Architect Monday Racing Tips

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This looks wide-open and, at the prices, I am going to take a chance on the top-weight TRIGGERED best price 11-2) who is often seen tackling stiffer events than this and being only three-pound higher than when last successful with this smaller-field scenario sure to suit, this more than capable son of Dandy Man should go well under his in-form rider. 

Airshow is on the upgrade and demands respect, likewise Gilt Edge who has proven winning form over track and trip but the top-weight has the strongest form in the book and should get a good pace to aim at, while he’s the only runner in the field dropping down in grade given the remainder are usually seen at this level. He has been shaping much better than the results have indicated since winning in July when beating a 79-rated individual under this rider and should be thereabouts despite giving weight to the favourite who looks a progressive sort. 

A case can be made for most of these but the most persuasive one is for the Oliver Greenall-trained PYM (best price 6-1) who proved he retained his enthusiasm and ability for the game when just finding one too good from the front on return to this discipline last month and can go one better in this much easier task granted similar tactics under Henry Brooke. 

He lost his way on his final few starts for Nicky Henderson having developed into a smart hurdler/chaser at his best, who even recorded a runner-up effort in a Grade 2 once upon a time at Cheltenham. He subsequently changed hands for £62,000 and seemed to really enjoyed himself when allowed to dictate matters on the front end last time on return to the hurdling scenario, jumping and travelling powerfully, before finding just a strong staying individual rated 126 too strong in the latter stages of the event having beaten all bar one of his in-form opponents. His form figures in this grade or lower now read an exceptional 12121212 and it was only last year that he managed to get the better of the 155-rated hurdler If The Cap Fits in the Future Stars Intermediate Chase (Listed). He was well beaten last month on stable debut in the bet365 Summer Cup but left all the impression that he would come on significantly for the run and that proved to be the factor when going close last time. His pulled up efforts were a lot better than what they were rated earlier in the season considering all of those were in either Listed or Grade 1 events. His latest second is a fundamental reason to suggest he’s back to something near his best and, on balance, I want the top weight on my side at the prices who is the comprehensible talented candidate in the field and could be too good for these.

Later on in the St Leger On Sky Sports Racing Handicap, at Wolverhampton, CHARMING KID (best price 10-3) looks a decent bet to build on his second from twenty days ago with victory in this contest and with Adam Kirby taking over from an apprentice for the Dean Ivory team. 

He hadn't been seen for 177 days, but made a bold bid from the front last time, where he set a furious pace and looked like holding on until a late surge from the winner caught him in the final half-furlong. He was thought very highly of as a two-year-old, where he contested events such as the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Stakes at Newmarket, finishing third in the latter of those. He’s proved to be very effective under these conditions, placing twice off marks of 80 and 83 last year in better events. His third at Southwell on his penultimate outing can be upgraded as he raced keenly and looked to be making a strong challenge before the petrol gauge flickered late into the action, eventually finishing fourth before he was handed an enterprising ride to finish a solid second last time. The winner has let the form down since, but that ought to have taken the freshness out of him and he looks set to come good for this yard in this very winnable opportunity.

The Dan Skelton-trained HATCHER (best price 15-8) has been a real talent since switched to the bigger obstacles, in which he’s now won eight of his fifteen starts, including his last three and the manner in which he dominated proceedings at Stratford last time suggested that he may be able to concede weight all round and complete the four-timer. 

He’s gone up another seven-pounds for his latest victory, but he’s adapted well to hold-up tactics and he represents Dan Skelton’s only participant on the card, while brother Harry has his only ride on the card. Ming Dynasty has been impressive the last two times but the top-weight is now rated 152, officially putting him seventeen pounds clear of Brian Ellison’s charge and the rest of the field here. He has to give plenty of weight to others who are open to improvement but he’s a lethal weapon on good ground and besides his nearest market rival, the remainder have plenty to prove, so he’s fancied to enhance his excellent strike-rate in this interesting event. 

The Wicks Handicap Chase, at the Cumbrian venue, looks an interesting race despite the field size, with the vote going to the top-weight PINK EYED PEDRO (best price 7-2), who is reliable, arrives here in good form and is entitled to give another bold account of himself under Connor Brace. 

This ten-year-old was unfortunate to not walk away with victory at Newton Abbot back in May when going well until taking an exit at the second last. His ability to put that firmly behind him and get back on track was firmly in evidence when an excellent keeping-on fourth of 18 in the Clarke Chase next time before posting another cracking effort when third in the Grade 3 Betway Summer Plate Handicap Chase. His second at Worcester last time was another fine display when bumping into an improving youngster, aged three years his junior, and he now finds himself in a lower-graded affair over a better trip from an unchanged mark. He’s not only the only runner to have hit an RPR of 140 or more, but he’s done that in five consecutive outings - 143, 145, 148, 148 and 147, which is remarkable consistency to say the least. This strong-travelling, consistent chaser should be suited to this venue with plenty of these likely to go forward and he may go close to getting his head in front here after conducting a sequence of top-class performances in defeat this past year against higher-rated opponents and remains an appealing price with several bookmakers.