Newsboy fancies his nap, Fat Harry, to win at Newcastle and also hopes A Perfect Day can score at Wincanton and complete his Daily Double

Newcastle hosts an eight-race jumps meeting on Thursday when Newsboy’s Nap, Fat Harry, is fancied to win the 12.50(Image: )

FAT HARRY is fancied to get back to winning ways by beating seven opponents for the Border Minstrel Sunday Lunch Novices’ Handicap Chase (12.50) at Newcastle on Thursday.A record of 11 starts for a horse who has just turned nine demonstrates Fat Harry hasn’t been the easiest horse for his trainers Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson to get to the track.

Fat Harry also failed to hit the target in eight attempts over hurdles but has proved a different proposition since being sent steeplechasing this winter.Having justified 7-4 favouritism when making his debut over the larger obstacles in a novices’ handicap chase at Sedgefield in November, my selection followed up in a similar event over this afternoon’s course and distance eight days later.The hat-trick bid went awry when Fat Harry and Danny McMenamin – Theo Gillard is in the plate here – went under by three-quarters of a length to Hitthehayson at Haydock at the beginning of December.

Newcastle hosts an eight-race jumps meeting on Thursday when Newsboy’s Nap, Fat Harry, is fancied to win the 12.50(Image: )

Fat Harry is 6lb higher in the weights here, but the front pair were 12 lengths to the good of Jaipaletemps, who went two places better at Lingfield in the run-up to Christmas, so everything is in place for a good run here.At Wincanton, A PERFECT DAY should defend his perfect record in the handicap sphere by landing the Oddschecker Cheltenham Free Bets Handicap Hurdle (3.02).THURSDAY’S SELECTIONSWINCANTON12.07 GOLAN LOOP12.42 GAELIC PRIDE1.17 WOLF WALKER1.52 NO GUARANTEE2.27 MEATLOAF3.02 A PERFECT DAY (NB)3.37 RIVERS CORNER4.10 BEAU SPEEDNEWCASTLE11.45 GAELIC ROVER12.15 MADAME LA PAPILLON12.50 FAT HARRY (NAP)1.25 DALY BOY2.00 SWALLOWS SONG2.35 JUNKYARD DOG3.10 TOMMY COMBATS3.45 KILAROLUDLOW12.32 WALKINTHEWOODS1.07 CATCHINTSAVO1.42 PLAINS DRIFTER2.17 ANOTHER FOLLY2.52 GETMETOTHEMOON3.27 GRACCHUS DE BALME4.02 STARS ALIGNCHELMSFORD CITY5.30 VARIETY ACT6.00 PITNEY6.30 KONDRATIEV WAVE7.00 LAZZAR7.30 CARLTON8.00 BISHOP’S GLORY8.30 MELEK ALREEHDOUBLE: FAT HARRY and A PERFECT DAY