NAP of the Day: Rudi’s the Apple of my eye on Monday

Following a nice winner at Listowel, my attention remains on the action across the Irish Sea as I bid for back-to-back NAP of the Day selections on Monday.

Listed action on a Monday? What a treat.

Ten juveniles go to post for the Blenheim Stakes over six furlongs, and there's already been support across the board for Ger Lyons' once-raced One Smack Mac.

I must admit, I'm struggling to see why. The Kodiac colt was no doubt impressive on the eye when winning a Naas maiden back in May, but that form has not worked out at all.

The 80/1 runner-up lost her following four starts before getting off the mark in a modest maiden, while the third has been beaten out of sight twice in the meantime. Snapdragon, who was fourth, puts a more positive slant on things, but he's clearly improved and I think he's overrated.

One Smack Mac was of course much superior to his rivals that day and he's open to any amount of improvement, but the suggestion is to look elsewhere.

RUDI'S APPLE is the highest-rated (101) of the other nine runners and as much as I think that overestimates him, he's my idea of the winner.

Joseph O'Brien's son of No Nay Never broke his duck at the fourth attempt, giving the aforementioned Snapdragon - an improved, race-fit version - seven pounds and a beating in a handicap at the Curragh in July.

A month later he was pitched into Group 1 company for the Phoenix Stakes and he finished dead last, but that was an ambitious assignment to say the least. He fared a lot better when third in a Group 3 won by the exciting Ides Of March a few weeks later.

That's the standout piece of form here and unless something like the aforementioned One Smack Mac, Itsatenfromlen, Easy Mover or Kodilicious takes a significant step forward, Rudi's Apple can notch a second victory.

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