NAP of the Day: Between Waters to wash away rivals at Newbury

Touch wood, the cold snap is over and Jumps racing is back to its regular schedule - which includes a seven-race card at Newbury on Tuesday, which is where I'm heading for the NAP of the Day.

There's no getting away from the fact that Nicky Henderson's Between Waters has so far failed to live up to expectations, but I think she's going the right way - albeit slowly - and can get off the mark at Newbury on Tuesday.

The six-year-old daughter of Walk In The Park garnered quite the reputation after bolting up in a PTP back in February 2022, but subsequently failed to fire in three runs under rules (a bumper, maiden hurdle and novice hurdle) last year.

However, she improved for each outing and her latest one, when second over 2m5f on soft ground at Ludlow, was easily her best yet.

She was over 11 lengths clear of as many rivals, pushing eventual winner Smiling Getaway, who cost £235,000, all the way to the line.

At the time, I was a little disappointed with her effort. However, I may have seriously underestimated the form of that race as Nigel Twiston-Davies' mare followed up with an eight-length success - funnily-enough beating an odds-on shot for Mr. Henderson - at Warwick on Monday. Carrying a penalty, too.

I'd say the selection bumped into one there and as a result the handicapper may have been a bit lenient in giving her an opening mark of 115.

This 0-120 mares' handicap hurdle featuring 16 runners is competitive, but nothing stands out as being particularly well-in. There's certainly nothing that looks to have as much scope as Between Waters anyway.

Not only could she be ahead of the handicapper, but she won't be inconvenienced by the likely conditions and could even improve further for this step up to three miles.

I think 7/2 is very fair indeed.