NAP of the Day: Fella could make it look Easy on chase debut

On a Thursday centred around the second day of Chester's May Festival - find my tips for that card here - I'm drawn to evening jumps fare at Tipperary for the NAP of the Day.

Specifically, it's a beginners' chase over just shy of three miles at 18:40 that's caught my attention.

Several of the nine runners set to contest this beginners' chase are at a standstill in their careers.

Bardenstown Lad hasn't won any of his 12 starts since finishing third in the 2022 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Likewise, Slip Of The Tongue is winless in two years and was beaten out of sight the last twice. Nine Grace's form has fallen off lately too.

There's question marks surrounding a few of the others also. Caesar Rock has been off the track for 333 days, Prairie Dancer struggles for consistency and the form of both Varna Gold and Prince Palace leaves a lot to be desired.

Jasmin De Cotte is somewhat interesting after a promising debut over the bigger obstacles, but I think EASY FELLA is the clear standout.

The seven-year-old son of Yeats joined Henry de Bromhead's yard late last year before making his debut in a novice hurdle at Thurles just before Christmas, beating Mint Boy - a subsequent handicap winner off a mark of 126 - by a comfortable three-and-a-quarter lengths.

He then returned to the County Tipperary venue in the new year and finished runner-up, beaten just under two lengths, to Willie Mullins' then unbeaten High Class Hero, who was a close second in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at last month's Punchestown Festival. Strong form.

If he can replicate that standard, never mind improve on it, over the bigger obstacles, he must have every chance of getting off the mark at the first attempt with conditions (it's currently good to yielding at Tipperary) very much in his favour.

To be frank, given the doubts about his rivals there's a chance he could make it look quite easy - but just a win would do nicely...

Find our NAP of the Day here at Betfred Insights