Nap of the Day: Hughes’ hopes Upfordebate at Carlisle

Fairyhouse must pass an inspection on raceday and so Monday's NAP comes from Carlisle, where former champion jockey Brian Hughes will be attempting to add another success on the northern circuit after a good weekend.

14:35 Carlisle

Brian Hughes is the top rider at Carlisle across the last five seasons, partnering 43 winners at a decent strike-rate of 17 percent.

He remains the dominant force on the northern racing circuit and the two-time champion jockey showed his class when taking full advantage of the opportunity to partner promising youngster Manlaga for Nicky Henderson on Saturday as they won the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock in good style.

Hughes was also on target at Musselburgh on Sunday, teaming up with long-time ally Donald McCain Jnr to win on Roses All The Way under a positive front-running ride.

14:35 Carlisle – Upfordebate @ 9/4

That's exactly the sort of tactical approach he may deploy on UPFORDEBATE in the Book Your Raceday Hospitality Now Handicap Chase over an extended three miles on Monday.

The Patrick Neville-trained seven-year-old is progressing nicely over fences, winning four of his last five starts since August.

He was last spotted scoring in first-time cheekpieces at Sedgefield (3m2½f, soft) in early December, racing handily before pulling clear to beat the favourite, Jamesisconn, by 12 lengths.

He has gone up 9lb in the ratings for that win and jumps into Class 3 company now but the progressive nature of his profile suggests he is worth a crack in this grade.

He carried 12st to victory at Sedgefield last time and connections opted for a break given the busy spell he had come through.

He has looked at home equally on good/soft ground thus far over fences and will be fine on the forecast 'good to soft-soft in places' going here.

Irish raider Ayiko for Stuart Crawford looks a certain danger having finished second at Haydock in a beginners' contest over 2m4f in December on his only fencing start.

Upfordebate carries just 10st 7lb here, which could be a big help to him in receipt of weight from all six rivals, and this Mount Nelson gelding could be up to the challenge of giving Hughes another winner at Carlisle.

Nap Of The Day with Betfred Insights.