Nap of the Day: O’Brien mare rates Saturday’s best bet

On a Saturday featuring two Grade 1s - the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and the Betfair Chase at Haydock - plus a stacked card at Ascot, it's to Huntingdon we go for the Nap of the Day.

I've already made a brief case for the selection in my Saturday racing tips, but here's the full chapter and verse.

After a highly-promising bumper campaign that culminated in Listed honours at Huntingdon around this time two years ago, a fair bit was expected of Fergal O'Brien's LILTING VERSE.

That's evident by the fact the daughter of Yeats was pitched in at the same level, at Cheltenham of all places, on her hurdling debut 137 days later.

She was well-beaten at Prestbury Park, beating just one rival home and finishing a whopping 57 lengths off the pace, but she reappeared last term with a six-length victory at Ludlow in November.

The seven-year-old failed to back up that performance over course and distance the following month, prior to a couple of mediocre efforts in admittedly good company at Newbury and Cheltenham this spring.

Her future now lies over fences, and I'm hopeful it can be a fruitful one for her debut in this discipline at Ffos Las last month was very encouraging indeed.

Off a mark of 114 under conditional jockey Fern O'Brien, she enjoyed herself in south Wales, travelling and jumping equally well before fading late in the piece without being knocked around.

With that run under her belt, dropped a pound by the handicapper and with stable jockey Connor Brace taking back the reins, she looked primed to make a very bold bid in this 0-120 mares' handicap chase over just shy of three miles.

I also think it's a much-easier assignment than her previous one. Rank outsider Raindance Queen is a whopping 16lbs out of the handicap and impossible to advise, while Tune The Chello is reappearing after 646 days on the sidelines.

Likewise, Baby Shally and Moonlit Potter also return from lengthy (240+ days) layoffs. They've got much stronger claims than Tune The Chello, particularly the latter, but for me they'll need to have a good bit in hand to win this under the circumstances.

Melusine De Pail is the main danger in my book. The six-year-old is race-fit having had a spin over hurdles at Ludlow just over a month ago and the PTP winner, off a mark of 107 with the fantastic Callum Pritchard claiming seven pounds, is dangerous.

But ultimately, I strongly fancy Lilting Verse, who has lots in her favour, here.

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