths to make up and is four pounds better off, but the gap between the two was only increasing the last day and Fifty Nifty has significantly more scope for improvement. I'm very hopeful about that form being confirmed.

I fear Richard Hannon's Local Hero more. His latest effort was up there with the best of his career and with Ryan Moore booked, he looks primed for a bold bid. However, all his best form is on the all-weather and he didn't cope with this track last summer.

None of the other four can be completely ruled out, but I am firmly in the camp of Fifty Nifty.

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