Architect Sunday Racing Tips

There doesn’t appear to be much strength in depth in the www.rpsdesani.co.uk Asset Management Mares' Novices' Hurdle and, with that in mind, this is a good opportunity for BETTY BALOO (best price 6-4) to deservedly open her account in this sphere. 

A dual bumper winner last year, she has shown promise in defeat on her three hurdle starts, including over course-and-distance last time when second behind a promising sort. That form has worked out strongly as the winner claimed a Grade Two at Doncaster yesterday. On that evidence, she’s clearly the one to beat and, with further improvement on the cards, this consistent mare can get off the mark over hurdles under Brian Hughes. 

This is a cracking opener in Ireland, where in all honesty, it’s a Grade 1 field tackling this Grade Three contest. Run Wild Fred is the only one of these with an official rating and he’s clearly improving based upon his Troytown victory and second in a Grade 1 last time but I feel as though it is Willie Mullins’ event to lose and I am confident one of his two participants will get the job done. 

Vanillier may well have taken the scalp of STATTLER (best price 13-8) twice last term over hurdles but the latter was a place in front of him in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle next time and, given how impressive Willie Mullins’ leading National Chase contender was on chase debut, he can prove that staying trips is his forte. It seems like everyone is worried about his stamina but his in-form trainer is adamant he’ll flourish in this category and it’s significant that Paul Townend has stayed loyal to him too. He has always appealed as a high-quality staying chaser in the making from my point of view and should go close with the best of him yet to come. 

It was fantastic to have tipped EN BETON (best price 5-1) on the final day of last year when he absolutely bolted up on chase debut at a big price and he looks more than capable of getting in the shake-up here with plenty of improvement to come. Danny Mullins gave this horse a beautiful ride, where his mount produced some spectacular leaps on the way round, taking lengths out of the field at every fence, which allowed his rider to just keep filling him up before this good-looking unit impressively drew clear of the field to score by twenty-one lengths. The style of his front-running demolition job suggests he could be a lively candidate for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and it was reported that he took a blow after the line last-time-out too so he’s bound to take a huge step forward with that reappearance and experience under his belt. Front-running tactics almost certainly going to be the plan again here and, while it’s highly likely that he’ll be taken on for the lead in this deeper-field, but his electric jumping and sheer natural ability is a potent weapon to have and he rates a very solid backup bet to the former in the opener. 

A lot of these are in with a shout but I am drawn to the claims of JACKSONS GOLD (best price 7-2), who was undeniably the best of these over hurdles and, although he’s yet to get close to that level of form in this sphere, the eight-year-old is on a workable mark on handicap debut and can run a big race for a yard that is quite good at placing handicap debutants.

He won off today’s mark over hurdles and his third at Fairyhouse in a big-field handicap off a mark of 136 is seriously strong form when put in the context of today’s event. For instance, he was a place in front of Capodanno, who beat Gaillard Du Mesnil on chase debut before chasing home the high-class Bob Olinger in a Grade Three earlier this month. This form-line clearly underlines his capabilities when at his best and, although he could only finish third behind Rivière D’etel in a Grade Three last time, I get the impression he’s the sort of horse who will most prove effective in a race of this nature so it’s difficult to see him not putting up a good show here. 

Saint Fecilien might well be up to this grade in defence of his unbeaten record but the admirable stablemate PETIT MOUCHOIR (best price 13-2) comes out best at the weights and being the highest-rated runner in the field, the eleven-year-old can roll back the years and make a significant impact in this lower grade. 

He’s not won since 2017 but this capable front-runner gets his ideal conditions and will find this a lot easier than his latest assignment. Jack Kennedy takes the ride and despite his advancing years, he proved he retains most of his ability when running a belter to finish second in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s expected to leave his seasonal reappearance behind him and can therefore potentially overhaul his well-supported stablemate.