Nap of the Day: The Untamed to run riot at Ripon

Talk about getting it wrong. I was sceptical of Damysus in the Earl Of Sefton on Wednesday, so opposed him with Boiling Point. It was never a contest, as John & Thady Gosden's runner bolted up on the Rowley Mile.

I'm hoping for better judgement on Thursday, as the Nap of the Day comes from the opening race at Ripon.

After a promising debut at Chelmsford last month, THE UNTAMED is fancied to open his account at at Ripon on Thursday.

Richard Hannon's three-year-old son of Bated Breath was runner-up, by just over two lengths, to Michael Appleby's odds-on favourite Moscow Power in Essex.

The latter wasn't disgraced on debut at Haydock on his debut in May, finishing behind a couple of highly-rated Godolphin runners in Maximized (98) and Time To Turn (107) - nor in a red-hot novice at Nottingham featuring the likes of Reciprocated (91), Silent Applause (96), Front Line Fury (87) and Sir Albert (99) a month later.

So, it was a fine effort from the selection, who was gelded at the start of the year, to give a 78-rated rival two pounds and something to think about at Chelmsford on what was his very first day at school.

The Untamed was almost three lengths clear of Blue Deveron in third, who himself has been awarded an opening mark of 67. On the evidence of that run, Hannon's gelding has run to a mark in the low-to-mid 70s.

With even a small amount of improvement, he could be very, very hard to beat in this modest novice event over six furlongs.

The 75-rated Mind Over Matter, for John & Sean Quinn, is more than capable of winning this if able to recapture the form of his debut in Ayr last June, but the son of Starspangledbanner has failed to run to that same level in two starts since. He needs a mini-revival in a first-time hood.

I don't rate the form of Different Opinions, who after a couple of runs is already tried with blinkers, while it's hard to be enthusiastic about the chances of Milford Grange, Agric Ranger, Kode Grey and the only debutant Tickhill Flyer.

I agree with the opening market in that Richard & Peter Fahey's Vega Storm is the one to be most wary of. He caught the eye on debut at Newcastle last month behind a 70-rated winner and he's sure to come on leaps and bounds.

Enough to tame The Untamed? Not for me. I'm very hopeful about a return to the winners' enclosure on Thursday.

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