NAP of the Day: Saint Davy to win on handicap debut at Ludlow

After a couple of days without an interest, I'm back with another NAP of the Day - and this time, on Friday, we're heading to little old Ludlow.

Saint Davy, who fetched £270,000 at the sales in December 2021 following an impressive PTP victory, has been something of a slow-burner for the team at Jackdaws Castle.

Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old made his rules debut a year later, in a bumper at Carlisle, and obliged in good style - and then 75 days later he made a winning start over hurdles in a Chepstow maiden over an extended 2m3f.

Despite inexperience, he showed a great attitude to get up on the line and defeat the 121-rated Hymac, who was over 20 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Kept off the track for another 108 days, the son of Balko was then highly-tried in the G1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting last year and ran respectably-enough under the circumstances.

It was a case of too much, too soon - something his trainer admits - but an encouraging experience in regards to his chances on Friday.

The selection, who is clearly held in high-regard at home, should have learned plenty there and, after another summer, I hope there's been a good amount of physical maturement too.

I must admit, I'll be be pretty disappointed were he to not prove better than an opening mark of 124 - certainly in a race like this.

Three of his five rivals - namely Emitom, Burrows Park and Hurricane Harvey - are in the veteran stages of their careers and hide nothing from the handicapper, while rank outsider Grove Road was pulled-up last time out and yet his mark remains the same.

Balkardy is the main danger, but he has a habit of failing to win and, presumably in a bid to get his weight as low as possible, connections have turned to an inexperienced 7lb claimer which could be seen as a negative.

Three miles on soft ground looks suitable for Saint Davy, who appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to make a winning start in the handicap scene.