Architect Thursday Racing Tips

The Rebecca Curtis-trained TINKERS HILL TOMMY (best price 5-1) might be the answer to the Stephen Webb Memorial Handicap Chase. He has relatively fewer miles on the clock despite being a ten-year-old and his form figures in this sphere reads a remarkable 22231U2112. He improved again when switched to this stable last term, winning twice and finishing second twice in four outings, including when successful in a class-two veterans’ chase at Newbury. Undeniably, he’s the most consistent of these and should go well if fully-tuned up for this reappearance under Richard Patrick.

An excellent turn out for the Pertemps’ Network Handicap Hurdle at Newbury and I am drawn to the claims of both the Dan Skelton-trained SPIRITOFTHEGAMES (best price 7-1) and SAYO (best price 18-1) with four places generally available. 

The former, trained by Dan Skelton, is a regular in highly-competitive handicaps and is often thereabouts despite not winning all that often for connections. He ended last season with a creditable third in the Grade 3 Betway Handicap Chase at Aintree off a mark of 144 and is reverted to hurdling off a five-pound lower mark in this easier grade. He has gone well fresh in the past, too, with form figures first-time-out reading 1111P2 and the only time he disappointed was in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He ran well on his last two starts in this sphere off similar marks, including at the Cheltenham Festival and if you rewind back to 2018, he had previously ran well from this exact mark three times to finish third in a Betfair Hurdle at this venue, fifth in a County Hurdle, while his second in the Lanzarote was another solid display, too. He’s undergone wind surgery since last time and, given how well his connections are doing of late, this smart and consistent nine-year-old, who doesn’t know how to run a bad race, is a standout each-way proposition here. 

The latter, who was formerly trained by Willie Mullins, emerged with plenty of credit when a fast-finishing fourth of 16 in this year’s Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and, although he’s been limited to just one outing over hurdles since, he’s changed hands and shaped a lot better than the beaten margin indicated last month. The assessor has taken a light view of his recent form, dropping him three-pounds since his excellent display at Cheltenham and the booking of Nico De Boinville can only been seen as a positive for his chances. This seven-year-old looks well-treated from a mark of 143 and he’s an outsider who could run better than his current price suggests.

I am willing to give another chance to FAMILY POT (best price 30-1) who wasn’t seen to best effect last time and had previously lost no caste in defeat when second to an odds-on favourite at this venue and, granted similar tactics, he may sneak into the frame off a featherweight. 

I think that penultimate piece of form could be useful given the winner is rated beyond 120 and Katie Powell’s claim will see her mount receive around two-stone from nearly the whole field. This six-year-old is back up in grade but it’s interesting connections have opted for this race instead of an easier target and he represents fair each-way value at the foot of the weights with the return to a longer trip sure to prove beneficial. 

Ruth Jefferson’s SOUNDS RUSSIAN (best price 14-1) has shown a fair amount of ability in finishing runner-up in all three starts in novice/maiden hurdles for connections and could make a serious impact on handicap/chase debut under Jamie Hamilton. 

His debut effort was full of promise as he was only beaten a length by the 135 plus-rated No Ordinary Joe who’s scored again since and has lost nothing in defeat in two starts since in decent company. It’s appealing to see him switch to chasing so soon in his career and, given his progressive profile, this six-year-old makes a lot of each-way appeal in the finale.