NAP of the Day: 2/1 shot to end winless streak

We cross the Irish Sea - to Leopardstown specifically - on Thursday in search of a winning NAP of the Day.

Trusted to do the business is a highly-rated filly who after nearly two years can finally get another win on her record.

Incredibly, the 104-rated TARAWA - who represents Betfred Oaks-winning trainer Dermot Weld and owner the Aga Khan - has won just one of her 10 career starts.

That victory was just under two years ago, when the Shamardal filly was a juvenile, and her form since reads 24232533.

She's kept good company in that time, though. She was runner-up in a Group 3 on her reappearance at three immediately before a highly-respectable fourth, beaten three lengths by talented stablemate Tahiyra, in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Towards the end of the campaign she placed in a competitive Group 2 at Leopardstown and arguably posted a career-best performance when second by less than a length in a Listed affair at Newmarket in September to sign off.

She again failed to get the job done when sent off 11/8f for a Listed contest at Naas on her return this term, but having watched the replay I think it was a promising performance with an eye on the future.

Over seven furlongs, Tarawa could only manage third, beaten two-and-a-half lengths by a 105-rated rival, but she was closing with every stride having started slowly and been ridden with plenty of patience.

Stepping up to 1m1f - the longest trip she's faced to date - with that run under her belt ought to bring out a good amount of improvement.

I'd argue this is one of, if not her easiest assignment yet. Formal Display is the selection's main rival according to the 18:30 Leopardstown Odds, but he has a fair bit to find on Tarawa and has been off the track for 209 days so could be lacking in the fitness department.

Cairo is the highest-rated horse in the field and if he could replicate his peak form he'd be hard to stop, but it has to be concerning that former trainer Aidan O'Brien was happy to let him go after a poor run in Dubai back in March.

Self Belief is rated 104 and therefore it wouldn't be a great shock if he got his head in front, though again he's making his seasonal comeback after two poor runs at the end of last term.

As for the other four runners, they're uninspiring as far as I'm concerned.

Tarawa has developed a habit of finding one or two too good, but there's no excuses for her at Leopardstown on Thursday and I think 7/4 or greater is well worth taking.