Nap of the Day: Take the Wise Approach for the Middle Park

We're all set for a busy Saturday on the racing front, with the culmination of the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket taking centre stage.

It's one at HQ that gets the Nap of the Day treatment.

Of all the favourites on Saturday, WISE APPROACH is the one I just can't entertain getting beat. Famous last words...

Charlie Appleby's two-year-old is currently even money for the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, but as far as I'm concerned he's an odds-on shot all day long.

The 114-rated son of Mehmas made the perfect start to his career at Ascot back in April, winning a Class 2 Conditions Stakes over the minimum trip.

He was a little disappointing over six furlongs at York next time out, but then bounced back to run a blinder in defeat to Aidan O'Brien's exciting Charles Darwin in the G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

It's fair to say the half-brother to Richard Fahey's Perfect Power, who himself won a Middle Park (and a Prix Morny and a Commonwealth Cup), found his groove from thereon, bolting up in a Listed affair at Newbury in July.

He surged four lengths clear of the now 108-rated Rock On Thunder, runner-up in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York subsequently, in Berkshire, looking every bit a colt worthy of a 1m guineas price tag.

His best performance, though, came in France exactly 34 days ago, as Wise Approach finished a close third to Royal Ascot winners Venetian Sun (rated 113) and Gstaad (115) in the Prix Morny. That is comfortably the best form on offer in this field of nine.

Around seven lengths behind the selection in France was Coppull, who is the closest rival according to official ratings. I struggle to see a reason why he would reverse that form.

Havana Hurricane, Kansas, Five Ways and Hilitany have 12, 13, 16 and 20 pounds respectively to find on Wise Approach - while it's even more for First Approach. Brussels doesn't have an OR, but I'd estimate it would be around the mid-90s.

The unknown quantity is The Publican's Son for Joseph O'Brien. The US-bred, $200k purchase was thrown in the deep end on debut, lining up in a Group 3 at the Curragh. He surprised everyone to finish second, within a length of Aidan O'Brien's Mission Central. That takes some doing on your first day at school.

That being said, the winner didn't do the form many favours at the Betfred St Leger Festival earlier this month - and ultimately he was sent off 40/1 for a reason.

He still needs to take a major step forward to win this if Wise Approach runs to form. The same can be said for all rivals. He should take some stopping.

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