Nap of the Day: Thunder to strike at Ascot

It's been a joyless week for Nap of the Day followers, but I've got high hopes about a return to form on Friday.

Ascot is the destination for my newest selection - a lightly-raced three-year-old making his handicap debut off a lenient-looking mark.

Victorious Racing, of Bradsell fame, have a couple of good chances at Ascot on Friday, including RIDE THE THUNDER in this 0-85 handicap over 1m2f.

Roger Varian's three-year-old fetched 400k guineas as a yearling in October 2023, and he's shown plenty of ability during his career so far.

The Night Of Thunder colt was runner-up to the 94-rated God Of War on debut at Doncaster last July, before occupying the same spot behind Yabher (87) at Doncaster on Betfred St Leger day in September. On both occasions, he shaped as if there was significantly more under the bonnet.

The selection bumped into one - Almeric, rated 113 after winning the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on reappearance this April - at York the following month. He was only a length behind and over four clear of the rest of the field, including Magellan Cloud (81), so it's fair to say that's a strong piece of form.

After a subsequent 235-day break, Ride The Thunder got off the mark at the fourth time of asking at Nottingham, beating some useful rivals on his first attempt over further than a mile. He seemed to really enjoy the greater test of stamina.

There ought to be a good bit more to come from this horse over such trips - and his mark of 84 looks very fair on what he's achieved to date.

On top of all that, his trainer's in good form at present, operating at a 25% strike rate courtesy of seven winners from his last 28 runners.

Of Ride The Thunder's 10 rivals in Berkshire, it's Notimeforchitchat, Meblesh and Londoner I fear most.

The former looked a different horse in first-time blinkers at Kempton last time out, but he's up seven pounds for that victory, which looks very harsh to me.

Meblesh has only a four-pound rise to contend with for his triumph in a three-runner affair at Lingfield. More is needed, though, and he's a bit exposed in relation to the selection.

Londoner poses the biggest threat as far as I'm concerned. The five-year-old is enjoying a revival of sorts and a replication of his latest run behind a highly-progressive rival, off an unchanged mark, gives him every chance.

However, none appeal as much as Ride The Thunder, who rates my Nap of the Day.

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