Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

This is a wide-open handicap and a chance is taken on the only grade-dropper in the field, COLEY’S KOKO (best price 9-1), who scored easily over course-and-distance in April and is fancied to double his tally at the Scottish venue. He can be excused for his down the field effort at York last time where he was around the same price he is for today’s assignment, yet he drops down a couple of grades here from a two-pound lower mark. He often travels strongly so this race should be run to suit with the likes of Harswell Prince expected to go forward and, if back to the form that saw him win here earlier in the campaign, he looks fair value to at least reach the frame under Rowan Scott.

BEAUZON (best price 12-1) caught the eye when a fast-finishing third over course-and-distance eight days ago after an awkward start and, having acquitted himself well in both starts at the West Midlands venue, David O’Meara’s charge has an excellent chance of reversing the form with the winner from last time on today’s six-pounds better terms. He’s performed with credit in stronger races than this all year, including when highly tried in a pair of class-2 events and, being his trainers only runner on the card with David Nolan having his only ride on the card, this unexposed two-year-old strikes me as being as horse capable of defying this mark of 68 and he’s worth an each-way bet against the market leaders.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained BROKEN ICE (best price 8-1) is improving at a rate of knots and having ran well twice at this venue previously, once over hurdles and once on the flat when beaten just a neck here in July, he gets the vote to make it third time lucky. He’s been unlucky not to have won already this year, including at Kilbeggan eighteen days ago, where he didn’t get the smoothest of runs but stayed on strongly once in the clear to only be beaten half-a-length. That excellent effort in defeat earned him an RPR of 117, the clear highest of the entire field as none of the remainder have even earned one higher then 109 of late. A four-pound rise in the handicap questions more of his credentials, but he is improving by the run and already stands out the on form available and, with this step up in trip sure to suit, he looks set to run another big race with a good chance of finally opening his account for the season that he rightfully deserves.

This is the feature race on the card at Bellewstown and, with five places widely on offer, I am drawn to the claims of both ROI DE DUBAI (best price 7-1) and THOUSAND TEARS (best price 7-1) who arrive here in grand form and can play a leading role in the outcome.

The firstly-named participant, ROI DE DUBAI, opened his account over fences when winning a six-runner novice chase at Wexford three weeks ago in good style and connections are adamant to exploit his lower hurdles mark whilst in such a rich vein of form. The nine-year-old has an excellent record at this venue, with form figures reading U21 and the race he unseated, he probably would have won as he was six-lengths clear going well until stumbling and unseating his rider at the second last. The booking of a top-claimer, offsetting seven-pounds, is a major plus and with track, trip and conditions all in his favour, more success at the County Meath venue could be on the cards for this course-specialist who has always showcased his maximum qualities when visiting here.

There should be plenty more in the locker from THOUSAND TEARS, who won a very competitive handicap at Killarney last month and can back that up from today’s eight-pound higher mark under his regular rider, who takes off a valuable five-pounds. The manner in which he travelled the best before asserting to put the race to bed in a few strides indicated that this career-high mark could be within range. His fourth at Cork, on his penultimate outing, looks the strongest form on display as he wasn’t beaten far behind the likes of Wonder Laish (rated 140) and Peregrine Run (rated rated 137) and he was giving weight to both that pair. This is much easier and he represents great each-way value all things considered.