Architect Monday Racing Tips

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This is an open affair to start Worcester’s afternoon fixture in which GROVE ASH (best price 20-1) might be the answer, each-way, for Tom Buckley and Nigel Hawke. 

He showed no more than fair form over hurdles but wasn’t disgraced when sixth in a really competitive maiden hurdle at Newton Abbot on his penultimate outing and jumped perfectly in all respects on last month’s chasing debut at Market Rasen. He monitored every moment of the pacesetters from an early stage when travelling noticeably well before fading out of contention in the home straight when the pace quickened. There has to be an element of him needing that first-time experience in this scenario to put him straight and while he has more work to do to trouble the main protagonists here, his fluent way of completing an obstacle will really suit around this uncomplicated venue and, with just the one run under his belt in this code that was evidently full of promise, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that more is to come as he clearly holds a better chance than his double-figure odds of 20/1 might suggest.

A case can be made for all of these despite the small field sample size, but the Emma Lavelle-trained THUNDERSTRUCK (best price 4-1) benefitted from the application of tongue strap and cheek-pieces when dismantling Drumlee Watar with the minimum of fuss by eight-lengths when last spotted and given the runner-up is only a pound better off here, the son of Fame And Glory gets a pretty confident vote to confirm that form and defy a ten-pound rise in the handicap having undergone a recent wind operation. 

We have to factor into some degree that we haven’t seen him for 131 days but, other than that, his credentials are rock-solid. Tom Bellamy, who rode him the last day, executed the perfect game-plan from the front to score with loads in hand last time and front-running tactics are likely to be the plan again this afternoon. The assessor has taken no chances by putting him ten-pounds but the manner in which he turned that latest race into a procession is a fundamental reason to suggest he’s on an upward curve of form and one step ahead of the handicapper, too. This track should suit him well, as will the good ground, and he looks set to continue his improvement beyond his official rating of 122 at the Worcestershire venue. 

Luttrell Lad could take a bit of beating if translating last season’s bumper form to this sphere but the interesting one here is ARAB MOON (best price 28-1), who was returning from a three-year absence when down the field on hurdle/stable debut last month and could easily improve on that display in the finale with that experience and run under his belt. 

A very smart stayer on the flat, when trained by William Knight, the seven-year-old was rated as high as 91 in that code, running well in many quality handicaps between class two and three. He was down the field on hurdles debut last month but is entitled to strip fitter given the fact he was returning from a huge absence and he wasn’t helped by being kicked at the start which probably knocked his confidence, too. He might not have the star quality of the favourite here but his flat form is by far the best on offer which gives him an each-way squeak under Brian Hughes for trainer Donald McCain who has an excellent strike-rate here.