Nap of the Day: 5/2 shot ready to fire at Hereford

It's fair to say Tuesday's selection bumped into one at Uttoxeter. The rain fell, turning the ground heavy, and the unexposed winner relished it. It happens.

Hopefully it's back to winning ways on Wednesday, courtesy of one at Hereford that's attracted a big-name jockey.

I think one of, if not the strongest maiden hurdle staged in Britain so far this season was at Warwick just under three weeks ago.

The winner was Harry Derham's Cristal d'Estruval, a £400k point-to-point winner with a big reputation, who pulled three lengths clear of Baron Noir, a Punchestown Festival bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in cosy fashion at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, for Alan King.

Bossman Jack, who finished third, is no mug either. Dan Skelton thinks a fair bit of this horse, who defied greenness to win comfortably on debut in a bumper at Wincanton at the start of the year. He'll win plenty of races, I'm sure.

In fourth was LOADED AND LOCKED - my fancy for this 2m3½f maiden at Hereford on Wednesday.

Emma Lavelle's five-year-old fetched £80k at the sales after winning between the flags back in mid-January and the son of Malinas was backed off the boards ahead of his debut in a bumper at Worcester a couple of months ago.

He obliged in the style of a good one and then gave a good account of himself in defeat at Warwick. He was 10 lengths off the winner, but I don't think that's a bad effort at all given the potential strength of the race.

I don't think he faces anything of Cristal d'Estruval, Baron Noir or Bossman Jack's ilk in Herefordshire on Wednesday.

It's not a poor race by any means, as Laguna Beach, Can You Hear Me and jumping debutants Jukebox King and Passing Diamond have claims, but I think the selection sets a pretty strong standard.

The yard hasn't been in the best of form lately, so it was encouraging to see one of their other novices, Modern Man, bolt up at Chepstow on Saturday - and the booking of top jockey Harry Cobden for Loaded And Locked is a major positive.

I think he'll take a bit of beating at the second time of asking over timber.

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