Nap of the Day: There’s good reason to back this 6/4 shot at Catterick

I referred to the success of the Gordon Elliott and Sean Bowen partnership and the pair were at the double at Ayr on Thursday, including with the Nap of the Day.

A welcome return to the winners' enclosure - fingers crossed for another visit on Friday.

Against questionable rivals, ALWAYS A REASON is fancied at Catterick on Friday.

It's fair to say the seven-year-old has been a slow burner for Rebecca Menzies, taking six attempts to open his account over the smaller obstacles.

His debut victory came at Southwell in early December off a mark of 90, and he went close off three pounds higher less than fortnight later.

Connections then decided it was time to switch tack and send him over fences in a set of cheekpieces. That paid off, as he ran out a two-and-a-half length winner of a 0-100 affair at Newcastle off a career-high mark of 96.

He's up in grade, from Class 5 to Class 4, and he's got a six-pound rise to defy, so more is demanded, but he's on the up and has scope in this sphere. Age is also on his side.

Looking back at his point-to-point form, it's no surprise if he indeed proves a significantly better chaser. He was third behind Forty Coats (fourth in the Turners last year) and the three-time Grade 1 winner Final Demand (rated 158), no less.

And, as I alluded to earlier, there's question marks surrounding his four rivals in North Yorkshire.

Starman, who sports a first-time tongue tie, is 10 years old and on the decline. Same goes for the selection's stablemate, Dalyotin. Even more so, in fact.

Evan Williams' Zero Tolerance is nine and yet to win in 14 starts under rules. So, although his recent form is relatively okay, he's not exactly one to be scared of.

That leaves Ailt An Chorrain for Patrick Neville and three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes. The seven-year-old son of Mahler finished second, albeit a distant one, to Brown Advisory hopeful Wendigo over hurdles around this time last year, before giving weight and a beating to a 114-rated odds-on shot at Newcastle the following month.

If he can rediscover that sort of form in a first-time hood, he's very dangerous off a much-reduced mark of 105. However, his recent efforts have been lifeless so it requires a bit of a leap of faith.

Always A Reason is the rock-solid option as far as I'm concerned and I think this looks a good opportunity for him to make it 2-2 over fences.

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