Architect Saturday Racing Tips

DARK MOON RISING (best price 10-1) left his eye-catching debut seventh at York behind him when seeing off six rivals over the extended seven-furlongs at Beverley which included the 104-rated Power Of Beauty. He only just failed by the smallest of margins ten weeks later when attempting to give six-pounds to the highly-regarded New Kingdom and his initial mark of 89 clearly underestimates him on that account. The soft ground is an unknown but, if he handles it, he looks the best each-way bet in the opener. 

Coroebus showed a tremendous turn of foot to go clear in the Royal Lodge here two weeks ago until idling and handing the initiative to an experienced battle-hardened performer. He looked a smart prospect in defeat regardless but I would much rather back IMPERIAL FIGHTER (best price 13-2), each-way, who ran well to finish second in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes behind that same Mark Johnson horse last time despite the winner having the run of things on the front-end. His trainer, Andrew Balding, has saved him for this ever since and, now tackling a mile for the first time in which he should improve for it, he’s the logical each-way choice against the favourite. 

The likeable KITTY’s LIGHT (best price 5-1) enjoyed a productive first season over fences, where he landed a good-quality handicap at Kelso before being most unlucky when a short-head second in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown where he was badly hampered twice at a crucial part of the race including towards the finish, yet still forced a photo. The same sort of situation applied in the Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase where, again, he was hampered in the mid-part of the race before staying on strongly to steal third place. Notably, his form figures over fences now reads an excellent 1211312 and, whilst he’s improving, he’s pitched in a field where quite a few of his rivals either have question marks against them or have become exposed. He’s ground-versatile, stays well, jumps well and makes a lot of each-way appeal with more to offer this campaign. 

The Godolphin runner – Native Trail, has yet to taste defeat from three starts thus far and was last seen winning the G1 National Stakes in Ireland by an easy 3 ½ lengths. He is the most likeliest of winners but unless I am missing something, GO BEARS GO (best price 25-1) should not be the price he is and shouldn’t be written off in haste now tackling seven furlongs for the first time. He returned a game winner in the Railway Stakes in Ireland in June and has not been beaten far in two subsequent outings at the highest level. The manner in which he stayed on powerfully last time having got outpaced suggests he’ll appreciate this longer trip so he could easily hit the frame or cause more damage at insulting odds. 

This is competitive where the Irish raider VERHOYEN (best price 20-1) is a bit of a speculative selection but there are potentially a few things in his favour, one of those being conditions and he receives the each-way vote with five places widely on offer. He’s looked better than ever this term, placing in valuable handicaps as well as winning a good handicap at the Curragh on soft ground. He was last seen finishing second on soft going and has seemingly been primed for this assignment as connections have recently bypassed other engagements with him on home soil in order to tackle this prize. Pat Cosgrave has been booked for the ride and, with a lot in his favour, a couple of pounds’ improvement might bring him seriously into the reckoning here.

As ever, a quality field head to post here for the Together For Racing International Cesarewitch Handicap so plenty of luck is required. However, given the competitive nature of this event, I am going to side with a couple of participants. Firstly, BURNING VICTORY (best price 8-1) who will be looking to give trainer Willie Mullins a record fourth consecutive win in this event. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner has won three of her last four outings in this sphere having won at Lyon Parilly in June and Deauville in August either side of finishing seventh in the Galway Hurdle in July on her return to action. This has been her long-term target and, with William Buick booked to ride, she’s a massive each-way player with six places available.

The other one who I think has a better chance of reaching the frame, at least, than his odds suggest is the consistent ELYSIAN FLAME (best price 20-1). He has been running so well in some of the best staying-handicaps this year, winning at Newbury over two-miles before a fifth in the Chester Plate, third in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Goodwood Handicap. He was only a place behind M C Muldoon at Royal Ascot but is treble the price of that one here which doesn’t make any sense. He has stamina in abundance and has only gone up a few pounds from last time so his forecast price is a steal in my view with six places available.