Nap of the Day: Rain, rain, go away…

I've had a keen eye on an intended runner at Ffos Las on Thursday all week, but the meeting is under threat due to the not-so-great British weather (up to 30mm rain is forecast before racing).

Fingers crossed it passes a 7.30am inspection, for I've very high hopes about this one getting off the mark over fences at the second attempt.

On paper, LEADER IN THE PARK was disappointing on chasing debut at Cheltenham last month. Ben Pauling's six-year-old was backed into 10/3 for a novices' handicap at the November Meeting and, off a lowly mark of 121, he could only manage fifth of seven, beaten 21 lengths in the end.

I don't share that view whatsoever. I thought at the time, and then again after watching the replay today, that he shaped with considerable promise and ought to be a completely different prospect next time out.

It was a strong race at Prestbury Park. The winner Peaky Boy, unbeaten in two outings as a novice hurdlers, is now rated eight pounds higher. The runner-up Westerinthepark rates a lovely, progressive young horse who should win many races - while Guard Your Dreams, who was fourth, occupied the same position in the December Gold Cup over course and distance at the weekend.

Leader In The Park more than held his own in that company. He travelled strongly and jumped superbly in the main, but got noticeably tired taking the bend and entering the home straight. He isn't the first Pauling horse I've seen blow up late in the piece this season.

It was a fair ask to go to the home of Jumps racing for a test of that quality as your first experience over fences, especially on quick ground that won't have suited. He'll be much more at home on Thursday's surface in South Wales, although I hope it's not too desperate as he's completely unproven on anything worse than 'soft'.

The son of Walk In The Park will also greatly appreciate this drop in class. The rivals he faces here are, with all due respect, much more modest than those at Cheltenham and he races off a pound lower. Thank you, Mr. Handicapper.

I'll be at a loss for words if this horse doesn't prove significantly better than his mark of 120. His trainer thinks likewise judging by his comments in a recent stable tour with SportingLife.

He said: "I love this horse and I thought he was going to be a very good horse last season, but he never quite hit the heights we expected to [due to an underlying injury].

"His work was spectacular early season during the campaign and it is once again. He is off a very workable mark of 120 and he could be tailor made for the two and a half mile novices' handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival."

If he's to fulfil such ambitions, he simply has to be winning this on Thursday. There's no two ways about it.

Saladins Son is a slight danger, as is Stratton Oakmont off a featherweight under brilliant seven-pound claimer Callum Pritchard, but on the whole it looks a very winnable race for Leader In The Park.

I really like his chances and 11/4 is a very attractive price by my calculations.

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