Nap of the Day: Bioluminescence to light up Fairyhouse

It's fair to say it hasn't been the greatest week for my Nap of the Day selections, but I've got high hopes for Saturday's selection. Fingers crossed for a timely change in fortune.

I make BIOLUMINESCENCE very hard to beat in the Listed mares' novices' chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Spindleberry will have her supporters. Willie Mullins' seven-year-old receives 10lbs from the favourite and her second to stablemate Jade De Grugy in the G1 Honeysuckle Mares' Novice Hurdle at the County Meath venue last March was given a big boost the other day.

However, I don't like the fact she's been off the track for 71 days. For me, it suggests problems behind the scenes - though it's noted she was withdrawn from a Grade 2 at Thurles just over a month ago on account of the ground.

More importantly, I also think Gavin Cromwell's mare is more than capable of conceding the weight.

The strapping daughter of Walk In The Park was a 20-length winner of a PTP in November 2022 and it always felt like anything she did in bumpers and over hurdles was a bonus. Chasing was always going to be her game, and all that.

That being said, she fared more than adequately over the smaller obstacles, winning a maiden hurdle at the second attempt before claiming Grade 3 honours at Limerick around this time last year.

But she's wasted no time in making her presence felt over fences, winning a Grade 2 at Limerick over the Christmas period by three comfortable lengths.

Then, the JP McManus-owned mare took in a Grade 3 over 3m1f round Naas, pitted against multiple Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Dancing City, who has always been among the favourites for this year's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Less-than-ideal race conditions meant she had to give a pound to Mullins' gelding (she would otherwise receive seven) and she was only beaten three-and-a-half lengths in the end, staying on all the way to the line.

That's the best piece of form in this field of five. Certainly over fences, anyway. The selection is also a strong stayer with an aptitude for soft ground, which she gets here.

I expect her to win authoritatively on Saturday before a possible crack at the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham in three weeks' time.

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