Nap of the Day: 7/2 Montgomery to bounce back at wet Wincanton

An inspection is due at Wincanton on Thursday morning (08:00) following heavy rainfall in the week. Fingers crossed it survives, for my Nap of the Day will relish conditions in Somerset.

If racing goes ahead at Wincanton on Thursday, conditions will be desperate - and that suits MONTGOMERY in this handicap chase over 3m1f.

Since joining Venetia Williams' yard during the 2023/24 season, the eight-year-old - who showed little over shorter tips for Christian Williams previously - has rapidly developed into a dour stayer with an aptitude for deep ground.

He began his career for new connections at Bangor last February, in a three-mile handicap on heavy, and bolted up by eight lengths off a mark of 105, earning a seven-pound rise.

A revised rating of 112 continued to underestimate him, for he won by twice as far at Leicester just over a week later and the handicapper was forced to put him up a further nine pounds.

Again, he defied his new mark (121) when returning to Bangor a fortnight later, snugly accounting for a fair yardstick in Nigel Twiston-Davies' Ballycamus to complete a hat-trick.

His winning run was cut short at Ayr in April, as he disappointed up in class off a career-high 127. He was last of nine finishers and 24 lengths off the pace. Given it was his fourth run in under two months, forgiveness is easy to come by as far as I'm concerned.

Fast-forward 231 days and the son of Soldier Of Fortune was fifth, just over six lengths behind subsequent Grade 3 winner Mr Vango, on seasonal reappearance in the London National Handicap Chase at Sandown. A brilliant effort after a lengthy layoff.

Attempting to follow up at Haydock just over three weeks later may have been a mistake. He had a very tough race in Berkshire and that was clear to see when he pulled-up before the third-last on Merseyside.

The selection has been afforded a longer break this time - 31 days to be precise - and has been relieved two pounds by the handicapper as he drops back to Class 3 company.

He needs to bounce back, but for me that's well worth chancing at the prices. If he hadn't pulled-up the last day, I fancy he'd be 15/8, possibly even shorter, against these five rivals.

Ioupy Collonges and Pedley Wood race off career-high marks on ground I'm unconvinced they'll appreciate. Good Boy Bobby is in great form but holds no secrets from the handicapper at 12 years old. Sheldon has to put two poor efforts behind him without much in the way of his handicap mark.

Bill Baxter is the main danger in my book. He's off a nice mark if returning to something like his best form and will relish conditions. Watch how he goes in the betting.

But all things considered, I'm siding with Venetia, who's operating at a 20 per cent strike rate courtesy of six winners from 30 runners in the past fortnight.

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