Nap of the Day: Hot maiden can produce a real good ‘un

I'm hoping that we get lucky with the weather on Friday. Lots of various warnings and inspections are on the table, and a phrase I've personally not come across before - the presence of a 'weather bomb' - to further muddy the waters!

We're heading to Naas for our Nap of the Day; part of a superb-looking seven-race card that kicks in at 12:43 with the very heat we're most interested in. Let's hope all's well weather-wise with our great sport and we can enjoy what I'm sure will be some sensational action.

Naas 12:43 

Naas 12:43 - Barley Lane @ 9/4

Eddie and Patrick Harty train this five-year-old gelding, from their base at the Curragh. Barley Lane has run twice so far in his life, starting with a National Hunt flat race (bumper) at Punchestown in April, beaten 12.5l after meeting with some interference in the latter stages.

While that could be described as a pretty ordinary effort the second that day, Celestial Tune, has won two such contests since including one at Cheltenham under Sean Bowen in mid-November.

Barley Lane was put away until reappearing in late November, again at Punchestown, in a maiden hurdle. Unconsidered in the betting at 18s, he finished an excellent close-up second of 24 behind a Gordon Elliott charge, Santo Sospir, who has subsequently won easily at Clonmel and who holds a Leopardstown G1 entry at the end of the month.

It was a statement performance, and I'm sure connections will have debated keenly where to head next. He'll be taking on a WP Mullins mare, and a Gordon Elliott prospect who both dispute favouritism in close proximity to our hope - to say nothing about a host of potential improvers and dark horses.

It will be a race I'm sure to replay and reflect upon, with the big dogs doubtless having aspirations that will eventually way exceed this maiden event. Such contests abound in Ireland around this time of the year and are invariably absolutely fascinating.

This should be an absolute cracker; it's a big field, sure, but I'm hoping our pick is potentially smart. He'll need to be.

What a prospect to savour.

Nap Of The Day with Betfred Insights.