Nap of the Day: Ben’s mount to star in Premier event

It's Morebattle Day at Kelso on Saturday, which features a classy supporting card. It's in the Grade 2 novice hurdle that my Nap of the Day appears, for a team enjoying a wonderful season.

Fingers crossed it can get even better, courtesy of this exciting, lightly-raced six-year-old.

I'm surprised STARMOUNT isn't the clear favourite for the G2 Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.

The six-year-old son of Mount Nelson is a half-brother to Cheltenham Festival winner Stage Star who was brought to my attention at the start of the season, courtesy of bullish reports from trainer Ben Pauling in a number of stable tours.

It wasn't until early December that the £82k point-to-point recruit made his debut under rules, making all to win a novice event at Wetherby by five lengths.

The form doesn't amount to much, I think it's fair to say, but he did everything right. He travelled. He jumped. He saw it out.

Perhaps the decision to go straight for a Grade 1 - the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day - just 20 days later was a misjudged one.

And yet, he didn't fare too badly, taking the field a long way until weakening late on. The margin of defeat was greatly exaggerated by the omitted hurdles, for me. I don't think he liked the extended run-in on the flat. Not one bit.

A confidence-boosting win, by 15 lengths, in an ordinary affair back at Wetherby followed in the new year, and now he's tried back up in grade with a more suitable gap between races.

He ought to be much more prepared this time and connections retain complete faith in this horse's ability. So do I.

Dan Skelton thinks plenty of his runner, Le Beau Madrik, too, although he carries a three-pound penalty for his victory at Newcastle on Fighting Fifth day in November. He's rated nine pounds inferior to the selection, so has plenty to do.

The Last Cloud has experience on his side and a lot less to find on ORs, but at the same time Patrick Neville's six-year-old looks a tad exposed. I'd be disappointed if Starmount wasn't better than him.

Montemares is dangerous. He was 2-2 before bumping into Turners favourite No Drama This End in the Challow at Newbury over Christmas, behind whom he fared respectably. He's open too improvement and is one to watch in the market.

Gaelic Rover, Lord Byron and the rest are hard to advise in a race like this. I'll be surprised if they were up to the task.

Starmount brings star potential to the table and I think he's got a right chance - certainly more than the oddsmakers do at time of publication.

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