Post's Newmarket reporter David Milnes scoops naps prize on dramatic final day

David Milnes, the Racing Post's Newmarket correspondent, won the 2021 naps competition sponsored by Coral and the Racing Post, thanks to a dramatic final-day winner on Champions Day.

Milnes, who is permitted to tip horses only from within the training base, pipped the Scottish Sun's Jim Delahunt with the success of Creative Force in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday.

Creative Force won at odds of 11-2 to put Milnes 49p ahead – with Delahunt tipping fourth-place Art Power. Had he won at 5-1, Creative Force's price only a few minutes before the race started, the Newmarket tipster would have lost by a penny.

Between April 23 and October 16, Milnes napped 63 winners from 155 selections and finished with a seasonal level stake profit of +£33.22.

View the final Naps Competition table here

It was his tenth year representing Newmarket in the competition, and the closest he had managed was third in 2019. He dedicated the win to his mother Jean and press colleague Joe Rowntree, who died earlier this year.

Milnes said on Sunday: "I gave it a special effort this year as my mum died earlier this year and she was so chuffed when I was third that I'd thought I'd give it a go for her. This is dedicated to her.

"I'd also like to thank all the racing professionals in Newmarket as without their help none of this would have been possible. Their help on the gallops was invaluable.

"Finally, I'd like to pay tribute to Joe, who I worked with at various racecourses in the north. When I was third he won it. He told me I needed to nap three winners a week and I've stuck to that. It's paid off."

Creative Force wins the Champions Sprint at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Milnes reflected on watching the racing on Saturday from his home in Moulton, adding: "Just two minutes before the start of the race Creative Force drifted to 11-2 and I was relieved to see that SP on the ticker at the two-furlong pole. It would've been gutting to lose by a penny but it couldn't have worked out any better.

"The last 66-1 shot was in the race at 7.30pm but thankfully that fell out the back of the TV and by 7.31pm the champers was open. There were great scenes."

He plans to spend some of his £4,000 prize on a mini-break in the new year to the Suffolk coast and plans a "proper celebration" with wife Jane and daughters Ellie and Violet next weekend.

Naps Table q&a – secrets shared by the winner

What was your biggest-priced winner?
It was a horse called Mr Professor, trained by Alice Haynes, who won a Kempton nursery in September at 14-1. I was listening to the race while being towed by an AA man in my car, as my wife had put unleaded petrol into a diesel engine. It was quite a bizarre day all round.

How long was your best winning run?
Five. It was in September and started with Space Cowboy winning at Wolverhampton on a Wednesday and up to Native Trail in the National Stakes on the Sunday.

One of David Milnes' images of Native Trail on the Newmarket gallops

Who was the best find from your mornings on the Newmarket gallops?
It'd have to be Native Trail; he's been one of the highlights of the whole year. I've napped him every time. I was lucky enough to see him work on the Limekilns and had him first time at Sandown, then stuck with him.

What do you look for on the gallops?
Showing up well on the gallops is the main event but the more regular you go out and see them, the luckier you get. I'll start my day at 5.10am most days and I'll be out on the heath before 6am. It can be 9.45am before work finishes.

With which trainer have you had the most success?
I particularly like following Sir Mark Prescott. He'd never tell you a horse that's worked well but I make the effort to go out and watch and, although they're not massive prices, they do win regularly and that keeps you in the hunt. You get great banter with him in the mornings too.

What's the main advice to your rivals?
As I referred to, getting three winners a week whatever they are. I'm in a unique position as I can only tip Newmarket horses and a lot of them are talking horses by the nature of the town, so they go off shorter prices. A lot of the others are more form book-oriented, but three winners was drilled into me.

Read some of David Milnes' recent gallops reports

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