Napoli to defy top weight again

Nicci Garner

A demanding but interesting meeting faces punters at the Good Friday meeting at Greyville tomorrow night but punters could fatten their wallets in time to buy their family a load of Easter eggs by backing Napoli in Race 6, a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m.

This Alyson Wright-trained gelding has 61kg to carry but had that weight when beating Astroman over this course and distance in his penultimate start. The form has worked out relatively well, with third-placed Phoebus winning at this level next time and following up with a second placing, while fourth finisher Delicious Damowin placed next time.

Napoli went on to run a two-length third behind Roy’s Taxi over 1400m here with the two runners immediately behind him placing next time.

Both his wins to date have come over this distance and jockey Anthony Delpech is building a good rapport, having ridden him twice running. He seems to be holding form and could defy top weight.

The race for second might be won by Charles Lairdtrained three-year-old The Carpenter. He is better drawn than Napoli and has a win and two places from his last three starts.

He was returning from a two-month layoff a week ago, when showing some pace before staying on for third, 1.25 lengths behind Strummer over this course and distance. Anton Marcus will become reacquainted with the gelding.

Kingsmead, who flopped last time out at Scottsville but seems to prefer this track, and Napoli’s stablemate Special Encounter could fill the minor placings.