Architect Tuesday Racing Tips

While it is tough to rule any of these out, the Jonjo O’Neill-trained SACRE COEUR (best price 3-1) showed a smart level of form when trained in France, winning four times on both the flat/hurdles and fences, and ought to be bang in contention here with more to offer. She looked in need of her comeback outing at Ludlow and was last seen making a bold effort to push a hat-trick seeker close at Bangor. Her performance can be upgraded to some extent given she’d lacked any real fluency but still managed to get within half-a-length of the winner, who is rated in the mid 120s. Charlie Mann, who previously had her, clearly held the mare in high regard as she was highly-tried on her first couple of starts. 

Firstly, when looking booked for second on chase/UK debut in a listed event until unseating at the last. She then contested a Grade Two at Warwick before the return to hurdles saw her finish a two-length third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle behind Diego Du Charmil and Sebastopol, who are both now rated 140-plus over obstacles, respectively. That piece of form, alongside her other efforts - including last time - is by miles the best on offer and a repeat of that latest display, with plenty more improvement to come, gives her every chance of defying top-weight at the East Sussex venue. 

This is competitive but the Lucinda Russell-trained BEHINDTHELINES (best price 4-1) will be tough to keep out of the picture, who proved that he retains all of his ability with two good displays at Kelso since returning from a long absence and can potentially strike for his inform handler and Derek Fox. 

This lightly-raced nine-year-old had previously demonstrated some useful form over hurdles, where he placed in three of his four starts and won the other convincingly. His victory over the 127-rated Piri Massini certainly indicates that his mark of 116 is exploitable alongside the form of his third behind Iwilldoit, who’s now a leading contender for the Welsh Grand National having won the trial event when last spotted. This is a slightly stiffer task than last time but he remains open to more improvement than the majority of those who are exposed and, with those couple of runs under his belt, he could be ready to strike.

EXOD’ELA (best price 5-2) could only manage fourth when strongly supported for the long-distance handicap chase at Hexham last time but failed to stay so it’s no surprise to see him return to this shorter trip which should contribute to his claims at least. This is an open race so it is too soon to be writing him off and the assessor has essentially dropped him a couple of pounds to help matters. He was the best of these over hurdles, based on form and official ratings, and therefore should go very well here with plenty in his favour.