Nap of the Day: Dina to walk the walk at Ludlow

We came up short in our bid for a four-timer on Tuesday, as the Nap of the Day could only manage third at Southwell.

Hopefully it's not long before we're back in the winners' enclosure - perhaps at Ludlow on Wednesday?

Back at the minimum trip after catching the eye over further at Cheltenham's November Meeting, WALKADINA is Nap material at Ludlow on Wednesday.

David Pipe's six-year-old looked a mare of significant potential after her debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter just over a year ago, beating Joe Tizzard's useful Sunset Marquesa (rated 119 today) by 13 widening lengths.

That earned her a place in the lineup for a Listed event at Newbury four weeks later, and she gave a good account of herself, finishing fourth of nine, just over four lengths behind the likes of Listentoyourheart (124), Rula Bula (122) and Jubilee Alpha (141). A smart piece of form.

Her season petered out thereafter. A poor showing at Wincanton resulted in wind surgery - and subsequent efforts at Ludlow and Kelso were underwhelming.

In fairness, her second at Ludlow hasn't aged too badly. The weight-receiving Le Yacht, whose winning margin was under a length, won a handicap at Doncaster last weekend and her mark has risen five pounds to 120 as a result.

Walkadina reappeared for the current season off a reduced mark of 115, with 10-pound claimer Rian Corcoran in the saddle, in a competitive handicap at HQ.

A return to form? I think it's fair to say so. She travelled menacingly throughout and was the last off the bridle on the run-up to the final flight. She soon weakened into a relatively distant fifth.

It's easy to excuse her finishing effort, on soft ground, over the furthest distance she's tackled to date, on return from a 237-day absence.

With that run under her belt, back over two miles on a sounder surface and with stable jockey Jack Tudor back on board, she must have an outstanding chance in this company.

The hat-trick seeking Kingston Sunflower is our main danger. Fergal O'Brien's eight-year-old is still relatively unexposed over obstacles, especially for these connections, and could still be ahead of her mark, which has been raised four pounds. This is a significant step up in class, though.

Dan Skelton is represented by Belle Le Grand, who went 2-3 in maiden/novice company prior to a sub-par effort on handicap debut. If that was just an off-day, she's interesting, but there's a fair chance she's simply overrated.

Magical Maggie has a 501-day layoff to overcome, which is a big ask, while Tour Ovalie and O'Grady's Hill have a bit to do at this level.

All things considered, Walkdina must have an outstanding chance.

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