Nap of the Day: €850k buy can make it third time lucky at HQ

It was a fine effort from Wednesday's selection, who just bumped into one on the day. I retain confidence in that filly going forward - keep an eye out for her next entry.

We return to Newmarket on Thursday, hoping to provide a welcome winner for Nap of the Day followers.

I expect a much-improved performance from Charlie Appleby's DEL MARO at Newmarket on Thursday.

The two-year-old son of Camelot, who fetched a mouth-watering €850k around this time last year, caught the eye in defeat on debut at HQ back in August.

He finished just half-a-length behind the 95-rated Glacius, who wasn't disgraced behind the classy Bow Echo (105) and Publish (102) in Listed company at Haydock subsequently, and in front of stablemate Pacifica Pier, who beat the aforementioned Publish previously.

Del Maro was very much the one to take out of the race, too. He lost at least a couple of lengths out of the gates and when push came to shove later on in the contest, he was found waiting for a gap that only appeared in the final furlong-and-a-half.

Naturally, he was sent off even money for a maiden at Doncaster on Betfred St Leger day next time out, but he failed to reward supporters, finishing just shy of five lengths off the pace.

It was a disappointing effort, there's no doubt about it, but I don't think he acted on the soft ground - at all. He travelled into contention nicely enough, but when asked a question by young Billy Loughnane, it was as if he was running in treacle. Hanging left didn't help, either.

A return to Newmarket on a sounder surface is much more suitable, while stable jockey William Buick being in the plate for the first time is another help - and hopefully the removal of the hood will also have a positive effect.

As the betting suggests, William Haggas' Maltese Cross is the one we have to beat.

I respect the son of Sea The Stars after his promising debut in a warm maiden at Ascot earlier this month, but that was in vastly different conditions and he's bred to want further than a mile, so he might find things a bit too sharp.

Moonlight Warrior is an interesting debutant for Andrew Balding and the red-hot Oisin Murphy, but he's being asked to run to a fairly high standard on his first day at school. That won't be easy.

Frankly, I find it very hard to get excited about the claims of the other four - namely Moment Of Light, Ranga Tang (what a name), Balzac and Jackabi.

Del Maro, who retains an entry for the Group 1 Futurity Trophy back at Doncaster next month, is the standout bet for me on Thursday.

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