NAP of the Day: Title-Chasing Bowen to keep the Fire burning

At Perth on Friday, an inspired Sean Bowen looks to have at least one excellent chance of recording another valuable winner in the race to be crowned Champion Jockey.

That's Chasing Fire in the 15:50, who rates my NAP of the Day.

Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen, who is embroiled in a fascinating tussle with Harry Cobden for the Jump Jockeys' Championship, are in red-hot form at the minute.

The former landed a treble at Perth on Thursday and Bowen was in the plate for two of them. He's making it all look so easy at the moment.

The pair return north of the border on Friday with many more chances - including CHASING FIRE in this 0-140 handicap chase over three miles.

I always thought this seven-year-old son of Maxios would be a significantly better chaser than hurdler, and after winning at the first attempt over those bigger obstacles at Uttoxeter in October last year, my hopes were high about what he could achieve during the rest of the season.

However, things haven't quite gone to script since. He was well-beaten next time out at 6/5f, before unseating his rider at the first fence at Aintree on Boxing Day - and then he was dead last, beaten over 30 lengths, in the G2 Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby earlier this year.

It looked a long way back from there but after a short break he went to Kelso, back in handicap company off a mark of 134, and arguably ran a career-best to go down by a diminishing length to Donald McCain's useful General Officer.

That was much more like it. His jumping wasn't perfect but it was much better, and his finishing effort was significantly stronger. He saw out his race at Kelso like a horse crying out for three miles, so hopefully stepping up to that trip for the first time will suit also.

Off an unchanged mark of 134, he ought to be extremely dangerous in this company. Friday's opposition is modest, frankly, and Chasing Fire under an inspired Bowen could be tough to beat.... if the same horse shows up. That's the key here.

Find our NAP of the Day here at Betfred Insights