Nap of the Day: Can’t see past Participle at Haydock

It's been a good week so far for followers of my Nap of the Day column, courtesy of winners on Tuesday and Thursday.

Hopefully there'll be more success on Friday, on the Betfred-sponsored card at Haydock.

I tipped PARTICIPLE in this column last Thursday, but unfortunately she was a non-runner by order of the vets at Chelmsford.

Just over a week later, Ralph Beckett's three-year-old is back on my radar as she contests the Betfred 'Play Fred's £5 Million' Maiden Stakes at Haydock.

I expect the Frankel filly to take all the beating in this mile-long, Class 4 affair on Merseyside.

A half-sister to former stablemate Macduff, rated 107 at his peak, from the family of Oasis Dream and Kingman, it goes without saying she is bred to be good. Very good.

She certainly looked it on her sole start at Salisbury in August last year, finishing runner-up by just a nose to Ed Walker's Qilin Queen. That one gave a good account of herself behind the 100-rated Luther, fourth in the French 2000 Guineas earlier this month, and Falakeyah, rated 105 and prominent in the Betfred Oaks antepost betting, in subsequent outings at Haydock and Newmarket.

After those couple of misses, she finally got her Listed victory at Newbury, earning a new mark of 98 for doing so. The daughter of Pinatubo is also a possible runner at Epsom next month.

There's further depth to that Salisbury form. Just under two lengths behind the selection in third was Aidan O'Brien's Butterfly Wings, sent off 8/11f after a promising debut at Leopardstown a month before. She's won since and is rated 93 in Ireland.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the best piece of form on offer in this field of 10. Participle is also open to at least as much improvement as any of her nine rivals.

Of those, it's Mister Winston who rates the obvious danger. Andrew Balding's Churchill colt is without a win in three starts, one as a juvenile and two already this term, but he's been performing to a decent standard and looks sure to run his race.

Love Beach, Influential, Jenubiyah, Fan Club and Mum's Angel could improve any amount, but I'm uninspired by all five to be frank - which also applies to the three debutants.

If she's fit and ready after a 288-day layoff, which is the only concern, Participle really ought to make a winning return to the track.

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