Nap of the Day: Elliott and Bowen to strike again up in Ayr

I'm feeling nicely refreshed after an extended weekend - here's to hoping that's reflected in the Nap of the Day results for the rest of the week!

Thursday's selection comes from north of the border, courtesy of a prolific trainer/jockey combination.

Champion jockey Sean Bowen boasts a 45% strike rate for Irish trainer Gordon Elliot this season, courtesy of nine winners from 20 rides.

Extended to all time, it's 51 winners from 191 runners (29%). Highly-impressive numbers.

They're a prolific pair - and I'm hoping they're going to strike again in this two-mile novices' hurdle at Ayr on Thursday.

Bowen rides STEDE BONNET for the Cullentra handler, who must have an outstanding chance even under a penalty.

The five-year-old son of Walk In The Park, who fetched €75k as a store in June 2024, won a couple of bumpers over the summer before a disappointing hurdling debut at the Galway Festival.

But 121 days later, on winter ground, the half-brother to stablemate Shannon Royale put in a much-improved effort here in Scotland on the first day of December, finishing runner-up to Nicky Richards' unbeaten Upon Tweed, who's earned a rating of 132.

Then, back on Irish soil at Tramore, he beat Willie Mullins' 4/9f Arslan, who had the rest of the field trailing by over 24 lengths, by almost five lengths.

A replication of that effort ought to be more than enough to cope with Sanilam (rated 115), Cavalier du Luy (113) and Irandando Has (117), who also shoulder seven-pound penalties.

Irish Champ is interesting. I can see the six-year-old son of Milan, for the 'Double Green' of Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, proving popular with punters in receipt of weight, but he's got a fair bit to find on the selection and Stuart Crawford's only managed one winner in the UK this season.

Belvedere Boy and Run Baby Run have a mountain to climb.

He's got the best form, the best trainer & jockey combo and he acts on the ground. This is also his trip. There's lots to like about Stede Bonnet here.

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