Nap of the Day: Owen hopes to start Aintree on a High

It was a relief to get back among the winners on Wednesday, just in time for a big three days at Aintree, culminating in the world-famous Grand National on Saturday.

But first, a brilliant card on Thursday - and my Nap of the Day comes in the penultimate race of the afternoon.

Cheltenham's loss is Aintree's gain in regards to HIGHLANDS LEGACY, who runs in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at the Merseyside venue on Thursday.

Jonjo & A J O'Neill's seven-year-old was one of the favourites for the Grand Annual at HQ last month, but unfortunately the son of Kayf Tara was balloted out.

It's not at all difficult to see why he was fancied by so many, for his form has worked out extremely well.

After a straightforward success on chase debut at Worcester in October, he was just touched off by Mambonumberfive over today's course and distance. Ben Pauling's winner won his next two starts, including the G2 Wayward Lad, and today is 18lbs higher in the handicap.

There's further depth to that form, too. The third-placed Glengouly has risen 12lbs, while it's 18lbs for the fifth-placed Jour d'Evasion.

Highlands Legacy's next appearance was at Newbury just before Christmas, when he bumped into another highly-progressive rival in Mighty Bandit. Warren Greatrex's six-year-old also won his next two starts, rising 23lbs. He goes in the Grade 1 novice chase over two miles on Saturday.

Last time out, Highlands Legacy made his return to the winners' enclosure at Windsor, doing about as much as he needed to in order to see off a useful yardstick in Torneo.

A six-pound rise is a bit harsh, I must admit, but in context his mark of 133 is very workable. Surely, surely he's ahead of that.

He ought to run a huge race at a track he's familiar with, on ground he's comfortable on. There's lots to like about his chances.

Of course, this is a competitive race. Sans Bruit is on a hat-trick bid in this race and Inthepocket was still very much in contention before falling two out in the aforementioned Grand Annual.

However, if I'm right about Highlands Legacy, he's the one to beat.

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