Architect Saturday Racing Tips

MUCHO MAS (best price 7-2) impressed on debut when beating subsequent winners including Kandoo Kid and is fancied to make an impact on hurdles debut for the in-form Ben Pauling with conditions very much in his favour. It was clear that something was amiss when last spotted so a nice break should have done him the world of good and he looks a huge player on hurdles debut in the opener at Aintree for the bang in-form Ben Pauling team. 

Act Of God commands plenty of attention but the price available THE WORLD’S END (best price 12-1) is very attractive indeed and this former Grade 1 winner is an appealing each-way proposition with four places on offer. Olly Murphy’s ten-year-old isn’t the force of old but is a former Grade 1 winner who likes it around here, having ran well in all three runs in Grade 1’s at this venue. He wasn’t disgraced in a pair of hunter chases earlier this year and has been given a likely chance by the handicapper. His last start in this sphere was when sixth in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle last December and he’ll find this a lot easier (drops down five grades) and being the only course-and-distance winner in the field with a good record fresh, this former high-class stayer appeals most at the expected prices. 

CAT TIGER (best price 9-2) can be prone to the odd mistake but with an error-free round of jumping, Paul Nicholls’ charge must have an excellent chance of taking top honours. He took well to this course in the foxhunters’ over today’s course-and-distance, where he did well to be in front jumping the final fence after a bad mistake three out and that experience will count for plenty. He makes his British handicap debut off a lenient mark of 134 and connections have won three of the last eight runnings of this event so he’s clearly been saved for this assignment and, having worked extremely well with Frodon earlier in the week according to David Maxwell, this seven-year-old, who’s a Grade 3 winner in France, is a major each-way player under his optimum conditions with four places available. 

AL ROC (best price 28-1) might have been well beaten in his first two starts for connections this year but he was bought to be a potential Grand National candidate and, although he’s yet to fire as of yet, this former listed chase winner in France could be suited to today’s combination of trip and ground. His trainer Dr Richard Newland actually won this twelve months ago and his runners over these fences are always worth a second look and appeals as the type to do better in this discipline so he is certainly worth an each-way interest with four places on offer. 

A fascinating renewal of the Grand Prix Automne Hurdle, where THYME HILL (best price 5-2) is fancied to take the scalp of last year’s first and second for Philip Hobbs and Tom O’Brien. This dual Grade 1-winning hurdler bounced back from a setback to win the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree and it’s interesting that connections start him here instead of Newbury, a race he won last year, too. His fitness shouldn’t be taken on trust, either, having won first-time-out on each of his three outings, while knowing his acts well on testing ground and jumps really well, he should be primed to make a bold effort against the race-fit favourite and last year’s winner.