Nap of the Day: Put your hands up for Detroit

In the midst of some time off, I'm dipping in with a rogue Nap of the Day selection on Thursday. You lucky lot...

It's a trip to Clonmel in my bid to get back among the winners, putting my faith in a Gordon Elliott-trained bumper horse.

Scarecrow is indeed a fearsome rival for DETROIT MAVERICK in the bumper at Clonmel on Thursday.

Willie Mullins' five-year-old son of Walk In The Park is a half-brother to 2018 Moscow Flyer hero Getabird and this race was used for subsequent Grade 1-winning hurdler Doctor Steinberg last year.

Mullins also went close in earlier renewals of the two-mile event with the likes of Toad Hall (runner-up in 2023) and Polo Lounge (also second in 2022) - both of whom also donned the black, white and yellow silks of Malcolm Denmark.

However, this is Scarecrow's very first day at school and he wears a tongue tie. The latter tempers enthusiasm a bit.

He's going to need to be every bit as useful as his profile suggests he could be in order to get the better of Gordon Elliott's match-fit and more experienced six-year-old.

The son of Flemensfirth ran thrice between the flags before making his rules debut in a Fairyhouse bumper in mid-January, finishing runner-up to Mullins' 11/10f The Wager by under a length.

He was seventh of 21, just over four lengths off the pace, in the Champion Bumper at the recent Cheltenham Festival, advertising the form in no uncertain terms.

Detroit Maverick was second best on return to Fairyhouse in February, to another Closutton inmate - the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned Look Me.

The five-year-old son of Jeu St Eloi was just touched off in the valuable Sales Bumper at the County Meath venue 10 months prior and the third-placed Bois d'Angos, who was seven-and-a-half lengths behind the selection, has won since, clocking a Racing Post Rating of 120.

It's a high standard Elliott's runner sets and for my money, he's deserving of favouritism in this field. So, it goes without saying he rates a standout bet in what looks a match with Mullins' debutant.

Whisper it, but I couldn't put anyone off backing him in a double with the aforementioned Look Me for the Supreme and/or Turners at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival either (I know, I know).

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