Nap of the Day: Big Cadillac has a big chance at Bangor

Another winner for Nap of the Day backers on Thursday, courtesy of Nicky Henderson's Act Of Innocence in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon.

Hat-trick, anyone? I'm heading to Bangor in search of it.

BIG CADILLAC is yet to live up to the promise of his bumper win at Chepstow around this time last year, but he ought to be good enough to land this maiden hurdle at Bangor on Friday.

After fetching £95k from the point-to-point scene, Dan Skelton's six-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding beat David Pipe's Gentleman Toboot, rated 131 over hurdles today, by almost two lengths in Southeast Wales.

He underwent wind surgery over the summer, before making his debut over timber at Ffos Las in October, in a race won by the useful Starzand. That form hasn't worked out nearly as well as I and many others thought it would initially, but it's not terrible.

Connections aimed high for his next start, in a Grade 2 over three miles at Cheltenham, and it indeed proved too much, too soon as Big Cadillac finished sixth of seven, 15 lengths off winning stablemate Carlenrig.

What I found very interesting were Skelton's pre-race comments. He said although Harry opted to ride Carlenrig, he could barely separate the two.

Clearly, a lot more is expected of him and there's a host of reasons to expect improvement on Friday.

First of all, he's eased in grade after a 55-day break. He sports a first-time tongue tie, and he's back down in trip. Oh, and Harry is doing the steering again.

I also think his rivals are modest. Solid Performer, a latecomer to the sport, looked a slow horse at Ayr last time out, so I can't see him enjoying a shorter trip round a sharp track like Bangor.

Guet Apens is asked to defy a 558-day layoff, for as much as his form under Andre Fabre on the flat in France is very, very smart.

Point-to-point recruits The Dog Thief and Argento Royale aren't without a chance, but they make only limited appeal on paper.

The rest - namely Gimarias, La Vish and Shuile Warrior - are difficult to advise.

Unless there's a bigger problem at play, likely related to his wind, I'm expecting a very bold bid from Big Cadillac at Bangor.

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