Nap of the Day: 3/1 Cecilia to Star in the North

It's a frustrating spell for my Nap of the Day selections. Five of the last eight have finished runner-up, and we've had a couple of thirds too. Zero winners.

I suppose the silver lining is that we're at least on the premises, so surely a winner is due - hopefully in the North East on Friday.

Michael Bell isn't one to make Classic entries on a whim, so it's interesting that CECILIA STAR was handed one for the Betfred Oaks earlier in the season.

The three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars earned her ticket after a stylish success on debut here at Newcastle back in March, winning a 1m2f maiden that's worked out pretty well in the meantime.

The runner-up Ghaiyya, rated 72 at the time, has won three of her subsequent six starts, rising 13lbs in the handicap - while the third-placed Arkinthestars has also enjoyed multiple visits to the winners' enclosure.

She was backed into odds-on in the North East - a further indication as to the regard in which she's held at home - and it's fair to say she put in a performance to match.

Connections tried her in Listed company at Newbury a couple of months later, but she raced far too keenly to do herself justice and ultimately beat just one of nine rivals home.

For one reason or another, she wasn't seen for the next 97 days, reappearing at Goodwood in August for her handicap debut off an opening mark of 78.

She wasn't nearly as popular in the market this time - perhaps a sign she needed the run - but still ran respectably, finishing just a length off the pace in third.

The form is nothing to shout home about, but I thought Cecilia Star shaped very much like the best horse in the race, being the last off the bridle before fading in the closing stages.

With that run under her belt and James Doyle taking over in the saddle, I expect a bold bid in this 0-80 handicap over 1m4½f.

Last-time-out winners Timeless Charm and Coedana, plus Dancingintherain for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin, are my idea of the main dangers, but none appeal as much as Cecilia Star, who can shine on her return to Gosforth Park.

Click the links for all the latest Horse Racing Odds and Fast Racing Results

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day