NAP of the Day: Martin Pipe hero to make a winning start over fences

Warwick stages a classy eight-race card on Tuesday, featuring some top prospects - including a Cheltenham Festival winner who is my NAP of the Day.

When I started writing this, Iroko opened at 2/1 with another firm. That looked generous and the market has reacted. He's now 6/4, which remains value in my book.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old joined Oliver Greenall's yard - now Greenall & Josh Guerriero - almost two years ago, after a couple of fair runs in defeat over in France, and was highly-tried in two Graded juvenile hurdles on these shores.

He was well-beaten, but not disgraced, on both occasions, which meant his novice status was retained - and wasn't that a blessing, for he was superb in that sphere last term.

He began by landing a handicap at Wetherby off 121, before bolting up - by 14 lengths to be precise - over course and distance off a seven-pound higher mark. That booked him a ticket for the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, where he was in the winners' enclosure once again.

He further proved his ability when placing in the G1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree's Grand National Festival a month later. This time he could 'only' manage third, but he wasn't beaten far and had Albert Bartlett hero Stay Away Fay in behind.

Now he goes chasing and looks to have been found a decent opportunity to open his account at the first attempt.

It's not an easy race, but he certainly has leading claims with Golden Son returning from a 556-day layoff and Get A Tonic, Ballymackie and Ballydesmond hard to advise on all known form.

Kilbeg King rates a danger after his impressive victory in a competitive handicap at the Punchestown Festival at the end of last season, but he doesn't have as much scope as the selection, who is said to be schooling "very well" at home.

He's taken to win this before going onto bigger and better things - likely over a longer trip. Middle distances, certainly on soft ground, will suffice for now though.

Check out our NAP of the Day here at Betfred Insights throughout the week