Nap of the Day: Jaccours to keep Bowen ticking over

There are a trio of Monday meetings to enjoy across Britain with afternoon jumps action from Ayr and Plumpton preceding the evening's nine-race Wolverhampton all-weather card.

The champion jockey Sean Bowen is setting a pace his rivals cannot live with this season and he's been in superb form recently. He teams up with long-time ally Olly Murphy for Monday's Nap of the Day at Ayr.

Reigning champion jockey Sean Bowen reached 200 winners in a season for the first time when steering home Harbour Island for Olly Murphy at Ffos Las on Friday.

Bowen, who registered 180 winners when landing the jockeys' championship for the first time last year, joins elite company in bringing up the double century.

Brian Hughes did it most recently in 2021/22 while Peter Scudamore and Richard Johnson (twice) also got there, and of course AP McCoy managed it on nine occasions including registering a record 289 winners in the 2001/02 season.

Bowen appears hell-bent on setting big numbers and has a McCoy-like drive for success.

Ayr has been a happy hunting ground, with Bowen showing a 28 percent strike-rate at the Scottish venue across the last five seasons with 23 winners from 81 rides.

He's got four chances to add to that tally on Monday and JACCOURS for trainer Olly Murphy and owners Grahame and Diana Whateley, the same colours he sported in that landmark win on Harbour Island, could be one to get him on the scoresheet on chasing bow.

Jaccours had shown plenty of promise in three of his four starts over timber prior to winning a maiden at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) late last month under Bowen.

He showed a good attitude to win a sustained battle with runner-up Tommy Pickles, especially after landing awkwardly over the second last, picking up strongly for Bowen's urgings late on and ultimately getting on top with something in hand.

On that evidence a mark of 115 looks to be within range and it's interesting that connections waste no time going over fences here with a horse that appears to have the size and scope to make a chaser.

An Ayr regular and last-time-out winner over shorter, Tommy Combats appears the main danger on paper but Martin Todhunter's charge is now up to a mark of 105 and has struggled to defy three-figure ratings previously.

He is consistent but limited and Jaccours appears to have untapped potential as one of the less-exposed contenders, alongside Big John Wayne for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.

Best Odds Guaranteed

All UK & Irish races. Free Bets, Antepost, Tote, Lucky 15/31/63 bets don’t apply. Eligible from 08:00 on day of race. Excludes Super Extra Place Races. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Click the link for all the latest Horse Racing Odds

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