NAP of the Day: Betfred Derby? Perhaps not – but Ponte plays

The less said about Tuesday, the better. Did I really wait five months for that? Really?

Tricky fare on Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival, so my attention switches to the flat - Pontefract to be precise - in search of a winning NAP of the Day.

After a slow start to the season, William Haggas is coming into form, with four winners from his last eight runners.

That's a good omen for INFRAAD, who I expect to take the world of beating at Pontefract on Wednesday.

The three-year-old son of Ghaiyyath is a half-brother to Pretty Polly heroine Nezwaah who began his career at Doncaster back in October, finishing second best to Karl Burke's Golden Story in a five-runner maiden over a mile.

Golden Story is, like Infraad, entered in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on 6 June, which he might take in via the Dante at York in just over a fortnight's time.

Five lengths behind the selection in third at Donny was Arbaawy for John Butler. He'd already earned a rating of 79, which looks a fair assessment on the evidence of his fourth in a Newmarket handicap won by Betfred 1000 Guineas hopeful Darn Hot Gallop at Newmarket the other week.

Infraad wasn't seen again at two, making his comeback from 166 days off the track at Nottingham on the eighth day of the month, going on to finish third of nine, three-and-a-half lengths off the pace, behind the Irish Derby-entered Bay Royale and 82-rated Hatteen.

A disappointing return on the face of it, but he was far too keen under Cieren Fallon and as previously mentioned, it wasn't exactly a prolific time for the yard.

With that run under his belt and the team at Somerville Lodge now going great guns, a big run is anticipated in a race that won't take much winning.

Leighton is respected for the red-hot Gosdens, but the son of Frankel needs to leave his debut effort a long way behind on return from a 177-day layoff.

Karl Burke's Asia Force ran twice at the start of the calendar year so fitness shouldn't be as much of an issue for him, but more is needed if he's to put it up to Infraad.

Night Wolf isn't without a chance on the form of his York debut, but he was extremely disappointing at Redcar in October and this is a big ask, especially after 184 days on the sidelines.

Even more is asked of Brian Ellison's Irish recruit Sea Lantern. The four-year-old concedes a whopping 24lbs to the field.

Finally, Why Not Win makes his debut for Charlie Johnston. If my assessment of the selection is right, he'll need to run to a mark close to 90 to win this. That's hard to envisage.

I'll be very, very surprised if Infraad doesn't do the honours here under Tom Marquand, who takes over in the saddle. There's so much to like about his chances.

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