Nap of the Day: 5/2 Haggas filly can take big step forward

It’s been a fruitful start to the week for Nap of the Day followers courtesy of two Karl Burke juveniles – one suggested by yours truly on Tuesday and the other by my colleague Alan on Wednesday.

I'm going off script on Thursday, but hopefully the result will be no different.

Excuses will soon run out for expensive filly ITRAAQ if she doesn't win this fillies' novice stakes over 1m2f at Nottingham on Thursday.

William Haggas' three-year-old, who Shadwell bought for 575k guineas back in October 2023, could only manage a remote sixth of 10 on her belated debut at Leicester last month.

The daughter of Sea The Moon was friendless before the race in the East Midlands and never threatened the front three, headed by James Fanshawe's 94-rated Pina Sonata who I think is a very smart prospect indeed.

However, there was promise in her run. She was fighting an uphill battle after a bad break and looked particularly green rounding the bend for home. Her effort petered soon after reaching the three-furlong pole, which is more than forgivable under the circumstances. Dare I say she was catching the eye until that point.

Itraaq ought to strip much fitter and be more streetwise this time round - and she's likely to appreciate the extra couple of furlongs. Out of Group 2-winning mare Jazzi Top, who excelled over 1m2f, she's certainly bred to.

I envisage at least half a stone of improvement, which would give her an excellent chance of landing this modest contest.

Jeanne Baret just about sets the standard. She improved nicely for her debut at Pontefract in April to finish runner-up to an odds-on shot for Ralph Beckett at Chelmsford earlier this month. She was ultimately brushed aside, though, and there's not much depth to that form.

Opera Wave was a couple of lengths ahead of the selection in Leicestershire, but there's something to be said about the manner in which both horses were ridden out to the line. Also, the selection rates a more obvious improver.

Ela's Gem's eye-catching sixth at Wolverhampton last November grants her solid claims in this company, but that was 232 days ago so fitness can't be guaranteed. Nightsinwhitesatin is hard to advise on what he's achieved to date.

A market check is advised on Lothbury for James Owen and The Gredley Family. Their son of Australia, who's had an outstanding season courtesy of the Betfred Derby hero Lambourn and Cercene who landed the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, wouldn't need to be special to win this on debut.

However, it's the beautifully-bred, powerfully-connected and race-fit Itraaq who appeals most at attractive odds.

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