Nap of the Day: Walker inmate becoming a Lord of Lingfield

There are four cards to look forward to on New Year's Eve, with jumps racing from Warwick and Uttoxeter, all-weather fare from Lingfield and Irish action at Punchestown.

We've surveyed the day's 29 races, and our NAP for Wednesday, December 31, comes from Lingfield's polytrack, where a returning hero is backed to double up in the Nursery at 13:00, a race that includes the added bonus of Betfred paying three places rather than two.

13:00 Lingfield Odds

After struggling to 11th from 11 runners on debut at Nottingham in June, LORD HARCOURT has gradually hinted at something more.

The two-year-old was then fourth at Thirsk and sixth at Yarmouth, on both occasions by three-and-a-quarter lengths, but it was September's second at Newcastle that stood out.

That was his first run on the all-weather, placing behind Clifford Lee's Dark Angel Star, running well but struggling to complete the job and move clear in the final furlong.

Lord Harcourt was back on the all-weather on December 8 and the penny dropped as he beat Akabusi by a head to record his first career victory.

There's potential for more, as his success three weeks ago came in his first run since being gelded.

It's also good to know that Kieran Shoemark has been booked again to take him over the same 6f trip as in his previous C&D win.

Shoemark had a winner for trainer Ed Walker at Newcastle on Monday, his third victory in 17 rides over the last fortnight.

Intriguingly, this is Shoemark's only booking on either Tuesday or Wednesday and Walker, who also has Crystal Dagger in Lingfield's Fillies' Handicap at 15:00, has real recent form to call on with four scorers from his last 12 sent out.

Lord Harcourt showed he isn't scared to get in the action in his previous victory, with that race a combative affair that saw him bumped 4f out before coming through in the final furlong.

Akabusi was also in the mix, leading before dropping back 110 yards from home and not quite making it back up.

Dylan Cunha's gelding is again one to watch but Lord Harcourt is only expected to get better and the form keeps improving from his victory earlier in the month, with the third, George Boughey's Green Dame, a winner at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day.

There's something to like about Walker's spirited inmate and a second victory over this trip is the call for Wednesday's NAP.

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