Architect Sunday Racing Tips

The Ger Lyons-trained POWER UNDER ME (best price 5-2), had been placed in pattern company in three consecutive starts prior to only finishing sixth behind Art Power over this track and trip two weeks ago but is fancied to strike for the first time since his debut. 

He might only have a maiden success to his name but his creditable efforts in defeats include a pair of Group 3 seconds, the first of those when beaten a head by subsequent Group 1 winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye - A Case For You. He then matched that form when a place in front of him when second again, over today’s course-and-distance, and in between managed a third in a Group 2 at this venue over seven-furlongs. His latest effort can be forgiven as he pretty much lost the race before it even began in the stalls and the drop in class can see him back in the winner’s enclosure as this represents as good an opportunity as any to regain the winning thread being the clear highest-rated of these at 105. 

This looks very competitive but JUST A STING (best price 6-1) who lost his way for Harry Fry over fences last year, might have been revitalised by a change in partnership and could go well on stable debut for Tom George with Johnny Burke in the plate. 

He looked very talented in his younger days and has a good record fresh - with two victories and a second from five reappearances. He’s nine-pound below his last winning mark which came in a higher-graded affair and was also fourth in the 2019 Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase from a mark of 134. He’s generally competed in better races than this event and the last time he ran in this sphere was when third behind both Vinndication and Champ at Ascot. This could be a fact-finding mission but given his record fresh from this capable mark, he could be a major each-way player. 

SHELLY BANKS (best price 12-1) could be the answer to this wide-open event, who is looking for redemption after a luckless fourth last time, and, granted luck in running, this filly by Fast Company has a good chance to add a second course-and-distance victory. 

She gained her breakthrough success here in June when beating the 92-rated Sister Rosetta and the forecast ease in the ground will be very much in her favour. She offered plenty of signs that a return to winning form could be imminent as she did well to get so close (only beaten four-lengths) after meeting trouble in running more than twice. For instance, she was squeezed for room at the start and was bumped, and then stumbled before keeping on strongly in the latter stages after all those incidents. Her mark remains unchanged here and, given she seems to have been completely overlooked, she might make amends or, at the very least, reach the frame.

A highly-competitive renewal of the Irish version and I’ll be hoping to go one better than I did in the English yesterday with two strong hopefuls in the shape of BENAUD (best price 12-1) and MONAS MELODY (best price 12-1). 

The former - Benaud, trained by Joseph O’Brien, has been progressive each time he’s been stepped up in trip and having won a conditions event, he was left with plenty to do when a strong-finishing fourth in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. That form has worked out strongly, whilst his fourth behind Tarnawa next time in a Group 3 looks high-class form, too, given the winner went onto finish second in the Arc. He then produced a good effort to finish second on the all-weather last time and that should have put him spot on for today’s assignment. He’s heading into uncharted territory trip-wise but as are most of these and, with this race being his long-term target, he’s more than a hopeful each-way choice with five places and more widely on offer. 

The other one I like, with strong claims, is Monas Melody, who has made her mark in this sphere. She beat a very good field in July at Killarney and finished second on either side of that victory over various trips for connections. She finished with so much running left on last month’s handicap debut at Leopardstown that this longer trip is well worth exploring with more to offer. She’s down a pound in the handicap and, with Seamie Heffernan maintaining the partnership, this talented mare by Ruler Of The World looks a serious each-way proposition with five places widely available.