NAP of the Day: Nemean Lion to tame National Spirit rivals again

There are a trio of jumps meetings taking place on Sunday across Britain and Ireland, with action from Naas, Hereford and Fontwell on a busy afternoon. 

There is graded action on both sides of the Irish Sea and we have focused on the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell for Sunday's NAP. Kerry Lee saddles our selection, and he is taken to confirm recent form with his two main market rivals. 

It's a big day in the calendar for Fontwell Park on Sunday as the West Sussex venue hosts the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle. 

The roll of honour for this race includes the likes of Baracouda, My Way De Solzen, Lough Derg, Lil Rockerfeller and Brewin'upastorm. 

This time around the 2m3f feature has attracted a field of five runners and the three main protagonists are familiar to each other. 

They clashed last month during the Berkshire Winter Million Festival at Windsor in a Conditions race over 2m4f (soft) and it was Kerry Lee's NEMEAN LION who came home in front by a half-length from Gary & Josh Moore's Salver, with Blueking D'oroux some four lengths and change behind them in third for Paul Nicholls. 

Salver and Blueking D'oroux were in front rank throughout that race, while Nemean Lion sat in behind. 

Everything went smoothly for Caoilin Quinn on Salver and they were in front going to two out with a nice lead and Blueking D'oroux starting to paddle alongside. 

He jumped the last in front, but Nemean Lion soon stormed past on the nearside and went into a length advantage. 

Richard Patrick's mount never got any further clear, but he was always holding his main rival and the result didn't appear in any doubt as they ran to the line. 

The trio were meeting on level weights that afternoon and Salver will now get 3lb from Nemean Lion and Blueking D'oroux. 

It may not be enough to alter the result. Nemean Lion is having an excellent season and while his back catalogue tells us he's not quite a Grade 1 performer, he has shown real consistency and this slightly lower-grade target looks optimal. 

He is bidding to make it seven wins from 14 starts over hurdles and, outside of Grade 1 company, that record would improve to six wins in 10 starts and two of those defeats were in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Lanzarote at Kempton, extremely competitive affairs.

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

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