Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

The Best Of British Events Foundation Stakes looks highly-competitive but PEROTTO (best price 5-1) loves it around here and is a solid each-way choice getting three places. He’s been holding his form well in higher-graded affairs of late and is worth a go over this longer trip. He’s the top-rated in the field (rated four-pound higher than Migration) but will get a chunk of weight from the market leader and that alone, besides his rock-solid form, should be one of the main contributing factors to him going close here.

CLONDAW CAITLIN (best price 11-4) is a very useful mare who won all three of her starts in this sphere last term, including in a Grade 2 at Kelso and was runner-up back in this sphere in a handicap at Newcastle in March when only beaten a length. She remains unexposed over three-miles and I think she’s much better than this grade based on what she has achieved up to this point and is rated nine-pound higher and more than the remainder of the field. She has to give plenty of weight to these but should be up to the task with conditions in her favour.

I also like the claims of bottom-weight DR DES (best price 16-1) who isn't out of this despite his recent form figures suggesting otherwise. I have noticed he’s Jamie Moore’s only ride on the card, who gets down to his lowest-weight in twelve-months. This horse was useful in this sphere in 2017/18 and although he produced a lacklustre effort on last month’s stable debut, he’s become dangerously well-handicapped and could get a soft lead with this sharp left-handed track sure to suit. In an ideal world, three places would have been better, but he’s more than capable on his day and offers some value as an each-way contender with a top-two finish on the plate.

GOA LIL (best price 3-1) came good over fences in August and ran well back in this sphere three weeks ago in a muddling affair when second at Worcester against a runaway winner. This is a lot easier as he drops in grade and it would be no surprise to see him ridden prominently this time around as he comes back in distance. He won off this mark on his penultimate outing at Stratford when giving weight and a beating to higher-rated opponents and is fancied to capitalise on the same mark in this sphere at the main expense of course-specialist Calliope as connections clearly feel as though it’s worth persisting with him over the smaller obstacles for the time being. 

The Kerry National looks ferociously competitive as ever but I am drawn to the claims of both MODUS (best price 11-1) and DARASSO (best price 11-1) who make plenty of each-way appeal with most firms offering five places. 

The former, MODUS, was smart when trained by Paul Nicholls and has clearly settled in well with Enda Bolger. He ran well to finish an eye-catching third on stable debut in the Grimes Hurdle and was desperately unlucky not to win the Galway Plate when last spotted on return to fences. He was travelling the best when making a bad mistake three out and, to his credit, managed to get back on the bridle before attempting to make a serious challenge until getting badly hampered two out when almost brought to a standstill. If you go back and watch that race, you’ll see what I mean, because I am convinced he would have won without those pair of incidents. He did extremely well to only be beaten a couple of lengths and still managed to have several of this field in behind. The handicapper has taken a lenient view of his performance, only putting him up a couple of pounds and, granted better-luck at the business end of the event, this smart eleven-year-old looks great each-way value and is fancied to potentially gain compensation for both himself, connections and the retained Darragh O’Keeffe. 

DARASSO, meanwhile, shaped really well when a place in front of Modus in the Grimes Hurdle and ran a blinder to finish fifth in the Galway Plate last time for one so inexperienced over fences, given he was having just his fifth start in this sphere for Joseph O’Brien. He had earlier won a Grade-2 at the first time of asking before chasing home the likes of Minella Indo, Kemboy, Presenting Percy and Chacun Pour Soi in his next two assignments. He’s practically competed in graded company throughout his career and comfortably beat the likes of Snow Falcon and Samcro with the minimum of fuss here in June by seven-lengths and more. That was an outstanding performance so he clearly likes it here and conditions are similar, too, while the assessor has surprisingly left his mark unaltered from last time. There’s a lot to like about his chances and being open to even greater improvement, this high-class eight-year-old looks a serious each-way player. 

The Bosses Oscar could prove hard to beat if translating his hurdles form to fences but BUSSELTON (best price 9-2) looks an each-way bet to nothing with a chance of causing a minor upset. He came up slightly short against the best juvenile’s last season but still managed to place in Grade-1 company and has run well to finish second in both starts in this sphere without setting the world alight. He’s a sound jumper, who is likely to be ridden up with the pace, and has the age-allowance to help, too. Port Stanley is a likeable sort, who I have tipped a few times previously, but he’s had plenty of chances to get his head in front in this sphere. The favourite will probably win if taking to this discipline but it’s difficult to see Joseph O’Brien’s charge not putting up a good show who has rock-solid each-way credentials at the very least.