Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

Shoal Bay was unlucky not to win on his reappearance when looking in complete control until unseating his rider on the run-in due to the saddle slipping and last year’s winner could make amends but, the form of that latest effort has been let down, and preference is for the likeable and reliable PINK EYED PEDRO (best price 4-1), who has been found an opportunity to finally getting his head in front for the first time this term in the Margaret Roberts Remembrance Handicap Chase

This ten-year-old has been somewhat unfortunate to bump into well-handicapped sorts the last three times since looking set to score at Newton Abbot back in May when going well until taking an exit at the second last. He was then a 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 was another fine display when bumping into an improving youngster, aged three years his junior, and he ran better than the bare result in first-time cheekpieces when second at Cartmel having travelled powerfully throughout, likewise to when making the formerly high-class Vision Des Flos pull out all the stops at Warwick just over two weeks ago. He finds himself two-pound lower here and this strong-travelling, consistent chaser should go close to gaining reward for consistency after conducting a sequence of top-class performances in defeat this past year against higher-rated opponents.

The MansionBet Beaten By A Head Fillies' Handicap has attracted nine runners with the most notable name in the field being the Alan King-trained HER INDOORS (best price 4-1) who produced a career-best to win a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham back in April and should prove to be more than capable of making her presence felt back on the level from a handy mark with bigger targets awaiting her in the hurdling division this season. 

This filly by Raven’s Pass has already proven herself soft ground, as displayed when second twice over hurdles last season on underfoot conditions, including on debut in that sphere in a listed event. She ran with credit to finish midfield in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival before bouncing back to win a Grade 3 back at Cheltenham in April and was a winner the last time she ran in a flat race on the turf. The lack of a recent run shouldn’t pose a problem, either, as she goes particularly well fresh and she surely holds a class edge over this field if performing anywhere near her best from a fifty-eight pound lower mark than her hurdles rating. 

TORN AND FRAYED (best price 5-1) is consistent and acquitted himself well in a pair of class 2’s over hurdles earlier this year, including when not beaten far behind a Grade 2 winner trained by Dan Skelton, who made a blistering start to his chasing career earlier this week and, with the prospect of developing into nice chaser for connections, he’s fancied to run the finish out of his six rivals now eased in grade.

Flashing Glance would be feared most if able to rediscover his hurdles form but hasn’t convinced in this sphere so far, including when jumping sketchy on return in a match-race. An opening mark of 132 looks eminently workable for two-time hurdle winner Torn And Frayed who has shown a tenacious attitude on a fair few occasions which will stand him in good stead here and, providing he jumps proficiently, he should be able to launch a bold bid from the front and make his class count. 

The Mad Monk's Calm Down & Let Go Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle is where my next bet comes in the shape of EL BORRACHO (best price 15-8) made it three-from-five over fences (other two were seconds) at Kelso in a higher-graded affair three weeks ago and has been found a fine opportunity to complete the hat-trick back over hurdles. 

It’s interesting that connections persevere with him off a sixteen-pound lower mark back over the smaller obstacles given he’s been so impressive in winning his last two starts over fences, including when thumping a 132+ rated individual in a better race than this when last spotted. The conditions are set to be dry this afternoon so the ground won’t pose a problem to this improving six-year-old and he should take all the beating with Ross Turner booked for the ride, who takes off a further three-pounds. 

ALTERNATIVE FACT (best price 6-1) lost his way for Ed Dunlop but he shaped with a good deal of purpose on debut for Alan King at Newbury and being that he’s down to a career-low mark in what is only the third time he’s competed at this level, he is a major player here. 

The six-year-old is a very useful handicapper at his best and finds himself seven-pound below his last winning mark which came on soft ground and is a pound lower than when winning over this trip at Newbury in a higher-graded assignment. He did, however, perform well to finish fifth at Newbury last time, staying on strongly from well off the pace to only be beaten around three-lengths. He’s down another pound and, if able to build on that, he makes plenty of each-way appeal in this grade.