NAP of the Day: Well-bred debutant to make a winning start

Tuesday marks the start of October and I hope to begin the new month in style courtesy of an expensive and beautifully-bred newcomer for Roger Varian at Newcastle. He's the NAP of the Day.

It's interesting that James Doyle goes to Newcastle on Tuesday evening for just one ride - Roger Varian's SECOND NAME in what looks a modest novice event over six furlongs.

The unraced three-year-old makes serious appeal on paper as a half-brother to stablemate Sakheer, a Group 2-winning juvenile who earned a mark of 114 after just three starts, and the talented Lemista who claimed Group honours for both Ger Lyons in Ireland and more recently Chad Brown in the USA.

On top of that, the son of Exceed And Excel cost KHK Racing, who also own the aforementioned Sakheer, a cool 270k back in October '22.

Does all that mean he's guaranteed to to be useful? No, but it's certainly suggested - and the Doyler's presence provides further clues about his ability.

Second Name has clearly been difficult to train as this is very much a belated debut and he's already been gelded, but he's been found a great opportunity to get off to a winning start.

As the 19:00 Newcastle Odds suggest, it's Thelma's Angel and Minnie Wildes for Gemma Tutty and Charlie Fellowes respectively who provide the main threat to the selection.

The former sets the standard on a cosy success at Ayr back in May, but she's been off the track since then and is burdened by a seven-pound penalty on her return.

Minnie Wildes is also penalised, but for winning a poor race in the mud at Ffos Las. I think the six-length margin flatters her.

As for the other five, serious improvement is required if they're to get involved and that rates an extremely unlikely scenario. I'll be bitterly disappointed if the selection isn't able to beat them and if he's even nearly as talented as his breeding and price tag suggests, he ought to be getting the better of Tutty and Fellowes' runners too.

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