NAP of the Day: Kennedy to get Straight on the Punchestown scoresheet

There are four midweek meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, with a trio of jumps cards in the afternoon from Southwell, Ludlow and Punchestown before they go on the Polytrack at Kempton in the evening.

Wednesday's Nap of the Day has already displayed some clear promise over hurdles and is fancied to open his account for in-form rider Jack Kennedy at Punchestown.

13:40 Punchestown – Straight John @ 3/10

Jack Kennedy is seemingly on course for a second Irish jockeys' title. He heads for Punchestown on Wednesday with a century of winners just eight away. Darragh O'Keeffe (81) will do well to erode the gap and while Paul Townend (64) in third may have a big few months to come, the chasm between him and Kennedy is surely too large.

Few would begrudge Gold Cup-winning rider Kennedy his second title. He edged out Townend 123-119 in a duel for the crown in the 2023/24 season, despite a suspension leaving him sweating at the finale in Punchestown.

His defence of that title was scuppered as he suffered a broken leg for the sixth time in his career in the middle of last season, but Kennedy is enjoying a majestic spell this time around.

Big winners are coming with regularity and he is surely looking to Cheltenham in three weeks' time with a splendid book of rides to come.

STRAIGHT JOHN may not be amongst them, but the Robcour-owned son of Doctor Dino has locked swords with a couple of smart novices that are Cotswolds-bound in his two outings thus far.

13:20 Punchestown Odds

He was sixth in a Leopardstown maiden at Christmas as Kennedy brought home stablemate Ballyfad in good style from Willie Mullins' Leader D'allier in second spot.

Ballyfad was inched out in a Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 on his next start, while Leader D'allier repelled Straight John (second) to win a 2m maiden (heavy) here last month.

Straight John and Kennedy had no answer there but were in turn a dozen lengths clear of the remainder.

Both Ballyfad and Leader D'allier are deemed likely candidates for whichever of Cheltenham's Grade 1 novice hurdles they take aim at next month.

There doesn't appear to be anything quite of that ilk lurking in this opening Punchestown contest, with no Mullins representative in the field, ensuring Straight John looks very well placed to open his account and further embellish Kennedy's 28 per cent strike-rate across recent weeks as the first of three decent opportunities for Elliott's top pilot on this card.

Nap Of The Day with Betfred Insights.