Nap of the Day: Elliott targets Better Days after DRF no-show

There are three jumps meetings slated for Sunday across the UK and Ireland as another busy weekend of action draws to a close for National Hunt fans. They race at Chepstow and Exeter in the UK alongside Navan in Ireland, with quality fare at all three venues including a pair of Grade 2s and three Listed contests.

Gordon Elliott has a strong hand to play in the Grade 2 Novice Chase at Navan and can take it out with Better Days Ahead, as suggested in my Nap of the Day which you can check out below.

Gordon Elliott was conspicuous by his lack of representation at the Dublin Racing Festival for the most part last weekend.

The Cullentra House handler left many of his bigger stars at home and failed to hit the target with those that did have a run at the Leopardstown meeting.

No doubt it is a carefully planned approach as he bids to have everything timed to the minute for next month's Cheltenham Festival.

This Grade 2 over just shy of three miles features a two-pronged attack from Elliott, with BETTER DAYS AHEAD joined by Stellar Story.

The latter won the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last season and made a winning chase bow at Punchestown over this sort of trip in November.

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Stellar Story was tailed off at Leopardstown over Christmas in the Grade 1 Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase, though, and Elliott saddled three of the four runners in that contest.

Croke Park held off Better Days Ahead by a head that afternoon, the pair stretching 19 lengths clear of Buddy One in third.

Croke Park threw down the gauntlet some way from home and looked to have things in hand jumping the second-last before Better Days Ahead rallied strongly. There was little in it passing the post and Better Days Ahead was in front soon after.

The winner chased home Ballyburn at the DRF last weekend in Grade 1 company and is a resolute sort.

Danny Gilligan was on board Better Days Ahead at Christmas but Sam Ewing takes over now. Stellar Story's win in the Florida Pearl Novice Chase in November dictates he will concede a penalty to his four rivals today.

Elliott dodged some of the Willie Mullins big guns last weekend and can profit from that now, with Closutton inmate Chosen Witness needing a chunk of improvement upped in trip if he's to deny the Milan gelding.

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