Nap of the Day: Jingko Blue to show star quality for Henderson

The third and final afternoon of the inaugural Berkshire Winter Million Festival will see action returning to Windsor on Sunday afternoon after veering to Ascot for the middle day.

The Windsor card is one of three Sunday offerings across Britain and Ireland, with Fakenham and Thurles joining in not long after they get going in Berkshire.

Sunday's NAP runs in the opening contest at Windsor for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville and can confirm the promise of his debut win over fences at Uttoxeter a little over five weeks ago. Read on for my NAP of the Day selection.

Windsor's second helping of action from the inaugural Berkshire Winter Million Festival has received a top-up via the rescheduled Hampton Novices' Chase, the Grade 2 contest now set to open proceedings having been lost from Warwick's abandoned card last Saturday amid the cold snap.

A field of three were declared on Friday morning for a three-mile contest offering more than £28k to the winner.

Nicky Henderson saddles JINGKO BLUE, with Lowry's Bar for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White and the Jonjo & AJ O'Neill-trained Johnnywho joining the Seven Barrows runner.

It's a small but select field and all three protagonists look promising.

Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton have shared the previous four runnings of this race with the likes of Threeunderthrufive and Grey Dawning – who went on to win in Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival on his next start after bagging this 12 months ago.

Lowry's Bar was denied on his chasing bow at Bangor over 2m4½f in November but is now chasing a hat-trick after wins at Exeter and Chepstow in December.

Johnnywho made a winning start over fences at Carlisle in October over 2m4f but has come up short in better company since at Newbury and Ascot.

He was third behind subsequent Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner The Jukebox Man in this grade at Newbury and filled the same berth in the four-runner Howden Novices' Chase just before Christmas.

Like Jingko Blue, that pair now step up to this three-mile trip. The Henderson horse was lightly raced over hurdles, winning two of his first three before being pulled up at Cheltenham in March as Ballyburn won the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.

A once-raced point-to-point winner, he is well regarded and made a foot-perfect start in his chasing career at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) last month under de Boinville.

His jumping noticeably improved as that race went on and the way he put Jagwar in his place bodes well given that he had beaten Lowry's Bar previously at Bangor.

This Seven Barrows inmate looks sure to appreciate the step up in trip and can take this prize en route to loftier ambitions this spring.

Offers

Free Bet If 2^nd/3^rd : Back a horse in a selected race(s) every day, and should it finish 2^nd or 3rd, we will refund your stake as a Free Bet up to £10. (Credited within 24 hours)

10% Winnings Boost: Place a win single bet on a specified race, and if your horse wins get a 10% CASH boost on your winnings! (Max Stake £50)

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races.

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find the Nap of the Day