Nap of the Day: 2/1 shot to please punters at Wetherby

No joy at Catterick on Wednesday, as My Bobby Dazzler could only manage third behind a couple of well-backed rivals in the opening veterans' chase. A fine run, though, which makes me think the 11-year-old has at least one more day in the sun left.

There's more options for the Nap of the Day on Thursday, though, with National Hunt racing from Huntingdon, Gowran Park and Wetherby - the latter being the chosen destination.

Ironically, PLEASINGTON is struggling to satisfy trainer Olly Murphy over fences this season.

In a stable tour with Racing TV back in October, the Warren Chase handler described the eight-year-old son of Shantou as a "smashing" prospect who "will be better" than his mark of 128.

That looked a fair assessment after a highly-encouraging debut over the bigger obstacles at Wetherby in November, finishing within a length of Meetmebythesea - a subsequent winner off five pounds higher - and Push The Button - runner-up to Steel Ally in a Grade 2 at Ascot just before Christmas.

However, he failed to build on it when fifth of six, beaten 15 lengths, at Aintree a few weeks later. That was a smart race, though, and he was travelling well before his jumping went to pot over the final four fences - especially the penultimate one.

The selection then went to Newbury before the end of the year and finished a solid second to one of Gary & Josh Moore's called Old Cowboy, who looked set for victory off five pounds higher at Kempton recently before falling two out, in open company.

He was a major eye-catcher in Berkshire. Again, a lack of fluency in the jumping department at the business end of the race left him with plenty to do, but he finished like a train under Sean Bowen, who maintains the partnership at Wetherby on Thursday, for the first time this season.

The handicapper's decision to drop him another pound looks a generous one, which I'm hoping he can capitalise on in this 2m3½f handicap which as far as I'm concerned is a drop in class in all but name.

His main rival according to the betting is the 10-year-old Genois for the O'Neills, who returned to the winners' enclosure over course and distance on Boxing Day after a handful of deplorable efforts throughout the year.

A three-pound rise is fair enough and Benjamin Macey claims seven pounds again, but this is a tougher race and he can't be trusted to run to the same level.

Fine Casting, Geryville, Ned Tanner and Hello Judge are also 10 and vulnerable to younger legs, while the nine-year-olds Doyouknowwhatimean and Johnson's Blue are pretty exposed at this point.

Walk On Quest is the one to keep an eye on, for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore. The seven-year-old has improved for each run so far this season and it'd be no surprise to see him take another step forward here.

That being said, I don't see anything beating Pleasington with a clear round. He ought to get off the mark over fences here.

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