Architect Friday Racing Tips

An interesting beginners’ chase and, although Paul Townend has opted for Egality Mans, I’ll take a chance on the second-string EN BETON (best price 11-1), who looks a chaser in the making and can make his presence felt in the opener. He only won a minor event when last spotted but it seems significant that connections are pitching him into the deep-end here after just two spins over hurdles. He’ll need to jump with pinpoint accuracy against some potential high-class chasers but has a fair each-way chance with improvement to come for his in-form handler. 

DR DES (best price 6-1) isn’t the force of old but he drops into this really weak grade for the first time in his career and, being the only course winner in the field with heavy ground right up his street, this may be the time to catch him. He was rated as high as 140 in his prime so his current mark of 102 is more than exploitable if able to produce a half-decent performance. Sean Bowen does the steering and, with most of these also having something to prove, the ten-year-old makes plenty of each-way appeal with four places widely available.