Architect Friday Racing Tips

The Vickers.Bet Online Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race) has attracted a wide-open field of seven and the one who appeals most is top-weight DUBAI DAYS (best price 3-1).

The eight-year-old proved consistent over hurdles, winning three times, and his strong finishing efforts have hinted that stamina could very much be his forte now entering unknown-territory over two-miles and five furlongs here. He opened his account following a couple of encouraging efforts in this sphere when getting up close to home to see off three useful rivals at Ayr. He was given a masterclass patient ride by Conor O’Farrell that day, who nursed him into contention down the home straight having been well off the pace before showing a good burst of speed to take the spoils late on. He only had less than a length to spare at the line but looked to have more in hand than the margin indicated so a 1Ib rise for that victory looks essentially lenient in this easier grade. I think he will have little trouble handling this extra-furlong and a repeat of that latest display gives him every chance of further success.  

A case can be made for all of these so at the likely odds it could be worth giving another chance to GENUFLUX (best price 12-1) who brings the best form to the table courtesy of his second to Porticello at Wetherby in a listed event and can prove that effort to be no fluke with a bold display in this drop in grade. 

The Milton Harris team are in superb form at present and there’s been plenty to like about the way this four-year-old has taken to hurdles, finishing runner-up twice alongside winning by seventeen-lengths at Sedgefield. He couldn’t land a blow when highly-tried in the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow last time but didn’t look at all comfortable on the heavy ground and therefore can easily draw a line through that performance. He’ll appreciate the significant reduction in grade here allied with the better ground and given he’s sure to have plenty in his favour here, he's taken to get back on track with his overall efforts just about the strongest form on display. 

I know this would require all the skills within Tom Symonds training ability to see his participant win this on return from a 700+ layoff but LOUD AS LIONS (best price 7-1) is two-from-four over fences and should be too good for this uninspiring field if retaining even half of the ability he showed when last spotted. 

He benefited from a breathing operation and the fitting of headgear to see off higher-rated opponents (mainly 115+) over today’s course-and-distance two years ago and is only two-pound higher in this easier grade. He has often produced his best under a positive ride so it would come as no surprise to see Jordan Nailor try to make use of his confirmed stamina under ideal conditions. As just mentioned, this race is lacking any strength in depth so the top-weight could be ready to run a very big race on return to action. 

The boys on blue dominate the betting for the Dubai Racing Club Classic Presented By The View At The Palm Listed Stakes and I like DUBAI FUTURE (best price 7-1), who has plenty of useful form at this venue and can repeat his runner-up effort in this twelve months ago with another bold display. 

Saeed Bin Suroor’s charge has already beaten the majority of this field (Passion And Glory twice) with the exception of the favourite but ran a stormer to finish fifth in a top-class renewal of the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic behind Mishriff and Chrono Genesis. He warmed up for today’s assignment with an excellent third under Pat Cosgrave at Kempton last-time-out and, from a good draw in stall six with Pat maintaining the partnership, this six-year-old course-specialist, who has fitness on his side, which can’t be said about most of today’s opponents, makes plenty of each-way appeal. 

The highest-rated runner in the field - SALUTE THE SOLDIER (best price 5-1) is one of two suggestions for the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Presented By Nakheel Group 2 Stakes. 

The seven-year-old is the clear top-rated of these and ran a blinder to finish third in this twelve months ago. He has done all of his winning at this venue around this distance and won both the second and third round here before an excellent fifth in the Dubai World Cup despite connections expressing that he didn't run to his best that day. The lack of a recent run isn’t ideal but he’s the class act in the field and should get an ideal set-up with a host confirmed front-runners likely to take each other on, which will suit the selection, who’ll track the pace before being produced to lead off the home-bend. He’s got a good draw in stall four and, with more to offer this year, he merits serious consideration. 

The other one I like is THEGREATCOLLECTION (best price 9-1), who’s posted some awesome efforts at this venue and should go close to going one better than his second in this twelve months ago. 

He, of course, needs a lot of things to go his way given the way he likes to be held-up off the pace before coming late but this race should suit with all the pace likely to be on offer which should allow him to finish like a steam-train in the latter stages. This consistent eight-year-old made an encouraging reappearance when third over today’s course-and-distance and that outing should have put him spot on for today’s task in hand. On all the evidence, he’s massively overpriced and, with plenty going for him, Doug Watson’s ultra-tough trooper can plant himself right into the picture once again under Pat Cosgrave. 

MUTARAFFA (best price 12-1) has a good record at this track, where he’s produced three sound efforts in defeat, including when a half-a-length second in this last year before signing off with a smooth victory at the course over six. He will probably improve for the run being as it’s his first start of the season but the drop back to this trip will suit this free-going sort, who’s got plenty of speed and might take a bit of catching if granted an easy time of things towards the front. His connections hold him in extremely high-regard and having already proven himself against a few of these, he should give this a good go under his regular rider for a stable who are in great form of late. 

Doug Watson had multiple participants but it’s interesting to see that stable jockey Pat Dobbs has opted for the veteran - WAADY (best price 11-1), who’s a dual course-and-distance winner and looks to have been trained for this race. He’s drawn high in stall ten which could be the right place to be and the conditions will be up his street, too. I know he hasn’t won since February last year but his consistent RPR’s has indicated that he’s not been running badly at all and, having beaten the high-class Equilateral previously, who holds a lot of these, he’s fancied to roll back the years and run well at a fair price.