NAP of the Day: Take a Punt on this 10/3 shot at Haydock

We’re heading to Merseyside on Saturday for the NAP of the Day – a young hurdler who’s taken to record his first win of the year.

It was a Dan Skelton-trained, Darren Yates-owned horse who provided us a winning NAP on Boxing Day – and I’m putting my faith in the same connections at Haydock on Saturday.

Punta Del Este, who goes in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle, is yet to win a race since joining the Skeltons from France in January this year, but he’s performed admirably in some good races.

Let me quickly rattle off the names of some of the horses he’s bumped into during his five runs on this side of The Channel: Bo Zenith, Jazzy Matty, Blueking D’Oroux, Richmond Lake, Spirit D’Annou.

I’m confident that he meets nothing of that calibre in this 0-135 affair over 2m3f.

On all known form, the four-year-old son of Gentlewave should already have the beating of both Start In Front and Thereisnodoubt. The former could well finish closer thanks to the seven-pound claim of William Maggs, but I’d be surprised were he to reverse placings.

Rank outsider Jason The Militant is completely out of form so can’t be advised, while Fortescue Wood returns from a 306-day absence off a 13lb higher mark than when winning last time out. That’s a tough ask.

Gaelik Coast is unlikely to be seen to best effect on ground as deep as this and eight-year-old Cheddleton bled on his most recent appearance and appears a better chaser than hurdler.

The selection, meanwhile, has shown an aptitude for conditions and, as well as benefitting from an easier race, could easily improve for going further than the minimum trip for the first time.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying this is his last chance, but there won’t be many left if he can’t win a race of this standard.