NAP of the Day: Give 9/4 Tornado a whirl on Thursday

The not-so-great British weather has put paid to my last two NAP of the Day selections, so it's Newcastle's all-weather card I've focused on ahead of Thursday.

I suspect John & Thady Gosden's Byblos will be all the rage ahead of this mile-long, two-year-old maiden at Newcastle on Thursday.

The Frankel colt is a half-brother to Classic winner Siskin, who landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2020, and he caught the eye in defeat on his debut in a warm Kempton novice last month.

However, the Gosdens are in dire form at present. They're not saddled a single success in the last fortnight, during which they've had five losing favourites - three at odds-on.

Don't get me wrong, it would be no surprise if this is the one to break that barren run, but at the prices and with a prospect like TORNADO ALERT in opposition, I'm more than willing to chance otherwise.

Saeed bin Suroor's son of Too Darn Hot was due to make his debut in a Class 3 maiden worth £10k at Ascot early last month, but he was withdrawn on account of the ground and instead started out at Lingfield just over a week later.

He was third in Surrey, beaten just 2½ lengths by the winner Yankee Dude and only a length by the 8/11 favourite Marchogion, whose opening mark has been set at 89.

Both rivals had a fitness and experience edge over the selection, who was keen when racing without cover during the early stages of the seven-furlong contest and hung left down the home straight according to jockey Dylan Hogan.

There ought to be significant improvement to follow as he steps up to a mile and Daniel Tudhope takes over in the saddle.

Bar the aforementioned Byblos, it's William Haggas' Half Moon Boy and Reign Of Honour, also sporting the royal blue of Godolphin for trainer Charlie Appleby, who represent biggest dangers per the 17:40 Newcastle Odds.

The former appeals as the type to come into his own in handicaps, while the latter is a debutant who I believe would have to run to a mark in the mid-80s first time up, which rates unlikely in this case.

Saeed bin Suroor is having a brilliant season despite limited numbers, boasting a 26% strike rate with 15 winners from 58 runners (three from 10 with juveniles), and I'm hoping it can get that little bit better on Thursday evening.

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