NAP of the Day: George Henry to score for Nicholls

There are three UK meetings taking place on Tuesday, with National Hunt action from Catterick and Wincanton in the afternoon and an evening card on the Tapeta at Newcastle. 

Our NAP of the Day will bid to further embellish Paul Nicholls' excellent record at Wincanton this season. 

13:45 Wincanton Odds

Paul Nicholls, 14-times champion trainer in Britain, has always operated a good strike-rate at Wincanton, the nearest racecourse to his base in Ditcheat. 

He has saddled 74 winners at the Somerset venue across the last five years, more than three times that of his nearest rivals today. 

This season, the Nicholls strike-rate is even more impressive, with seven winners already from 15 runners seeing him operate at nearly 47 per cent. 

Nicholls saddles a trio of contenders in the TrustATrader Apply Today Novices' Hurdle and GEORGE HENRY is preferred over Keel Strand and Super Saint. 

This Kayf Tara gelding was well held in a bumper here in November 2023, but finished third at Taunton in the spring on his only other outing in that sphere. 

He had a wind operation during his summer break and made his hurdling debut at Exeter (2m½f, soft) earlier this month. 

He shaped very much as though that run would bring him forward, as has been the case with plenty runners emerging from Ditcheat this season. 

He is deemed a likely improver now, while the additional three furlongs also looks like a positive for him. 

Jay Tidball, one of Nicholls' apprentice riders, takes over steering duties and can claim a handy 5lb in the saddle. He is an experienced claimer and should prove good value for that allowance. 

Today's Horse Races

The 116-rated Vaguely Royal sets the standard for the Anthony Charlton team in this contest. He was a smart sort on the Flat for John & Thady Gosden, achieving a rating in the mid-90s. 

He won a maiden hurdle over 1m7f at this venue in October on his second start over jumps and has since finished second in a four-runner novices' event at Exeter over a similar trip last month. 

That wasn't a strong contest by any means and the winner was well beaten next time out at Leicester. 

He concedes 7lb and more to this field, with Tidball's claim ensuring that George Henry will be in receipt for 12lb from the forecast market leader. 

The Ditcheat inmate has scope for better things and can progress to make his mark at the second time of asking over timber. 

*If you've missed out on Wednesday's Nap of the Day, we have some Lucky 15 Tips from Newcastle's evening card for you.