Architect Sunday Racing Tips

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Do Not Disturb jumped well when making all here the last two times but, on a line through a horse called Stop Talking, the Lucinda Russell-trained AURORA THUNDER (best price 4-1) might be the answer to this four-runner handicap chase. 

This seven-year-old was the highest-rated of these over hurdles and ended last season in good form, placing in a pair of class 2’s, and returned with a creditable third here eighteen days ago. Her trainer’s runners tend to improve when sent chasing and she undeniably brings the strongest form to the table. This is easier than the last three races she has contested and, if she takes to this discipline at the first time of asking, there’s a lot to like about her chances, and she could outclass her three rivals. 

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe promises to be another top-class spectacle, where a case can be made for several in what is one of the hottest editions in recent time. Trainer Dermot Weld has pretty much won everything in racing but the Arc still eludes one of the greatest trainers Ireland has produced and I feel as though that is about to change with TARNAWA (best price 5-1), who can finally end his long-await in the event. 

Last year's Prix de l'Opera winner has since proven herself against the boys on the biggest of stages, including over a trip short of her best in the Irish Champion Stakes last time, on ground that was faster than she would have liked, where she was just denied having been carried across the track by the winner who she was conceding weight to at the time. Aidan O’Brien described St Mark’s Basilica as the best he’s trained so it was a monumental effort for this star filly to get as close as she did to the winner that day. She was undefeated in her four-year-old campaign, where she won a pair of Grade 1’s here, which is always a plus factor towards this assignment before a stunning late surge saw her land the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November having been widest of all the participants. Christophe Soumillon, the Aga Khan's retained rider in France, takes over the reins, who is unbeaten on her and has a fabulous record in this event. His mount has had an uninterrupted preparation, is drawn well and won’t be hindered by conditions having already landed a Group 1 on heavy ground here. This will be her stiffest task to date but there is no disguising her credentials and I can see her winning this, granted luck in running. 

All of the UK participants have to be heavily respected, including the boys in blue with their two leading fancies but conditions are set to be very testing and that will suit the William Haggas-trained ALENQUER (best price 14-1) better than most, who could easily be the each-way value here with four and five places widely on offer. 

He’s another who’s whole campaign has been geared up for a crack at this prestigious prize and he has some very strong form in the book having beaten the Derby winner earlier in the season. The race didn’t play out for the runner-up who has hugely improved since but, in my opinion, the best horse on the day won and he confirmed his stamina on deep ground when winning over 1m4f on heavy ground at Royal Ascot. He could then only manage behind Hurricane Lane over today’s course-and-distance in July but was given a lot to do and conditions would have been a bit quick for him, too, so his performance can be significantly upgraded. The market suggests he's an outsider, but that's far from the case as his latest second in another Group 1 is a strong piece of form. He’s got a lovely slot in stall eight, will handle the ground without question, and his trainer could hardly be in better form having bagged an eight-timer yesterday so unless I am missing something, he is overpriced. Tom Marquand retains the ride as expected and providing conditions remain testing, he looks a serious each-way player.

The Simply Ned Handicap Chase has attracted a stellar field of five and it's tough to split these but top-weights do well in this race and, therefore, the 160-rated BALLYOISIN (best price 9-4) is fancied to take this prize back to Ireland for trainer Enda Bolger, who makes a rare visit to the Scottish venue in search of another victory for this high-class chaser. 

The ten-year-old deserves a lot more credit than he’s been given, especially the level of competition he’s faced over the years, as well as his wonderful strike-rate over fences, with form figures below Grade 1 level reading an impressive F1FF1212F11111212. He proved he retained a good chunk of his ability when returning from a 21-month absence to beat subsequent winner Exit Poll in August and lost little in defeat when chasing home Easy Game when last spotted. The likes of Nuts Well, King D’Argent, Aye Right and Cracking Destiny have to be respected but this two-time Grade 2 winner has a lot going for him, including conditions and the distance, and he should prove hard to beat under Jonjo O’Neill Jr. 

BUSSELTON (best price 3-1), placed in a Grade 1 over hurdles, finally came good at the third time of asking over fences last time over 2m6f when thumping the former 150-rated hurdler The Bosses’ Oscar in an above-average race for the grade and, with that victory backed up by the clock now tackling horses who were rated much lower than the one he easily beat last time, Joseph O’Brien’s charge is fancied to take the rise in class in his stride. 

He came up slightly short against the best juvenile’s last season but still managed to place in Grade-1 company and having run well to finish second in his first two starts in this sphere, he came good just eleven days ago when beating some very good horses. He set out to make all and did just that in good style, as his assured jumping and relentless galloping had burnt off rivals one-by-one, including The Bosses’ Oscar. The return to positive tactics really suited this talented four-year-old and providing JJ Slevin has the view of setting out to repeat the dose from the front, he could take some stopping with his weight-for-age allowance coming into effect. 

The Qatar Prix de l'Opera looks a good betting race from an each-way angle with four places generally available, where I have two fancies in the shape of both THUNDERING NIGHTS (best price 12-1) and AMBITION (best price 12-1).

The Joseph O’Brien-trained THUNDERING NIGHTS, gained reward for her consistency when striking for the first time at the highest level in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh and, having produced solid efforts in defeat since, another bold display could be on the cards as she steps foot onto France territory for the second time with conditions holding no fears. 

This filly is versatile as regards to conditions and she’s gone from strength to strength this season. Firstly when second to Broome on seasonal reappearance and then going down by a short-head second to in the Grade 2 New York Stakes at Belmont. She then expressed another chunk of improvement when landing her first Group 1, where she travelled noticeably well and battled like a warrior to see off Santa Barbara in a thrilling finish to that event. The runner-up, who sadly isn’t with us anymore, was held in high regard by Aidan O’Brien and upheld the form extremely well subsequently by winning back-to-back Grade 1’s, notably the Belmont Oaks followed by the Beverly D Stakes in Arlington. She couldn’t quite catch both Grand Glory and Audarya when third at Deauville on her penultimate outing but these conditions on this easier track should help her bridge the gap at the very least and whilst knowing that she’s resilient, durable and has a willing attitude alongside a fantastic record with Shane Crosse in the saddle (12112133 when combined) she represents attractive each-way value and has an excellent chance of bagging her second Group 1 of the year. 

As for the other one I like, AMBITION, she has been specifically trained for this race which is why we don’t see her that often. She has nothing to find with the favourite based on their clash in the Jean Romanet last year, where she was beaten just a neck and caught the eye when beaten only two-lengths behind that same rival and Grand Glory when last spotted, as she travelled the best throughout the event. She came up short in this twelve months ago when a three-length fifth but conditions will be much more favourable this time around and she’s already proven herself at the highest-level. Another positive in her claims is a good-draw in stall two and, with a big field/strong pace scenario likely to see her even more effective given how well she travels in her races, she looks set to improve on last year’s fifth with an even bigger performance.