Yesterday’s runner gave us a decent run, and it's fair to say that the step up in trip certainly didn’t hinder him, but sadly, he couldn’t get the job done.
| Haydock - 12:55 |
My Bobby Dazzler |
16/1 (each-way) |
On Saturday, I’m interested in the opener at Haydock, ahead of which I feel that My Bobby Dazzler isn’t quite getting the respect that he deserves. For my money, odds of 16/1 are a little generous, and with four places on offer with most books, are worth taking each-way.
Mel Rowley’s runner returned for the season with a relatively underwhelming effort at Carlisle back in November, but that’s not exactly unusual for him, while he’s no stranger to improving when running for the second time in a campaign, so I wouldn’t discount him on that basis.
No spring chicken, but there’s plenty to suggest he can thrive here
Now a ten-year-old, there’s a chance that the gelding could be a little beyond his best, but that’s a chance that I’m willing to take after stacking up the positives and considering the odds on offer here.
Let’s face it, he has plenty of positive form in the book, which in relation to this contest is not easy to ignore.
His penultimate race, back in May 2024, saw him beaten by just a neck (in a 16-runner event) over course and distance. This race is by no means more demanding than that was, so such form should be taken seriously.
Going back to January of last year, he finished second at Warwick, doing so from higher in the weights when not overly suited by the three-mile-two-furlong trip, while several of his efforts in 2023, including when placing over C&D and at Cheltenham, tell me that he could be a much bigger player here than early odds of 16/1 suggest.
Last but certainly not least, the speed figure that he generated when finishing a close-up second over C&D back in May rates as the second highest career-best seed rating of any runner in the field. If he retains that ability eight months on, he’s no 16/1 outsider.
All in all, with the gelding having run a couple of very good races over C&D, in contests containing more depth than this, sitting near the foot of the weights, with Toby Wynne’s claim leaving him below his last winning mark, odds of 16/1 look chunky and with four places on offer, and each-way bet is warranted.
Based on a £10 level-stakes example, the Nap of the Day (after 93 Naps) has a running P/L of +£35.00 (since switching to being published here (10/09/2024) rather than on the ‘Nap of the Day' page).
For those interested, here’s a monthly profit and loss breakdown (again based on a £10 level-stakes example):
September 2024 = +£34.00
October 2024 = +£6.00
November 2024 = +£15.00
December 2024 = +£50.00
2024 Overall = +105.00
January 2025 = -£120.00
