NAP of the Day: Ghaiyyath could be the special one at Bath

It's an exciting time of year for Flat racing fans, as the National Hunt season finished at the weekend and it's now time to build towards the Classics and Royal Ascot. We're scheduled for four meetings on Monday; three in Britain and one in Ireland.

Naas' excellent card features the Listed Woodlands Stakes over 5f, as well as the thoroughly intriguing Blackwater Handicap, which has a €50,000 prize pot. Bath and Lingfield provide the afternoon action, while they also race at Wolverhampton in the evening.

One runner in the Class 4 handicap over a mile at Bath has drawn the attention of our expert and the horse in question will definitely appreciate returning to the grass. He won twice on turf last season and there should be plenty more to come as a four-year-old.

Now trained by Peter Charalambous & James Clutterbuck, SPECIAL GHAIYYATH started his career with Charlie Johnston and placed on several occasions before getting off the mark on his final start for Johnston.

Second in Class 2 novice at Windsor in 2024, he was pretty keen early on that day and would have finished closer if settling better. The son of Ghaiyyath came within half-a-length of getting off the mark at Wolverhampton a couple of starts later, where he was second again.

Eventually getting off the mark last June, he made all the running at Beverley and the result never looked in doubt. He produced a very impressive performance and managed to put three lengths between himself and the runner-up as they hit the line.

This gelding then went to James Tate's yard and he got off the mark on handicap debut at Haydock in September. Admittedly he was a little disappointing when last of 10 at Southwell in October, but he's clearly capable of a much higher level of performance than that.

It was a much better effort when third by a length off this mark at Wolverhampton last time out and his form suggests he's a better performer on turf. With that in mind, returning to the grass is surely a massive positive and it won't be long before he returns to winning ways.

Stuart Williams' Candonomore has returned to form this month and could be a significant danger, especially as he was beaten by a short head off this mark at Yarmouth when last seen. He probably wouldn't need to improve much on that effort to go close once again.

Clive Cox runs the very lightly raced Aspull here and he showed a significant amount of promise in novice company and was a neck away from winning at Salisbury in the summer. Things didn't quite go to plan on handicap debut, but there should be more to come.

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