Nap of the Day: Follow Greatrex’s grey star at Market Rasen

It's been a slow start to the year for the Nap of the Day column, largely down to non-runners, but of the five selections to actually run, two have obliged - at 7/4 and 4/1. Not bad. 

After a welcome return to the winners' enclosure on Thursday, hopefully there's more joy in store at Market Rasen on Friday.

No, that wasn't a reference to Bill Baxter in the headline.

The former Topham winner, a gallant grey and stable star in every sense, does run for Warren Greatrex at Market Rasen on Friday - but it's fellow Rhonehurst inmate REALTA LIATH, which I'm told directly translates to 'grey star' in Irish Gaelic, who's the Nap of the Day.

The seven-year-old daughter of Kingston Hill was a relatively expensive (£100k) recruit from the point-to-point scene, which hardly looked the best bit of business after she lost her first eight starts under rules.

Her performances weren't without any encouragement, don't get me wrong, but they certainly weren't in line with expectation.

However, she looks a different proposition over fences. That soon became clear, as she got off the mark at the first time of asking on debut at Fontwell in November, beating an admittedly modest field by six-and-a-half lengths, eased down at the line.

She then went close to defying an eight-pound rise up in grade at Cheltenham just before Christmas, finishing a close third in a Class 3 mares' handicap over an extended 2m4f.

That's easily the best piece of form - recent form at least - on offer in this field of eight.

Realta Liath is up another couple of pounds in the handicap, but she's so unexposed over the bigger obstacles and even more so at three miles and above, so there ought to be plenty more to come.

Most of her rivals on Friday have significant questions to answer. Vision De Maine, Heard That and Concetto were all pulled-up last time out. Get Up Mush was disappointing off a career-high mark. Giovanni Change is getting no better at 11 years old. The same applies for My Bobby Dazzler. Kayce Dutton is out of form.

The selection is on the up, looks well-handicapped and drops in grade. She must have every chance of taking her record over fences to 2-3.

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