On a roll with the old Naps after Sunday’s 10/1 winner was followed yesterday by a favourite of ours Marshal Dan (11/2 early, 4/1 SP) who enjoyed the trip up to Musselburgh with a cosy win. The hat-trick perhaps? Well it’s Newcastle all the way…
NAP OF THE DAY: Humbert, (1845 Newcastle), 1pt win, 5/1:
Once a classy handicapper who won over this course and distance off 97 in 2018. Clearly things haven’t gone too well since as he is here off just 82. He has changed stables a few times and his only run of real credit since that heyday was a 3rd in his one run back here in February (off 87). Showed a hint of form when 4th in a big field at Hamilton two runs ago and it could be worth chancing that the return to these conditions can see a return to form enough to take advantage of his sliding mark.
Island Nation, (1645 Newcastle), 9/4: won very nicely at Kempton two runs ago and was probably a little unfortunate to meet a wild one when pipped there again last time pulling well clear of the rest. He’s up another 4lbs but he seems to have found his niche on the all weather surfaces and can justify the trip up north under the ever excellent Oisin Murphy.
Pockley, (1815 Newcastle), 5/2: Left his maiden form behind when gamely winning over this course and distance last week. Showed a lot of fight to get back up there and that could be a transformative learning experience. May be too streetwise now for most of these opponents.
Rousayan, (1915 Newcastle), 16/1: a proper monkey and one to handle with care. That said, the handicapper has shown some some real leniency in his older years, now 9lbs lower than when runner up at Beverley as recently as July. Travelled well for a long way, as is his wont, before a close 5th here last time, has been dropped 2lbs for that and gets the additional help of his jockey’s 3lb claim. If she can cajole him to go sweetly then he looks too well handicapped to ignore at a massive price.
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