Nap of the Day: The Man to boss matters at Southwell

There are four cards in Britain and Ireland on Sunday for punters to enjoy and the most interesting race of the day comes at Southwell. The Class 2 5f handicap (16:07) features a host of high-class sprint handicappers with the top four in the weights holding a three-figure BHA rating, and among them are the winners of two of the big sprints at Royal Ascot this summer in Adrestia and Get It.

Our Nap of the Day comes in this intriguing contest, which should be run at a helter-skelter gallop at the Nottinghamshire venue.

16:07 Southwell Odds

There is an abundance of early pace in Southwell’s 5f handicap and the expectation is that this will suit a strong finisher.

Wokingham winner Get It is known for blasting out in front over 6f and should have no problems with helping to force matters dropping back to the minimum distance, even on a track this sharp, while Against The Wind, Regal Envoy and Ruby’s Profit are others who like to get on with things.

It’s easy to imagine The Man arriving with an irresistible late burst under David Egan, who knows the three-year-old well.

The Man has an interesting profile as he has only run six times and in just two handicaps, beating 39 of the 40 horses he has faced in two deep sprints at York this term.

The Man was gelded and sent for wind surgery in the off-season, and was an easy winner at York on his return from nine months off in May before almost defying another three-month absence last month, going down by a head to Trefor over an extra half furlong at the Ebor meeting.

Perhaps he ended up in front a shade too soon, running into a headwind after seeming to make a race-winning move, although it was still a massive effort and he is open to plenty of further progress. The return to a strongly run race over the minimum trip looks the right move for The Man.

His trainer, Richard Spencer, is crafting a reputation for himself in competitive handicaps and The Man, who isn’t going to be one for deep ground in the closing stages of the season, has been found a nice opportunity here.

The son of Mehmas won his maiden over course and distance on his sole all-weather run and gives the impression there is plenty more to come.

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