Nap of the Day: Good run for Team Skelton can continue

Following hot on Cheltenham's heels, a new season commences at Aintree on Sunday afternoon. The Merseyside venue is one of four across Britain and Ireland racing in the afternoon, with Fontwell, Galway and Wexford also boasting National Hunt cards.

At Aintree, the Grade 2 Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase is the feature event on their curtain-raising card and it can go the way of the in-form Dan and Harry Skelton team.

14:55 Aintree

Fast Racing Results

14:55 Aintree - Boombawn @ 7/2

You can't win the title in October sounds a bit Premier League, but it can be applied to Dan Skelton, too.

The Warwickshire-based trainer came agonisingly close to landing the title of Britain's champion jumps trainer last season, only for Willie Mullins to finish with a masterful flourish - including a Grand National win here at Aintree - to retain the mantle.

Skelton has rarely attempted to hide his desire to land the coveted crown and it does appear a matter of when, not if, he will make his ascent to the top of the National Hunt mountain.

Picking up two races on the opening afternoon of the season at Cheltenham worth a combined £100k was a good start. Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves, perhaps a mantra for Team Skelton in the months to come.

There's £45,560 on offer for the Old Roan winner at Aintree and BOOMBAWN could be the answer for Dan and his brother Harry.

They face the likes of last year's winner Minella Drama and useful sorts with questions to answer in Ahoy Senor and Hitman - all four making their seasonal reappearances.

Boombawn, aged eight, has many less miles on the clock in comparison to those three contenders and this second-season chaser has plenty of scope for better.

His wins last season were at Warwick and Wincanton, both over this 2m4f trip, latterly in the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices' Chase when he beat subsequent Desert Orchid Chase winner Soul Icon.

Come the spring, Boombawn was second in the Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton - conceding a 5lb penalty to the winner Rubaud - and then ran well over this course and distance in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase won by Impair Et Passe.

On his final outing he perhaps didn't quite last out over 2m6½f in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown won by top-notcher Gaelic Warrior with today's rival Hitman eased off in behind him.

Boombawn has twice before won on his return from an absence so he should be ready to do himself justice. A mark of 153 looks reasonable, he's got potential to achieve higher, while plenty of these rivals must prove they are still equal to their ratings given their most recent trajectories.

Nap Of The Day from Betfred Insights.