NAP of the Day: My eyes have it for Al Khawssaa this time

Following a 2/1 winner there on Tuesday, we return to Southwell just 24 hours later in search of back-to-back winning NAPs.

It’s another once-raced three-year-old who gets the nod to get off the mark at the second attempt.

Six go to post for this fillies’ novice over seven furlongs and while I wouldn’t go quite as far as to call it an outright match, I do find it hard to see past The Eyes Have It and Al Khawssaa who top the 17:38 Southwell Odds.

The pair, trained by William Haggas and Roger Varian respectively, renew rivalries after finishing within a length of each other in a similar event at Kempton exactly three weeks ago.

It was The Eyes Have It in second and AL KHAWSSAA in third that day, but I predict a form reversal in Nottinghamshire.

The selection – a three-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder – was a debutant at Kempton, whereas her rival was having her second start after bolting up by six lengths on her debut at Yarmouth just under a month prior.

Also, Al Khawssaa was hampered on the bend into the home straight when James Doyle looked to be beginning to make a move, losing substantial momentum behind the eventual 1-2.

With plenty of improvement expected for both the run and the experience, plus a bit more luck in running, I am rather hopeful that the placings can be reversed under the exact same conditions at Southwell.

What about the other four hopefuls? Newcomer Zip It Up makes plenty of appeal on his price tag, breeding and connections, but he’d have to run to a mark in the mid-80s, potentially touching 90 first time out which is a very tough ask.

Jiwin’s form leaves a bit to be desired, let alone the fact she’s returning from a 459-day layoff. Likewise, Muddy Mooy has been off the track since January and she’s burdened by a penalty for winning a modest race.

Melon Twist is interesting as she made huge progress between her first and second runs, but ultimately she’ll need to take another leap forward if the selection improves as much as I expect her to.

Fingers crossed Southwell can continue proving a happy hunting ground this week.

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