Nap of the Day: A Little Ledgend with a huge chance

The drift told in regards to Realta Liath, who never got into the race, at Market Rasen on Friday. She finished a distant fourth in the end. Very disappointing.

I've got high hopes that Nap of the Day followers will be back in the winners' enclosure on Saturday, though, courtesy of one for tip-top connections at Taunton.

One of my favourite angles into a bet is an elite jockey swerving the big meetings - and on Saturday, Sean Bowen heads to Taunton over Ascot and Haydock.

The champion jockey has a ride in every race in Somerset, including LITTLE LEDGEND for boss Olly Murphy in the lucky last.

Racing at this lowly level can be unpredictable, but I think the six-year-old son of Yeats has a right chance of earning the first victory of his career.

A £46k purchase following a fine effort in a point-to-point at Quakerstown in March 2024, he showed plenty in defeat in a Class 3 bumper at Ascot subsequently, behind the 128-rated Kdeux Saint Fray and Blues Singer (115).

However, he failed to build on that promise, barely sighted in novice events at Ffos Las, Chepstow and Fontwell between April-October last year before a much-improved performance at Windsor, on handicap debut off an opening mark of 102, in November.

That was a 0-130 contest - a significantly stronger one than Saturday's - and he finished fourth of eight, seven lengths off the pace.

He had his sights lowered just days before Christmas, but despite being sent off off 7/5f under Lewis Stones for a 0-105 over an extended 2m3f, it was another defeat on the CV.

I do think he bumped into one in Jhentong Enki, though. Formerly trained by Paul Nolan in Ireland, the seven-year-old, now with Ben Pauling at Naunton Downs, looked a very well-handicapped horse. The fact he followed up at Leicester just a week later proves as much. That one is now rated 112 - and might have more to offer yet.

The handicapper has dropped Little Ledgend a couple of pounds for his exploits in Surrey, which is very generous in my book.

It grants him entry into this 0-100 event and with Bowen back in the driving seat, I'm very hopeful about his chances.

I appreciate we're only 16 days into it, but this is my strongest fancy of the year so far.

Click the link for all the latest Horse Racing Odds

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day