NAP of the Day: Tyne for more success for Gifford’s mare

A busy Monday is in store for racing fans, with six meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Afternoon Flat racing comes from Bath, Gowran Park and Pontefract, while they'll be going over jumps at Plumpton and, later, the all-weather fare is from Southwell and Wolverhampton - with 18 races on the Tapeta tracks.

Our Monday NAP is looking to follow up on her breakthrough fencing success at Fontwell before the summer break and may have been found a good chance to do just that. Below you can find my NAP of the Day. 

Six runners will contest the Aldaniti Partnership Novices' Handicap Chase at Plumpton over nearly three-and-a-quarter-miles and Nick Gifford's mare RIVER TYNE looks like the one to be with.

The nine-year-old made the frame in eight of her first dozen starts over fences, including finishing runner-up in all three starts at this venue, each over this distance.

One of those came in March, her most recent visit, behind Born At Midnight, who has been first and second in two subsequent starts over C&D.

River Tyne was second at Huntingdon in April and then found heavy ground at Uttoxeter counting against her in a rare off-day, but she came good in May at Fontwell (3m2f, good).

James Davies' partner had to work for that win, coming with a strong run after the third last when market leader Joe Cotton and Eightytwo Team attempted to slip the field.

The mare challenged alongside Fame Et Gloria and held him off resolutely as they pulled a long way clear of the remainder.

She has a 7lb higher mark to defy now, but has been placed from higher ratings, including here. If she is fit and ready to go following her summer break, this looks like a winnable assignment.

Recent Uttoxeter winner Ballyrashane for Christian Williams and the Neil Mulholland-trained chasing debutant Hobb's Delight are possible dangers, but River Tyne has a consistent profile in this sort of company and that should serve her well as she returns from 166 days off.

The Gifford team are just beginning to re-emerge from their summer break and had a winner from two runners at Stratford on Saturday, Aworkinprogress scoring under Davies as the trainer sent out his first runners over jumps since June.

The Sussex-based operation can enjoy another winner now at one of their local tracks.