Nap of the Day: Thunder to strike again at Newmarket

It's Betfred 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket on Saturday and forming part of the undercard to the Classic occasion is a sprint handicap worth a cool £50k.

The race has caught my attention, with a course and distance winner selected as my Nap of the Day.

It was bold of William Haggas to send MORE THUNDER over six furlongs on his first start for the yard - a move that paid off handsomely.

The four-year-old son of Night Of Thunder was campaigned almost exclusively over 1m2f during his time under Sir Michael Stoute, which included five runs.

He was awarded an opening mark of 87 after the first three and performed more than adequately off that very rating in competitive handicaps at Chester and Newmarket, before changing hands following the retirement of his former trainer.

So, when the Saeed Suhail-owned colt was dropped in trip at Newmarket just over a fortnight ago, eyebrows were raised.

It proved a wise call, however, as More Thunder looked every inch a sprinter in landing the Class 2 handicap by a couple of widening lengths.

Laboured out of the stalls, he found himself in rear early on and still had several rivals to pass approaching the two-furlong pole. When push came to shove, he showed plenty of gears to hit the front with about half a furlong left to travel, powering further clear at the line.

He carries a five-pound penalty for that success, with his mark due to rise a further three pounds, and I don't envisage that stopping him from going in again on his return to course and distance.

According to the betting, the reopposing Aramram and Woodhay Wonder pose the greatest threat to the selection in the Betfred Handicap on Saturday.

The pair finished second and third respectively at HQ, and they're both five pounds better off this time. They ought to give it a good go, but More Thunder is significantly less exposed, especially over this sort of distance, and he was so in command at the line the last day after a troubled run that I don't envisage a form reversal.

There's other dangers, of course, but I expect More Thunder to take plenty of beating.

Click the links for the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races

Tune into Betfred Insights regularly to find our experts' Nap of the Day