Architect Thursday Racing Tips

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The second day of York’s fantastic four-day meeting starts with an excellent renewal of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes. Sandrine, who is Timeform’s joint highest-rated juvenile filly, will take some beating as she bids to remain unbeaten but HELLO YOU (best price 8-1), who was only a length behind her on 3Ib worse terms in the Duchess Of Cambridge, looks the each-way alternative and could bridge the gap if the hood has the desired effect.

A filly by Invincible Spirit, who created an excellent impression when winning at Wolverhampton, she built on that promise when placed in both strong renewals of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge at Newmarket. The ground was probably soft-enough for her at Ascot, too, so her performance can be upgraded, while the same can be applied to her third at Newmarket last time, where she raced keenly throughout but kept on nicely to not be beaten all that far in the end. She’s subsequently joined David Loughnane, which is interesting, and the application of a first-time hood could help her settle too so, on today’s better terms with the favourite and being drawn well in stall ten given the past history of this event, at 13-2 with most firms getting three or even four places, she looks value to finish in the frame at the very least in the opener with more to come.

INDEED (best price 66-1) isn’t seen often and returns from a 428-day absence, but he was placed in a Group 3 in 2019, as well as placing behind Lord North when an unlucky third in a listed event and, now switched to Simon Kirk, with the possibility of this race being a long-term target as he could have been found an easier assignment, this smart six-year-old is no forlorn hope first-time-out for new connections in an open event.

This lightly-raced individual did very well for Dominic Ffrench-Davis last season, including runner-up in a Newmarket Group 3. He was highly-tried on debut in the MansionBet Spring Cup Handicap and defied huge odds of 50/1 to finish a neck second of 26 before winning back-to-back events at Chelmsford and Newmarket. He was down the field next time but bounced back to his best when second at Newmarket in a Group 3 before firmly putting himself in the category as an unfortunate third in a listed event back there behind Lord North when giving the winner three-pounds. He probably wouldn’t have beaten the winner but would have finished second and that form has been strongly advertised by the winner since. He was well-held on return in the Royal Hunt Cup but can be excused and he’s since switched to this yard which is interesting. The handicapper has dropped him four-pounds since and the booking of Ben Curtis can be seen as no negative, either, while stall two should give his rider the chance to pick up a decent early position. Ultimately, it’s hard to gauge on whether he can take this on his return to action but it’s a chance I’m willing to take at the price, each-way, particularly with most bookmakers paying five places as he’s clearly capable of being competitive on the evidence of his 2019 form.

I’m not quite sure why La Trinidad is so short in the betting in comparison to the double-figure available price about YOUNG FIRE (best price 40-1) who wasn’t beaten far behind that rival off worse terms here last time and given the form he’s in this term, David O’Meara’s charge looks a standout each-way proposition with five places widely advised and available.

He’s a very reliable and consistent sort for David O’Meara, and has been in fantastic form this term, including when doing little wrong to finish second at Ascot on Shergar Cup day last time. He’s often been forced to lump around top-weight this year and has acquitted himself effectively well each time, where he scored in July and ran better than the result suggested when sixth of 17 over course-and-distance on his penultimate outing. He was restrained to the rear on that occasion but made smooth progress over two-furlongs out in between horses before only keeping on at the same pace in the latter stages. The handicapper hasn’t relented by keeping his mark the same here, but he’s five-pounds better off with the winner and now handed the chance to compete in a handicap off a weight other than the welter burden for the first time in nine starts, he’s worth more than a second look to make an even bigger impact on return to the Knavesmire’.

ALFLAILA (best price 5-1) burst onto the scene as a potential top-class prospect in the making when winning on debut, where he beat System at Salisbury and, having done little wrong in conceding plenty of weight to useful winners the last two times, the step up in trip on these terms looks a positive action by connections and he’s strongly considered, each-way, in the OR8wellness EBF Stallions Nursery.

His introduction to his career started with an absolute bang as he gave weight and a beating to subsequent listed winner, System, at Salisbury and that performance alone on reflection at the time of writing, indicated that Owen Burrows could have a pattern-class horse on his hands. His reputation has slightly tarnished the last two times but he ran with credit in each of those when attempting to give weight to a couple of useful winners, including when conceding ten-pounds to Majestic Glory at Newmarket, who subsequently landed a listed event back at the same venue. On that evidence, I will be shocked if this son of Dark Angel isn’t rated in the 100’s before too long so an initial rating of 88 certainly underplays his ability and latent potential here. He remains a very exciting prospect and seemingly has all the credentials to potentially provide his handler with another profitable pot this term.

This isn’t the strongest of listed events and, on form at least, I really like the claims of the Ralph Beckett-trained ABSTINENCE (best price 5-1), who’s form could hardly have worked out any better and, while her proven stamina is an asset to have at this venue, she looks poised to play a leading role in the outcome of the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes.

She has done nothing but improve this season for connections, who followed-up her Chelmsford victory with an excellent fourth in a Group 3 at Newcastle and then matched that form when third at Newmarket subsequently behind Golden Pass. That form has some substance to it as the runner-up, Free Wind, scored in a Deauville Group 3, while the fourth, Oriental Mystique won a listed race in Clairefontaine next time and the fifth, Eileendover, won at Newmarket last weekend. She’s on a nice racing-weight and doesn’t have much to find on official ratings so, with this galloping venue likely to bring her confirmed stamina into play, Ralph Beckett’s improving filly has a fantastic each-way chance with more to offer.

This looks extremely-competitive, but MOJOMAKER (best price 9-1) did really well to overcome poor track-positioning when a keeping-on fifth in the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes last time and, although he might get into a battle up front for the lead with other well-drawn pacesetters, he should make a bold bid to hit the frame.

His debut effort, when fourth at Chester, was a complete disaster as he almost ran off the course on the home-bend but, in addition, he hasn’t looked back since. He pushed subsequent Group 2 winner, Asymmetric, extremely close next time out, beaten only half-a-length, and that form is probably the strongest on display here. He then comfortably went one better next time out by six-lengths and lost little in defeat over the same course-and-distance when second to Fearby in the Dragon Stakes. He was behind that same rival in a strong-looking Molecomb Stakes but came from well off the pace to be a never-nearer fifth and it wouldn’t surprise me if that race turns out to be one of the hottest two-year-old events this term. Finally, he takes a huge drop down in grade from pattern-class company into a nursery and, provided he’s on his best behaviour, he looks the most glaring each-way proposition with five places on offer.