The nap of the day is the best bet at the meetings on one day in the opinion of pundits and tipsters. On television and in the Press commentators and writers are expected to suggest the nap of the day. The next best selection is the horse with the second-best chance of winning a race. Tipsters compete to see which one delivers the best record when providing the nap of the day.

The main racing columnist at each of the national newspapers and regional titles compete in a Naps competition. The results are determined based on level stakes and the starting price. Some tipsters always have a favourite as their nap of the day, but others put forward outsiders. If one big priced nap of the day wins the tipster will move up the table and one big winner can compensate for a run of losers.

Television and Nap of The Day

The sole free-to-air broadcasters of racing in the UK is ITV. Their presenters select a nap of the day on the morning show. During the main programme each nap of the day is announced and there is a competitive element about who picks the most winners. On some occasions the nap of the day is an each way bet but more often than not the nap is suggested as win only.

The presenters discuss each nap of the day during the coverage. When one pundit puts forward a winner the nap of the day is highlighted. Despite the race is just right for each nap of the day more lose than win. Even when a TV pundit concentrates on short priced horses for the nap of the day following them blindly for a level stake will not be a profitable strategy over time.

Racing Post and Nap of the Day

The Racing Post is the British racing industry’s trade publication. The paper features a naps table which shows how each tipster has fared during the current season with the nap of the day. There is a prize for the journalist whose nap of the day has made most profit for a level stake. For each meeting a tipster must put forward a nap of the day which is seen to have the best chance of winning a race.

Racing journalists in the mainstream Press also suggest a nap of the day. The paper may feature some reasoning to explain why a particular horse is the nap of the day. However, if you backed every nap of the day for the same stake you would lose money. That shows how difficult it is to identify winners even through the horse has the form and credentials to be a nap of the day.