Nap of the Day: Ukantango to dance to Bowen’s tune

It was the perfect start to the week for Nap of the Day readers as Tuesday's 5/2 selection obliged at Lingfield under a brilliant ride from Rossa Ryan.

My attention switches to the National Hunt game 24 hours later, as I put my faith back into the most reliable of duos.

Dare I say, I'm almost getting bored of singing Sean Bowen's praises.

I've tipped up a couple of his mounts - successfully if I might add - already this month, so I'm trying not to repeat myself, but the 27-year-old Champion Jockey just isn't letting up.

Operating at a highly-impressive 36% strike rate in the past fortnight courtesy of 16 winners from 45 rides, Bowen is continuing to prove his immense worth in the saddle.

His presence aboard UKANTANGO in this Class 3 handicap hurdle over two miles at Warwick on Wednesday could prove decisive.

The eight-year-old trained by Olly Murphy, who's also in red-hot form with a 32% strike rate over the last 14 days, returned to the track after almost a year on the sidelines at Chepstow last month, showing a fair deal of encouragement in defeat.

On what was also his return to hurdling following a mixed season over the bigger obstacles, he finished third of fifth, over seven lengths adrift of the winner, in South Wales.

That was a good little contest, too. The runner-up, sent off 4/5f, occupied the same position in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock off two pounds higher next time out, while the fourth is a progressive type for Paul Nicholls who won three of his previous four starts by a combined 42 lengths.

Despite racing in rear throughout, Ukantango looked as much of a threat as anyone after jumping the second last, but he tired quite dramatically at the business end, which is more than fair given he was lacking match fitness.

I think the handicapper has been very kind to the selection in the aftermath, dropping him three pounds to 113. I don't believe he's regressing at such a rate.

With a run under his belt and Bowen taking the reins, I expect him to make a bold bid in Wednesday's company.

Time Interval is likely to prove popular with punters, but I'm extremely suspect of his victory last time out. He was given an uncontested lead and the odds-on favourite didn't run his race. He achieved little in reality and this is a big ask off six pounds higher.

In This World has to defy a 304-day break after leaving Dan Skelton for Rob Summers, while Sayva pulled-up last time out and has been given no relief from the handicapper.

Tara Iti and Commanding View, particularly the latter, have their chances - as do Annexation and Enthused to a lesser extent - but if Ukantango performs to anywhere near his best, I expect him to take all the beating.

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day