Nap of the Day: Skelton to strike with 11/4 Blue Carpet

Wednesday's winner, who absolutely bolted up at Bangor by a mere 26 lengths, was very welcome given recent form. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

Twenty four hours later we travel to Taunton - providing it survives a morning inspection - looking to make it back-to-back Nap of the Day winners.

If racing goes ahead at Taunton on Thursday, I've got high hopes for Dan Skelton's BLUE CARPET in the bumper.

Despite a field of just six, it's probably the best race on the card and there's a case to be made for all bar the 40/1 rank outsider Olivia's Secret.

Skelton's five-year-old son of Blue Bresil and full-brother to a Listed winner in France, who fetched £50k at the sales in May 2023, appeals most though.

He made the perfect start to his career at Carlisle just over four months ago, travelling powerfully from flag fall and going on to win by over a length.

The form of that race is solid, too. The runner-up occupied the same position in a couple of maiden hurdles subsequently, before a ready five-and-a-half-length victory at Ayr just last week. He's now rated 120.

Kapal Layar, who finished third in Cumbria, was also triumphant a matter of days ago to earn a nine-pound rise, to a mark of 115.

I'm not sure why the selection spent the next 91 days on the sidelines, but it can't have been a serious issue as he shaped just as well under a penalty at Newcastle last month.

He travelled all over his rivals once again, but this time found himself stuck for room around the two-furlong pole. When a gap finally appeared, it was too late. Still, he wasn't beaten far (5¾) and kept on all the way to the line.

I think he's better than that result and more generally a nice individual. He ought to develop into a nice novice hurdler next season, but before that I believe he can pick up at least one more bumper.

He must defy a penalty again - helped by the talented Tristan Durrell taking three pounds off - which is a burden shared by Joe Tizzard's Tennessee Tango. In a match between the two, I'd strongly fancy Skelton's runner.

Sinchi Roca, a son of Getaway out of a half-sister to Brave Inca who sold for £70k after winning a point-to-point in Ireland before Christmas, is a dangerous rival in receipt of seven pounds with Harry Cobden booked to ride. However, it's hard to gauge what sort of level he'll run to here. A market check is advised.

Purple Owl is another PTP recruit who cost a pretty penny, but he lacks a recent run and trainer David Pipe could be in better form. Berkenshtaap represents top connections but showed very little on his rules debut at Southwell towards the end of last year.

It's a competitive race and only the aforementioned Olivia's Secret would be a surprise winner in my book, but I would make Blue Carpet a clear favourite here and think he's excellent value at 11/4.

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