Nap of the Day: Form boost for Betfred Derby hopeful?

Following winners on Monday and Tuesday - at 5/2 and 6/4 respectively - I'm bidding for a Nap of the Day hat-trick on Thursday.

We go to Leopardstown in search of that three-timer, putting my faith in the all-conquering O'Brien/Moore duo.

The form of Betfred Derby favourite Delacroix could receive a timely boost at Leopardstown on Thursday courtesy of stablemate ACAPULCO BAY.

Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old son of Dubawi finished behind the Classic contender on racecourse debut at the Curragh back in August last year, and then again in the G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown a month ago.

The margin of defeat was under two lengths the first time they met, but a wider eight-and-a-quarter lengths on the second occasion. I don't believe the selection ran to form in Dublin, though.

There's no doubt Delacroix has improved significantly since the Curragh, but Acapulco Bay didn't even beat the reopposing Rock Of Cashel the last day, and I'm far from convinced that's not a true reflection of their respective abilities.

Ryan Moore clearly thinks as much, for the 41-year-old partners the Nap on Thursday.

The last time that happened the Irish Derby entrant opened his account, beating subsequent winners Genealogy and Emit by a widening length-and-three-quarters on return to the Curragh following that encouraging start.

That ended up being his final appearance at two, returning at Naas this March after a 204-day break and proving no match for another useful stablemate, Trinity College. That one really ought to have won the Betfred Blue Riband Trial at Epsom the following month, before a staying-on fourth in the French Derby at Chantilly last weekend.

As far as I'm concerned, he clearly sets the standard ahead of the King George V Cup - a Listed event over 1m4f.

Arouet and Zahrann, for Paddy Twomey and Johnny Murtagh respectively, can give the selection most to think about. Both have just two wins to their name, building on promising debuts to get off the mark at the second attempt.

They bring potential to the table, but Acapulco Bay brings top-class form and if running to anywhere near the best of his ability, I think he'll take all the beating.

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