Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

Trainer Jane Williams has her team in good form of late and her only runner of the day, AFTER THE FOX (best price 28-1) might represent a bit of each-way value with five places widely available in this weak handicap hurdle. 

This six-year-old improved to make his second start in handicaps a winning one at Warwick in December and that victory can be marked up significantly given he’d looked to be coming with a winning challenge the time before that at Exeter when slipping on the home-bend heavily. He hasn’t quite matched those heights in subsequent outings having been hit hard by the handicapper but he’s shaped better than the beaten margins have indicated the last two times off a mark of 100 each time, keeping on strongly in the latter stage in each outing. He tends to finish his races very strongly so this long home-straight should be right up his street and with his trainer having a fine 33% strike-rate this venue (two winners from six participants) her sole runner here certainly represents each-way value at a double-figure price. 

The other one to consider is the Nick Williams-trained HELIOS ALLEN (best price 12-1) who shaped with considerable promise when second on stable/UK debut at Warwick back in May in a stronger event than this and might have won that event with a better jump at the final flight, too. 

It’s interesting that connections gave him a spin in France 47 days ago which should have put him spot on for today’s assignment and Chester Williams, who rode him in France and takes off three-pounds here, is booked for the ride. This unexposed youngster by Coastal Path has been handed an initial lenient handicap debut mark of 105 now eased in grade and, with plenty of positives in his favour, including having a fitness edge over most of these, he might be a huge player with five places on offer in what looks a fairly ordinary race for the grade.

A lot can be given some sort of a chance, but I like the claims of Tom George’s SMUGGLER’S BLUES (best price 12-1) who looks overpriced to me and I’ll be backing him each-way. 

He made his seasonal reappearance over today’s course-and-distance after five months off and produced a pretty satisfying display, finishing seventh of 14 off top-weight and has eased a further three-pounds since. The nine-year-old is clearly difficult to catch right which is why he’s only won one of his nineteen starts but, on the other hand, he’s only a couple of pounds higher than when winning at Bangor and the last two times he’s competed off this mark of 113, he has ran with credit to finish runner-up. He chased home the 125 plus-rated Cyclop this time last year over track and trip and came within a neck of victory next time to the 122-rated Special Acceptance in a better grade. His current mark is well within his capabilities, especially when you consider his two placed efforts in a pair of class three’s and two’s earlier this year which came off a four-pound higher mark each time. He left the impression that he would come on significantly for the run last time and, with a strong pace guaranteed, he should outrun his double-figure price with three places on offer. 

DR KANANGA (best price 10-1) is the unexposed one of the entire field and an opening mark of 112 on the back of a 26-length demolition job at Hexham may well have underestimated him on handicap debut. 

The seven-year-old is a multiple winner between the flags and ran a good race to finish third on chase/stable debut behind Cousin Pascal March last year. That form could hardly have worked out any better given the winner went and won the highly-competitive Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase over the National at Aintree. Ben Clarke’s charge put that experience to good use when slamming his opposition at Hexham, where his assured jumping proved too much for the remainder and he will take some beating if he stages a repeat of his latest heroics with better to come, too. 

All of these can be given some sort of a chance but there’s a strong chance the Martin Keighley-trained WITNESS PROTECTION (NAP) (best price 9-2) might be able to outclass this field and add a second course-and-distance win to his name under James Best on just his third outing over fences. 

He developed into a very smart hurdler last term and his performance when second at Cheltenham deserved a good deal of praise given the winner is rated 144 and had previously scored in a Grade 2 to make the form look even better. This eight-year-old jumped neatly throughout that event at Cheltenham and looked to be coming with a winning challenge having challenged the eventual winner on the bridle at the final flight but was seemingly outstayed late on. He kept on well to his credit, though, to only be beaten a couple of lengths. His run at the festival can be significantly upgraded given he’d travelled well and attempted to take on the eventual winner, Heaven Help Us, from the top of the hill as the pair stole a few lengths on the remainder of the field. That decisive move proved costly in the end as the petrol gauge emptied quickly off the home-bend. His strong-travelling style, good jumping ability and prominent way of racing will grant him a decent advantage around this course and his latest second over fences to War Lord looks very useful form, where he’d have finished even closer without being hampered and losing a shoe. This is easier and he makes plenty of each-way appeal at the forecast odds with four places widely on offer. 

IDILICO (best price 10-1) has been in good form on the flat this year and finished his time with Ian Williams with victory on the flat last month. He was pulled up when last spotted in this sphere but had been highly tried by previous connections and that latest success ought to have restored his confidence ahead of his return to hurdling. The last time he competed in this grade was when second to the top-class Song For Someone when beaten only three-lengths and that form would be more than enough to see him land this assignment. He’s unproven over a trip this far but if his stamina holds out, Dianne Sayers’ charge might have a big say in the outcome. 

David Pipe has often left no stone unturned with runners at this venue, operating past the 22% strike-rate mark and I think LAST QUARTER (best price 5-1) will take some beating on the finale at the Welsh venue. 

He made a winning debut in a small-field race at Punchestown in March for Colin Bowe and changed hands to David Pipe who clearly liked what he saw from this gelding by Walk In the Park, who travelled powerfully and showed a willing attitude to get the job done. He’ll need more improvement to defy a penalty but his trainer knows what it takes to win this prize having won it twice previously since 2014 and Martin Mcintyre’s claim offsets seven-pounds’ so he’s a massive player for his new handler.