Nap of the Day: Mehmas speedster looks the answer to the Molecomb

Goodwood is up and running, so it’s a pleasure to pay a visit there for Wednesday’s Nap Of The Day, on July 31. Give me a comfy lounger on Trundle Hill and a glass of something reviving and I’ll see you when I see you …!

Action kicks in at 13:50, and the Nap runs at 15:00.

Today’s Horse Races

Goodwood 15:00 – Aesterius @ 2/1

Our top tip for Wednesday runs in the 5f, Group 3 Molecomb Stakes for two-year-olds, a contest very nearly 200 years old.

Around 16 are still entered up as I write, so plenty of runners (not quite Stewards’ Cup standard, traffic-wise, thankfully). In the early betting exchanges, one Mehmas colt is proving very popular – Aesterius. Archie Watson trains for Wathnan Racing, and James Doyle is in the plate.

He’s our hope too, a notion underpinned by three excellent, progressive career starts to date. In the space of around six weeks he picked up a novice at Bath, was beaten just 1.5l in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, then took a Listed heat cosily at Sandown.

That programme, in such a relatively condensed time period, marks him out as tough, genuine and consistent in my book, and there’s every indication that there’s more to come.

He’s housed with a master trainer of juveniles, and the ownership group are among the most ambitious in racing. The Doyler has been on board for two of those three races and is unbeaten on him. More of the same on Wednesday, please.

He’s entered up in higher-ranked Group contests over the coming months, including the Gimcrack at York and a G1 at the Curragh, so connections have lofty ambitions to fulfil.

A big step on that journey can be taken on Wednesday with victory in the historic Molecomb. Good ground seems to suit ideally, and given his prominent racing style how about a scorching ‘made all’ display?

Nap Of The Day from Betfred Insights.