Architect Thursday Racing Tips

KAIZER (best price 3-1) was behind Milvale when the pair clashed here in December but he stepped up on that showing when second at Newcastle last-time-out and given how many times he’s been competitive off much higher marks previously, including last year when winning off eight-pound higher, the seven-year-old looks a leading player. Craig Nichol maintains the partnership who knows him well and this course plays to his mount's strengths-based upon previous form in higher-grade events. There isn’t a lot to separate the three at the top of the market but Ewan Whillans’ charge should go really well under a positive ride in the opener off a basement mark. 

The progression of BELLA BLUESKY (best price 8-1) in bumpers last term earned her a crack at a Grade 2 at Aintree and, while she was clearly out of her depth, her latest start over hurdles when second Newcastle offered the encouragement that she’s a mare far from short of ability. Sent off an SP 125/1, she comprehensively left her hurdles debut behind to chase home a useful prospect in the form of Harry Fry’s Lady Adare, who made it three-from-three. It’s quite possible that Ewan Whillans’ charge was slightly flattered by the winner with only two and a half lengths separating them at the line but she stuck to her guns in gritty fashion. A reproduction of that latest display would surely give her excellent claims of going one better as none of the remainder can boast comparable form at the moment. 

MAHALE (best price 16-1) has been on the drift all morning but I’m not sure why other than the fact that firms believe she won’t take to the surface when I am quite confident she’ll prove very effective on it. Yes; she remains a maiden after eighteen starts but she would have gone close last time when Rose Dawes darted for the inside rail on the cutaway at Kempton, only to be denied a clear run when severely hampered when coming with a strong run. The assessor has left her mark unchanged and, with the combination of the drop in grade and George Bass reunited with her, she could go well at double-figure digits. 

MOUNT MELLERAY (NAP) (best price 7-2) didn’t exactly put in an elementary performance on stable/British debut at Newcastle over hurdles but that was his first over the smaller obstacles for nearly a year and he did extremely well to take fourth, which should have put him spot-on for a return to the regulation fences here. The seven-year-old was consistent in defeat in all three chase starts in Ireland, finishing runner-up in two of them before a good third at Cork. He’s likely to be encountering the quickest ground he’s tackled as of yet here but he’s the clear highest-rated of these at 122 with Phil Kirby’s charge next best on 114 and Alan Doyle takes off seven pounds. With his claim taken into account, he’s only got to give that one-pound but is rated eight-pounds superior. He could initially do with brushing up his jumping based on evidence of his recent chase outings but he’s weighted to pose a serious threat in this line-up with most of the remainder having something to prove. 

The Lucinda Russell-trained LUCKY FLIGHT (best price 3-1) has been difficult to catch right in recent years but he has predominantly saved his best for the Scottish venue with his record here reading two victories and two seconds from four starts and can enhance that record at his favourite course. He’s astonishingly five pounds lower than when beating a 138-rated individual in the shape of Return Ticket at Perth on chase/handicap debut, so his capabilities can’t go unnoticed and with the remaining quintet arriving here on the back of below-par efforts, the eight-year-old is the one to beat. 

He might not be the force of old but there’s plenty to like about VOIX DU REVE (best price 7-1) in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle, the final race on the card, who’s been given a serious chance by the handicapper. The ten-year-old was a high-class performer in prime, who’s form figures over this trip on decent ground reads three-from-three, and he’s shown more than enough for Iain Jardine to suggest he retains a good chunk of his ability. He finished runner-up off top-weight in a pair of good-quality class 2 events off marks of 145 and 146 around this time last year and a good third in a listed chase event over this trip off 156. 

He went off the boil in his next couple of starts but wasn’t disgraced in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, albeit trailing home last of six and his latest fourth at Musselburgh was another step back in the right direction. Being dropped a further three-pounds can only help matters back over a more suitable distance and, interestingly, claimer Tom Midgley has been booked to ride, who takes off an essential further five-pounds. Famous Bridge and course specialist Elvis Mail are heavily respected but I’m happy to take a chance on the veteran of the party to potentially roll back the years at a decent price.