Nap of the Day: Newmarket raider looks to reign supreme at Wolves

For Tuesday, January 28 I'm looking to Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton for our Nap Of The Day selection. An all-weather nine-race card on the Tapeta kicks in at 16:30, and the race I believe provides our best chance of success is the very respectable Class 3 handicap over 8.5f, at 18:30.

A four-year-old gelding by a multiple Group-winning sire that himself took two G3 contests on the all-weather. Hopes are high ...

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

18:30 Wolverhampton - Invincible Aura @ 7/2

Ten days ago at Lingfield Invincible Aura contested a similar event at slightly shorter (1m); same grade but worth a good deal more in prize-money (around £18k to the winner as against today's £7,956).

He finished third of 12, beaten less than a length, and was trying to overcome a 4lb hike for a comfortable success at the same venue nine days earlier. He's turned out once again whilst evidently in rude order with high hopes of a return to the winners' enclosure.

The four-year-old gelding is a son of Invincible Army, the tough, prolific sprinter referred to in my introduction, and who himself enjoyed a very productive campaign at four; and there's an important stamina influence too as Invincible Aura is out of a mare (Bright Approach - Newbury maiden winner at 10f) by Epsom Derby winner New Approach.

He's up a pound to a mark of 81 courtesy of that last effort but his profile is progressive and he's in career-best form. Three wins so far from nine runs on the artificial surfaces, and he's run well here previously. Trainer Marco Botti has had a couple of winners in the last fortnight and jockey Marco Ghiani stands at 22% in terms of his strike-rate during this same 14-day snapshot.

The horse is bang in form, is drawn in the one box so will have every chance to claim a decent spot early doors (invariably held-up), and I'm encouraged that connections are playing again so soon after two great runs.

Michael Bell's Destructive arrives fresh from a demolition job here last time but that was a maiden he was more than entitled to win, he's drawn on the wing here in stall eight, and my selection gets 4lb. Cracking little heat, and fingers crossed that Invincible Aura can continue on his upward curve.

Nap Of The Day from Betfred Insights.