Architect Monday Racing Tips

Trainer Paul Nicholls enjoyed a productive weekend with success in both the Tingle Creek and London National on Saturday and has an excellent team to go to war with at Ludlow on Monday, starting with MIRANDA (best price 6-5) in the Alfa Aggregates Ltd Mares' Handicap Hurdle. 

This mare has made up into a useful hurdler, who is two-from-two over today’s course-and-distance, including when landing this race under this conditional last year under a big weight. She made a pleasing comeback when fifth in a listed event at Newbury and had previously stormed home in a Grade Two at Doncaster, where she beat some useful opponents in the form of Floressa, Marie’s Rock and Irish Roe. She does have to compete from a 7Ib higher mark, off 143, but a repeat of either her Grade Two winning display at Doncaster or her win in this event twelve months ago, would give her every chance of further success.  

There should be more to come from SWITCH HITTER (best price 5-2), who impressed in the jumping department when scoring on chase debut at Hereford, and is fancied to provide his handler with another early winner this week. 

The six-year-old has additionally done all of his winning under today’s rider Bryony Frost (three victories) and given his stature, he was always going to make an even better chaser than a hurdler, though, he achieved quite a smart level of form in that sphere last season for connections. The fact that he was able to make a winning chase debut off top-weight despite being the only runner in the field without experience in this code was a testament to his ability. The handicapper has only put him up a couple of pounds which is seemingly lenient as he comfortably had more in hand than the one-length winning margin indicated last time. That was also his first in seven months so he is entitled to come on for the run and, with plenty more improvement on the cards, he is the one to beat under the fantastic Bryony Frost for Paul Nicholls. 

WILD MAX (best price 3-1) may have struggled in top-end handicaps towards the end of last season but if he takes to fences he could emerge as a major threat under Harry Cobden, who interestingly, has his only ride on the card.

This is by no means easy trying to concede weight and chasing experience to three useful horses but Paul Nicholls’ charge will find this ease in grade to his liking. He proved himself in a higher-graded affair at Doncaster last season when winning a class-two by nine-lengths and was rated as high as 147 which puts himself comfortably clear of these. He could be a very good chaser for connections and can make a winning chase debut. 

TRIXSTER (best price 18-1) has been operating well below his best of late but the drop into this grade for the first time in his career could see Tim Vaughan’s well-treated individual outrun his double-figure odds. 

The eight-year-old didn’t shape at all too badly when seventh at Chepstow last time and has been eased four-pounds as a result. He finds himself twenty-pounds below his last winning mark and has a good record under Charlie Price, who had ridden him to finish second at Ascot two years ago in a better race than this. He probably isn’t the force of old but, his best form he would undoubtedly be too good for these so he might offer some value against the market leaders with four places on offer.