Nap of the Day: Owen makes History his best bet for Saturday

Luck wasn't on our side on Friday as the Nap of the Day slipped and unseated his rider on the turn for home while travelling like a good thing. The wait for our first winner of the week continues.

It's last chance saloon on that front - no pressure - but confidence is high about Saturday's selection on Grand Sefton Day at Aintree.

I think HIDDEN HISTORY, who makes his debut over fences at Aintree on Saturday, could be a bit of a money-spinner for the title-chasing Skeltons this season.

The seven-year-old, who sports the red, white and blue silks of the Noel Fehily syndicate, left Chris Gordon's base in Hampshire for Warwickshire at the start of the year, and the improvement was instant.

He ran out a ready winner of a 15-runner handicap at Uttoxeter in March on his first start for brothers Dan and Harry, pulling over three lengths clear of the field - and it's fair to say that form has worked out rather well.

The runner-up, Wellington Arch for Jonjo & A J O'Neill, subsequently landed a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree's Grand National meeting before placing in a Listed event at the Punchestown Festival. He's rated 13lbs higher today.

Hidden History was put up seven pounds for his exploits in Staffordshire - a rise he very almost defied at Perth the following month.

He finished just a neck behind Rambo T, winner of the Silver Trophy at the Welsh Racing Festival last month off a four-pound higher mark, and three lengths clear of the third-placed Chasing Fire, who bolted up last time out and is favourite for the Pertemps Qualifier earlier on the card at Aintree on Saturday.

That's another strong piece of form and as far as I'm concerned, a three-pound rise is a generous result. Very generous.

I think he's got unfinished business over hurdles, so if the point-to-point winner proves an even better chaser as his trainer expects, he could have any amount in hand.

Dan Skelton told Sporting Life: "He is definitely a chaser and I would say there is a good bit of improvement to come over fences. I only feel like we really scratched the surface with him last season."

If I had to put a number on it, I'd say he could easily be up to 10 pounds ahead of the handicapper - and while I think Andy Amo and Champagne Twist are also open to significant improvement, I don't think they've got quite as much scope.

For me, Hidden History is deserving of favouritism for this novices' handicap chase over 3m1f, so he rates an outstanding bet at present.

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