Nap of the Day: Orionis to star at Bath on Wednesday

Nothing went right for the Nap of the Day on Tuesday. Heavy rain caused a host of non-runners, leaving a field of just three and a hefty Rule 4. The selection was then far too keen out of the stalls and ultimately finished nowhere.

Hopefully my best bet for Wednesday fares better, down in the city of Bath.

I fancy ORIONIS to oblige for William Haggas and Tom Marquand in this 0-85 fillies' handicap at Bath on Wednesday.

The three-year-old daughter of Sea The Stars has progressed steadily this season, improving upon a modest defeat on reappearance at Wetherby in April to finish between Betfred Derby and Royal Ascot runner Al Wasl Storm - rated 92 after winning a Newbury handicap off six pounds lower just over a fortnight ago - and Ammes (90) at Chester.

She opened her account at the third time of asking, at Ripon in June, drawing almost five lengths clear of an admittedly poor field, before following up on handicap debut at Windsor later that month off a mark of 77.

Again, that form is nothing to shout about, but her subsequent fourth in a Class 3 affair at Ascot in July off a couple of pounds higher has significantly more substance to it.

The winner, Chilli Queen, won her previous two races and is climbing the handicap ranks at speed, while the runner-up Crepe Suzette was just touched off in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed) at York's Ebor Festival recently.

I loved the way the selection finished her race in Berkshire, looking especially strong at the line. I think she suited a slight change in tactics, sitting just off the pace rather than making it.

Last time out, Orionis lined up at Salisbury in another Class 3 and bumped into a nice type of Ralph Beckett's called Favorite Memory, a $500k purchase who's clearly blessed with a fair amount of ability. The pair finished a whopping nine-and-a-half lengths clear of the rest of the field.

A three-pound rise for a defeat is always going to look harsh, but I absolutely believe the selection is good enough to defy a revised mark of 82 - especially in this company.

Perfect Your Craft is the main danger according to the betting, but I think she's overrated. The form of her debut win at Salisbury last year is modest and I'm not particularly convinced about the strength of her handicap victory at Doncaster this July. Her mark of 87 feels inflated.

Song Brocade carries a nice weight for the Arc-winning partnership of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. He makes certain appeal, but I'd question how much scope he really has.

I make it between those three, with a confident vote for Orionis in the famous red, white and blue of Cheveley Park, for a trainer in fantastic form (24% strike rate).

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