Nap of the Day: Pipe-opener could be the difference for 6/5 Jurancon

My Nap of the Day on Tuesday didn't go at all to plan. He was a big drifter and got lit up at the start before running no sort of race. A disappointing start to the week.

No time to sulk, though, for I'm back 24 hours later with a selection from Chepstow who gets the vote in a fascinating maiden hurdle.

To be completely honest, there's not a whole lot to get excited about on Wednesday. Chepstow provides the only National Hunt card, which is mainly comprised of low-grade handicaps and Dan Skelton-trained odds-on shots.

Let It Rain and Royal Infantry could be worth putting in a double if the price is right, but I'm going to take a chance on JURANCON in the second division of the two-mile maiden hurdle.

David Pipe's five-year-old, who dons the red, purple and yellow silks of Brocade Racing of Native River fame, was an exciting PTP recruit who made an instant splash under rules last season, winning a bumper at Chepstow in December by a mere eight lengths.

He could 'only' manage second on his subsequent start at Newbury in the new year, in a race won by a promising one of Ben Pauling's in receipt of seven pounds, before recording another success on the level at Hereford in March.

Over 200 days later, the son of Free Port Lux made his debut over hurdles, finishing a running-on second to Kim Bailey's odds-on shot The Kemble Brewery, who looks a nice type in his own right.

The pair were over 10 lengths clear of the rest of the field, and I suspect that's going to prove good form as the campaign progresses.

With that run under his belt, I thought Jurancon would be extremely hard to beat next time out. However, connections have put him in against Fergal O'Brien's Tripoli Flyer, who was runner-up in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree's Grand National Festival earlier this year.

I've high hopes for that horse this term, but he'll have to be very ready to beat a more experienced and race-fit opponent first time out.

I would have preferred softer ground and a longer trip for the selection, but despite him shaping like he would enjoy further and being a half-brother to this year's Scottish National third, I don't want to pigeon hole him as an out-and-out stayer just yet, for he showed enough class last time out to justify another try over the minimum trip.

While it would be unwise to completely rule out the newcomers Disguisedlimit and Mon Kaplais for Philib Hobbs & Johnson White and the Skeltons respectively, this looks a match between the two atop the market and I'm hoping that fitness edge proves decisive in Monmouthshire on Wednesday afternoon.

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