Nap of the Day: Shining a light on Doyler’s diversion

Despite classy cards at Haydock and York - to name just two - on Saturday, I'm drawn to the action at Lingfield, where an extremely interesting debutant has earned my vote as the Nap of the Day.

I rarely get involved in unraced two-year-olds, but I am drawn to SHINE ON ME ahead of the 18:40 Lingfield on Saturday.

On paper, Archie Watson's filly makes certain appeal. The Lambourn handler excels with juveniles and this one is by a top sire in Havana Grey and is the first foal out of the brilliantly-named Motsi Ma Boati, who interestingly never actually managed a career on the track.

She fetched 60k guineas as a yearling last September, before getting snapped up by the increasingly-powerful ownership group Wathnan Racing for £160k at a breeze-up just last month.

However, I wonder if the biggest tell about the selection's claims in this fillies' novice over the minimum trip of five furlongs is the presence of James Doyle, Wathnan Racing's retained rider, in the saddle.

The 37-year-old goes to Surrey for this one ride, despite the fact his employers have a couple of fancied runners in richer, more prestigious races on the Betfred-sponsored card at Haydock.

Leovanni, whom James has partnered on all four starts of her career to date, including to victory in the Queen Mary at last year's Royal Ascot, bids for £31k and Listed honours in the Betfred "The Classic Bookmaker" Achilles Stakes - while Hamad Al Jehani's 91-rated Fine Interview is, at time of publication, at the head of the market for the sprint handicap half-an-hour earlier.

To me, that strongly suggests a fair bit is expected of Shine On Me at Lingfield.

If she is as good as jockey bookings have led me to believe, this is an ideal starting point for her.

Charlie Appleby's Twilight Star sets the standard after placing in a couple of Class 2 contests at Newmarket already this spring, but it's not a particularly high one. She's vulnerable at short odds, especially with William Buick on Merseyside.

Likewise, Justice Twice has run to an ordinary standard in the first three starts of her career - while Guernsey Lady and Ocean Pie do little to inspire.

Fellow newcomer Queen Evie makes some appeal for Clive Cox, but Nebrook Star is hard to advise, all things considered.

It's the one in Godolphin blue to beat as far as I'm concerned, and at 5/1 I think it's well worth taking a chance on Shine On Me doing just that.

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