Architect Monday Racing Tips

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This is an open affair in which GOA LIL (best price 8-1) gets the verdict to potentially capitalise on his career-low mark back in this code at the Warwickshire venue for the Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies combination.

He looked a promising sort in his first season over hurdles, early last year, where he was deemed good enough to compete in the Scottish Triumph Hurdle and ran with credit to finish fourth before a good third in a highly-competitive handicap at Chepstow’s Persian War meeting behind Thyme White. His attentions were then switched to this discipline and he looked set to make a winning chase debut and brush aside a good field until falling at the last. His performance deserved plenty of recognition, however, as he had the 142-rated Eritage well beaten in behind in the moments before his departure. That fall seemed to take a drastic effect on his confidence thereafter as he failed to match that form in subsequent starts. That said, this five-year-old had been keeping stronger company prior to today’s assignment and he ran quite well when third over hurdles last month, too. He’s slipped to an exploitable mark and with an attacking ride likely to be on the agenda, assuming he can get a clear sight of his obstacles, he could be very competitive here.

Scrappy Jack has twice beaten FRED BEAR (best price 9-4) but the latter would have beaten the former with a better jump at the final flight when only beaten half-a-length over course-and-distance last time and has an excellent chance to gain revenge on today’s four-pound better terms.

This three-year-old made a satisfying introduction to his hurdling career when a fast-finishing fourth behind Scrappy Jack and looked set to gain revenge last time until blundering the final flight. He meets the winner on much better terms today and his positive claims are strengthened to an even further extent as the top-weight is now doubly-penalised. With that in mind and, with further improvement appearing as a distinct possibility, he is handed the vote to atone for that near miss by going one better here.

The other one of certain interest from an each-way perspective is hurdling debutant ALIOMAANA (best price 33-1), who showed fair form on the level when trained by John & Thady Gosden, is not out of this affair if able to translate her flat form to this sphere with Mitchell Bastyan taking off a valuable three-pounds.

She was well-beaten on her debut for this yard when last spotted but shaped as though she needed the run and that suggested her connections clearly used that event as a stepping stone towards a hurdling campaign. I am surprised to see this one available at such a big price, especially when you factor in the form she achieved on the flat, including her second to the 97-rated Save A Forest, who was fourth in the Epsom Oaks before winning a listed event last time. The only issue is whether she takes to this sphere but her trainer has a very good strike-rate at this venue (16%) and her fillies allowance could come into serious effect if she’s there or thereabouts in the concluding part of the outcome.

Trainer Donald McCain boasts an excellent strike-rate at this venue (22%) and his only runner on the card, GENEVER DRAGON (best price 12-1), has to be considered in this very moderate race for the grade.

First and foremost, he isn’t bred for chasing, but that doesn’t diminish the interest here as he may well advance his hurdles form at the first time of asking in this code as his two placed-efforts in higher-grade handicaps over hurdles in the spring are the standout form-lines on offer. In fact, he was the clear highest-rated of this bunch in that sphere, rated as high as 115 - in comparison to today’s opposition who weren’t even rated anywhere near the 100 mark, let alone 115. That certainly provides indication that he’s extremely well-treated off an opening mark of 103 in this weak grade. All of his best runs, as well as his two in-the-frame performances this season, have been on a sound surface and he should get that later on with no rain forecast to hit the Warwickshire venue. His weight-for-age allowance will be useful, as will Theo Gillard’s claim, taking off five-pounds. He tends to be ridden from the front or, at least, close to the pace so, in the likelihood he jumps soundly, knowing that being up with the pace has often proved beneficial, everything seems in place for the best hurdler in the field to run a big race on chase debut.