Racing UK's The Score in contention for Racing Post Naps prize

Racing UK’s Andy Stephens, alias The Score, heads into the final day of the Racing Post Naps competition on Thursday in third place.

The latest contest began in late October and features the daily naps of 50 tipsters, including all the national newspapers. It is only the second time that Racing UK have taken part.

A notional £1 is placed on all selections at SP with the winner decided by overall profit. Stephens’ selections have yielded £47.50 - much more had you taken early prices.

He trails the leader, Jim Delahunt of The Scottish Sun, by £6.42 and is hoping his final tip, Last Goodbye, who runs in the 6.05 at Punchestown, elevates him to the top. He is available at 16-1.

Delahunt’s last selection is a non-runner, so he cannot extend his lead.

Stephens led the table at the start of the week but the closest he has come to finding a winner was on Monday at Beverley when Dragstone Rock (6-1) lost a shoe on the way to post before being caught in the final strides after being matched at 1-5 in-running on Betfair.

“I fancy I may end up rueing that £7 swing but every player in the Naps table will have suffered similar misfortune over the past six months,” Stephens said. “There have been three different leaders in the past week and there is still everything to play for but Jim must be long odds-on to take the crown.

“I probably should have been a little more conservative with my final selection but Last Goodbye is favourably handicapped back over hurdles, has been crying out for the step up to three miles and has a promising 5lb claimer on his back. Had I not napped him - and he won - I’d never forgive myself.

“The negative is that he has 24 rivals to beat, including Glenloe - who I napped when he was beaten a nose at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s the one I fear most.”

Winning naps for Stephens in the Coral-sponsored competition have included Becky The Thatcher (33-1), Smooth Stepper (16-1), Benbens (14-1), Smaoineamh Alainn (11-1) and Brandon Castle (10-1).

The winner receives £4,000 and the coveted naps trophy. The runner-up gets £1500 and the third £500. A new Naps Table begins on Friday.

Stephens won the competition when sports editor of the Evening Echo, a regional newspaper based in Southend and Basildon, 20 years ago but never got the chance to defend his title because he moved to The Times soon after.

The 50-year-old left The Times late in 2015 and has been working for Racing UK almost two years.