NAP of the Day: Tycoon has unfinished business to take care of

Ciao Capo's cosy victory at Wetherby on Thursday made it three winners from my last four NAP of the Day selections. Is it safe to say we're out of the woods yet? I'll hold my tongue for now.

It's Betfred Oaks day at Epsom on Friday and I've set my sights on one at a big price in the race immediately before. What a week this could turn out to be...

A strong renewal of the Betfred "Nifty 50" Handicap at Epsom on Friday can go to TYCOON for Kevin Philippart De Foy.

I've got a lot of respect for Sallaal and Respond at the top of the market. They could be the proverbial Group horses in a handicap. But they'll need to be, for the handicapper hasn't been so kind to either.

On the other hand, the selection looks to have got off lightly, kept on a mark of 94 after a narrow defeat in a competitive handicap at Newmarket on Betfred 2000 Guineas day.

The four-year-old son of Kingman was third of 12 at HQ, finishing within a length of Tom Kent's Erzindjan and Fifth Column for John & Thady Gosden - two seasoned handicappers who emerged from the group on the near side. That seemed to be the place to be on the day.

Tycoon was on the far side, and he was much the best of the three who did the same - including the favourite Mister Winston and the 104-rated Botanical.

Horse Racing Odds

It was a huge run from a horse who it's fair to say has unfinished business after a frustrating career to date.

At the beginning of it, he was John & Thady Gosden-trained, racing in the famous black and yellow silks of Bjorn Neilsen, made famous by the yard's superstar stayer Stradivarius.

An eye-catcher behind subsequent Grade 2 winner Jonquil, rated 115 at his peak, at Sandown on debut promised plenty, but unfortunately he never quite cut it at Clarehaven.

The disappointment continued after Amo Racing splashed a staggering £600k and sent him into training with Philippart de Foy, with form figures of 675 in his next three starts.

In fairness, that fifth wasn't so bad, on this season's reappearance following a 138-day break, and he sure improved on it with the aforementioned third at Newmarket.

Are we starting to see what he's really all about? I hope so.

He carries a featherweight of 8st 10lbs in Surrey on Friday and I can see him running a big race. Odds of 10/1 are generous enough to make him my NAP of the Day.

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