Nap of the Day: Upon inspection, I’m all in on Javert

The weather has put paid to the card at Fairyhouse, so it’s full focus on Trials Day at Cheltenham for Nap of the Day purposes.

I’ve opted for one at a bigger price than usual, who believe to be rather well-handicapped.

Initially, I thought Jagwar was Nap material in the handicap chase over 2m4½f at Cheltenham on Saturday, but upon closer inspection I prefer JAVERT ALLEN in receipt of stacks of weight.

Don't get me wrong, Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's seven-year-old, winner of the Plate at last year's Festival, has every chance. He ran well in the December Gold Cup over course and distance on seasonal reappearance last month, during a difficult spell for the yard, and is entitled to come on plenty for it.

However, he remains a difficult ride and isn’t the best of jumpers – something his trainers admitted themselves on Betfred’s Road To Cheltenham. He's also up another pound. He's certainly not bombproof as far as I’m concerned.

In addition, I just cannot ignore how well Javert Allen's form is working out. Check this out.

On seasonal reappearance at Aintree in November, he finished fourth of nine, five lengths off the pace, in a red-hot handicap off a mark of 127.

The winner? Ben Pauling's Mambonumberfive, who went on to win his next two starts, including the G2 Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas by a mere seven lengths. He's now rated 146 (+18 from Aintree) and bound for the Arkle in March.

Within a length of Mambonumberfive was Highlands Legacy for the O’Neills. He should've got the job done at Newbury subsequently, off three pounds higher, but made amends at Windsor last Sunday - again off three pounds higher. He's set for another rise when the handicapper has his say on Tuesday.

The form boosts don't stop there. Glengouly was third on Merseyside, off 119, before landing the aforementioned December Gold Cup off 128, earning a further rise of three pounds.

And how about Jour d'Evasion, who finished just over four lengths behind Javert Allen? He's 3-3 in the meantime, completing the hat-trick off a mark of 132 (+13) at Warwick on Friday. I suspect he'll also get another couple of pounds added on Tuesday.

It's a serious piece of form - as is, albeit to a lesser extent, the selection's second at Newbury later that month.

His conqueror that day was Ryan's Rocket for Fergal O'Brien, who was right in contention before falling at the eighth fence in the Desert Orchid, won by subsequent Clarence House runner-up Thistle Ask, at Kempton over the festive period off six pounds higher. It was too early to confidently predict where he'd have finished, but the SP favourite looked full of running.

Javert Allen has been raised a couple of pounds for his exploits in Berkshire, but his new mark is just a solitary pound higher than it was at Aintree for his first start of the season. He looks seriously well-handicapped, in receipt of a whopping 21lbs from Jagwar.

There could also be more to come at this trip. He's yet to go further than the minimum, so it's a question that needs answering, but given he's from the family of Eldorado Allen and Auvergnat, there's cause for optimism on that front.

It’s a competitive race, of course it is, but the majority of the field hide nothing from the handicapper, whereas I think Javert Allen is well ahead of his mark. He has a huge chance at a lovely price if putting it all together.

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