Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

A competitive open-looking small-field affair with the vote in favour of the penalised EDWARD CORNELIUS (best price 5-4), who looked a promising individual when winning on debut at Musselburgh and followed that up with a close-up second back at the same venue last month.

He was under pressure a long way from home when last spotted behind Fast Response, but stuck to his guns in determined fashion to only go down by three-parts-of-length as the pair pulled clear of the third, Alaskan Jewel. This is far from a simple task, though, with Mark Johnson’s Jilly Cooper appearing as the main threat, getting eight-pounds from Keith Dalgleish’s charge. That said, the former has an initial rating of 86, firmly putting him well clear of these in that regard as far as ratings are concerned and this battle-hardened speedily-bred Colt is fancied to take the significant ease in class in his stride.

The Kim Bailey-trained YEAVERING BELLE (best price 7-2) was yet to be asked for any sort of effort when unseating her rider five out at Southwell when last spotted and given the form of her second on chase debut here was given a timely boost by the winner scoring yesterday, she could take some catching on the front end with cheek-pieces enlisted.

A formerly smart hurdler, her chasing debut effort, when second over course-and-distance in May, looks by far the strongest form on display for various reasons. Firstly, because she split two horses rated 138 and 141 and, secondly, she was beaten only a length by a Paul Nicholls’ charge who won impressively at Newton Abbot last night. This mare by Midnight Legend often leads and the application of cheekpieces look an interesting addition, which could help her concentrate. An aggressive David Bass ride is likely to be in order and she might just prove too tough to peg back with a clear round up against lesser-rated opponents back at the Worcester venue.

Everything finally came together for the very capable GOA LIL (best price 7-4) who deservedly opened his account over fences when staying on strongly to win with more in hand than the margin indicated at Stratford nine days ago and can double his tally for the term now reverting back to the smaller obstacles from an unchanged mark.

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. He ran quite well when third over hurdles last month and scored at Stratford last week, where he jumped well and stayed on strongly under pressure to draw clear of the field in the final furlong. The handicapper has given him a serious chance back in this code, leaving it unchanged, and with the likes of Putting Green needing more in this company, Imperial Knight returning from an absence and Haul Away running poorly last time, this five-year-old should take some beating.

If Galata Bridge can translate his flat ability to this sphere then he could prove very hard to beat but preference is for the Paul Webber-trained MORDRED (best price 9-2) who has shaped with plenty of promise in both starts in this sphere and can give the likely favourite plenty to think about.

He looked a natural in this sphere when second on hurdles debut, where he was always jumping and travelling smoothly before staying on under pressure to not be beaten that far. His jumping was very assured for a debutant that day and this imposing son of Camelot was probably ridden a little aggressively when last sighted, finishing third behind impressive winner, Captain Ivan. I do, however, think that this left-handed flat track will be right up his street and his proficient technique to get from A to B will be an asset against mostly hurdling debutants. He sets a clear standard on the form available in this sphere and is taken to put his valuable experience to good use and topple Galata Bridge in this appealing contest.