Nap of the Day: This is the One Horse to back on Saturday

For a moment in the home straight, I did think The Doyen Chief, who drifted badly beforehand, was going to win for Nap of the Day followers at Cheltenham on Friday. But it wasn't to be, as Alan King's eight-year-old tired late on.

I always thought it was going to be a difficult day for punters, but Saturday looks a little more friendly to my eye - and I'm hoping to make the perfect start in the opener at Prestbury Park.

I'm convinced the Triumph Trial at Cheltenham on Saturday is weaker than the one staged at the November Meeting - so I expect ONE HORSE TOWN to go in again.

Harry Derham's three-year-old won the Grade 2 exactly four weeks ago in good style, beating the highly-regarded Precious Man for the Skeltons by just under four lengths.

I suspect the runner-up would oblige on Saturday, let alone the selection, who bids to extend his unbeaten record to five-from-five.

One Horse Town, who won races at Hexham, Stratford and Kempton by a combined 53 lengths prior to his first visit to HQ, could have even more to offer over this extra half-a-furlong on the New course, too. He was very strong in the finish the last day, on ground described as heavy.

His biggest rival this time, at least according to the betting, is Minella Study for Adam Nicol, who upset the odds-on Ammes in Listed company at Wetherby on his last appearance.

On the face of it, a smart piece of form - but I'm a little bit sceptical. There's every chance the beaten favourite, who didn't jump great, was overrated on account of being trained by James Owen, who's enjoyed success in this division of late with the likes of Burdett Road and East India.

I suppose the fourth-placed Tralee Girl franked the form to a degree by finishing second to the classy Gordon Elliott filly Highland Crystal at Newbury subsequently, but given connections I suspect she was very much in need of the run at Wetherby and therefore improved plenty in the meantime.

Arnolphe is one I can see drifting over the next 24 hours. He's making his racecourse debut and sports a tongue tie. I never like seeing that so early into one's career.

Irish raider Cinammon Coco has a good bit to find as far as I'm concerned, as do those at 16/1 or greater at time of writing.

The one I fear most is Macshadow Des Crai for the red-hot Nicky Henderson. The son of Jeu St Eloi ran to a high level in bumpers over in France, including behind Gary & Josh Moore's Macktoad who made a serious impression at Sandown recently, and he caught the eye in defeat on hurdling debut before crossing the Channel. It'll be interesting to see if the market talks for him.

He will need to be very good if he's to beat the standard-setting One Horse Town first time up, even accounting for his seven-pound penalty. I'm hopeful that won't happen.

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