Architect Monday Racing Tips

Minella Drama has to be respected in which he’s looking to make it two-from-two over fences but, although jumping issues have often let GUMBALL (best price 7-2) down in the past, this seven-year-old is more than capable of winning a race of this nature and gets the vote to supplement his recent flat Handicap victory at York with success at the Cumbrian venue under Paddy Brennan, who has his only ride on the card. 

He was very useful when trained by Philip Hobbs and having given a six-length beating to Cheddleton at Uttoxeter, he was in the process of beating Eldorado Allen at Cheltenham when falling at the second last when two-lengths clear. The eventual winner subsequently won the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup to boost the form, while his latest third in this sphere, in a Grade One at Aintree to Shishkin was another perfectly-respectable effort and he’ll find this a lot easier. He made a winning debut for Fergal O’Brien at York on the flat recently and, assuming Paddy will ride him positively around a track that has often favoured front-runners, he could prove hard to catch with a clear round.

IF NOT FOR DYLAN (best price 7-1) is yet to get his head in front but he has shown ability and given the fact he was still holding every chance when slipping on the home turn at Ayr, he remains of interest from a two-pound lower mark and might be able to make amends here.

He was highly tried in a class-three on debut at Perth finishing fourth and then placed back there over hurdles next time behind the promising pair, It’s Good To Laugh and Super Six and has shaped much better than the beaten margin has indicated the last couple of times. This is easier and, with more to offer, this unexposed six-year-old might be able to have a say in the outcome. 

This is wide-open but Peter Bowens’ DR DES (best price 14-1) is handed one more chance to potentially capitalise on his much-reduced mark or, at worse, holds sound enough each-way claims with four places widely on offer. 

This horse was useful in this sphere in 2017/18 and has gradually improved for this yard, including fifth of ten at Chepstow last time and, interestingly, his form figures at this level over hurdles reads 11114, while the last of those wins was when he was rated 140. His trainer is two-from-eight with runners at this course over the last five years so he rarely makes the long trip to this venue without being hopeful and this ten-year-old makes a fair bit of each-way appeal.