Architect Friday Racing Tips

Olly Murphy has made a bright start to the campaign and he deploys both Jetaway Joey and TIGERBYTHETAIL (best price 11-4) in this affair but it’s the latter who gets the vote as I find it interesting that Aidan Coleman has opted for the once-raced son of Yeats who looks promising. 

He actually rode the former to victory at Perth when last spotted but the selection was only prevented from winning on debut in April due to greenness as he was beaten only a short-head. In another stride, or so, he’d have won that event and it’s clear to see that this half-brother to smart hurdler Roksana is highly-regarded by connections based on the jockey bookings and, with the step up in trip combined with a set of hurdles likely to bring about further improvement, he could be very competitive here. 

Micky Hammond’s’ NOTWHATITSEEMS (best price 7-2) made an odds-on favourite pull out all the stops here sixteen days ago and, now venturing into handicaps from an opening lenient-looking mark, he’s fancied to strike under Conor O’Farrell. 

He was very consistent when trained in Ireland, in bumpers, and has been getting closer and closer to a first success at this venue since falling on hurdles debut. This longer trip looks sure to suit and, with the valuable course experience to draw upon, this progressive five-year-old has an excellent chance on these terms with the forecast rain very much in his favour. 

I was really impressed with the way the Harry Fry-trained LADY ADARE (best price 7-2) went through her race when scoring at Newcastle on debut in March and is taken to remain unbeaten with the hurdling scenario likely to her in an even better light. 

She travelled powerfully from the front on debut and showed a good attitude to fend off the runner-up Signal Point, who advertised the form by running well to finish third at Cheltenham next time. This mare by Fame And Glory relished the soft conditions and the rain that is due to arrive should turn the ground on the softer side and, now that she’s joined the powerful yard of Harry Fry, who has an excellent 28% strike-rate at this course and clearly liked what he saw her do on debut, she looks a serious player on hurdles debut. 

I am keen to back both BLAKENEY POINT (best price 15-2) and RED FORCE ONE (best piece 14-1) in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle, who have leading claims of taking the spoils.

The former, trained by the bang in-form Donald McCain, has posted two good efforts in defeat in this sphere since scoring at Perth in July in a higher-graded event than this and can compete from a two-pound lower mark with Theo Gillard’s five-pound claim taken into account. This eight-year-old hardly knows how to run a bad race and, having warmed up for this race when last spotted, he should be primed to run a big race with three places on offer.

The latter, who left Paul Nicholls to join Phil Kirby, arrives fit from the flat and looks nicely treated on return to hurdling. He was last seen in this code competing in some valuable handicaps, including when sixth in a hot handicap at the Aintree Festival last year which came off a four-pound higher mark. He takes a significant drop in grade with Joe Williamson taking off five-pounds and, having won the Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle last year from this exact mark, Phil Kirby’s charge makes plenty of each-way appeal with three places widely available.