Architect Sunday Racing Tips

This is a wide-open handicap to kick the card off but I am drawn to the claims of two participants, each-way, with five places widely available and advised in the opener. 

DE LADY IN RED (best price 14-1) has taken well to hurdles, who’s won two of her five starts and was only mugged in the shadows of the post when runner-up in a novice hurdle heavy ground hurdle at Cork last month. She's versatile regarding conditions, is on a good mark, and is open to further improvement. This six-year-old mare will be ideally suited to this large-field, too, as she likes to race prominently and, with scope to surpass her current mark, she’s fancied to make her presence felt in this off an ideal racing weight. 

SIT DOWN LUCY (best price 10-1) might not be the strongest in a finish but she’s a rapidly-improving mare, who’s second in a Grade 3 at Down Royal in December looks solid, as she had the favourite for today’s event, Party Central, well beaten in fourth. On this evidence, I’m surprised she’s not vying for favouritism, while her latest fourth in another big-field event was another perfectly respectable effort in defeat. She’s only a pound higher today and looks poised to make another bold bid from the front at double-figure odds. 

Galopin Des Champs has every chance of reaching the highest of heights in the novice chase division this term, especially on reflection of his ultra-impressive chase debut and, while I respect he’s the one to beat, there’s no way on earth stablemate GAILLARD DU MESNIL (best price 33-1) should be available at such big odds and I simply cannot resist backing him here on return to the scene of his first impressive Grade 1 victory at this meeting twelve months ago. 

The six-year-old developed into a high-class hurdler last term, winning a pair of Grade 1’s, alongside a creditable second to Bob Olinger at the Cheltenham Festival in which he had subsequent Grade 1 winner in this sphere, Bravemansgame, back in third. He hasn’t been able to match that form in two attempts in this sphere but he’s been far from disgraced in each of them and has plenty of time on his side as he was equally as good as his stablemate Galopin Des Champs over hurdles last term, if not better, given he won more Grade 1 events on the whole. His dominant victory at this meeting last year has strongly been advertised since with the likes of Stattler (National Hunt Chase favourite) and Vanillier (Albert Bartlett winner) all in behind and, while the market much prefers his stablemate, it is the latter that interests me most, who has the capabilities to win this under Bryan Cooper if that high-class level of hurdles form can be transferred to this sphere. 

This doesn't look like the deepest edition of the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle and I think Nicky Henderson’s IMPULSIVE ONE (best price 9-4) will take the world of beating back down in grade. Inca Prince has looked good in winning twice and has a fair chance in search of the hat-trick but the former boasts really good-quality form. For instance, he finished a close-up third to both Triumph Hurdle leading candidates Porticello and Knight Salute in a Grade 2 at Doncaster and none of the remainder in today’s line-up can boast comparable form. He also chased home the former when giving Milton Harris’ charge a lot of weight at Kempton when only beaten a couple of lengths and, having warmed up for this event with a spin on the flat, this looks his race for the taking. 

Chacun Pour Soi has won the Dublin Chase for the last two years and is clearly a top-class individual on home soil, who’s record at this track speaks for itself. However, I was really disappointed with him in the Tingle Creek and, while knowing he would beat these if returning to his best, I think he’s worth taking on this year and preference is for CAPTAIN GUINNESS (best price 13-2), who appeals as a fair solid each-way recommendation for the Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore combination. 

He was ridden too aggressively when only third in the Arkle last year but was in the process of making a race of it with Energumene when just about drawing up to the eventual winner at this meeting last year until falling at the second last. He might not have beaten the winner but he was going strongly at the time and he put an unseat mishap behind him when winning a Grade 3 at Naas on his return and then ran really well to finish third in the Tingle Creek when last spotted. He has a bit of work to do to reverse the form with Greaneteen but he arrives here fresh and is the youngster of the party so has potential for further progress and I am hopeful he can turn the tables. I get the impression he’s the sort of horse who will most prove effective with more runs under his belt and, granted a clear round, I think he’s worth an investment here. 

A lot in with a chance in this traditionally competitive event and, with this in mind, I am going to advise three tips with the five places widely on offer on the latter pair mentioned. 

MAX FLAMINGO (best price 11-2) punched above his weight in Grade 1 company when last spotted and, while he couldn’t quite make an impact at the business end, there was a lot to like about his effort in defeat and he looks ready to make a serious impact on handicap debut. An opening mark of 142 looks eminently workable and, while he’ll need a lot of luck in running, he’ll find this company a bit easier than his last two assignments and Francis Crawley’s charge should, at the very least, be thereabouts despite this being fiercely competitive with his riders significant claim also coming into effect to help his chances even further. 

GALLANT JOHN JOE (best price 12-1) is prone to having a few issues with his legs but he’s a very capable horse on his day and given the fact that this nine-year-old has produced some excellent efforts in defeat around this course continuously in the past, he enters serious each-way calculations off an attractive handicap debut mark. His form figures at this track reads 23234 and his first three chase starts saw him finish a two-length second on chase debut to Melon before a good third in the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase here. He was returning from a long absence, since finishing third in a Grade 2, when an eye-catching fourth behind Ferny Hollow over course-and-distance and wasn’t disgraced when fifth behind Bob Olinger subsequently three weeks ago. He’s pitched into handicap company off a lenient-looking mark of 142 and this could well be the culmination of a long-term plan by connections which could pay off. 

MORTAL (best price 20-1) produced an honourable fifth in the 2019 RSA at the Festival, one of the hottest renewals in recent times and looked on good terms with himself when fourth on cross country debut at Cheltenham last time and, with the main event of that scenario likely to be his main target, I can see him running a big race in this event off a nice mark of 133. I also think a strongly-run affair around this venue will suit him whilst carrying a really light-weight. He would probably need a career-best to win this event but he’s improved with each start for Gordon Elliott and he’s no forlorn hope to get heavily involved for a trainer who has often left no stone unturned in these types of handicaps.

I tipped both Sir Gerhard and MY MATE MOZZIE (best price 8-1) for the Supreme a few weeks ago and, while I expect the former to take top honours here, it doesn’t always work like that in racing and I’m going to advise backing Gavin Cromwell’s charge each-way, who looks good value to at least reach the frame. He lost his unbeaten record when narrowly denied in the Royal Bond but there was a lot to like about the way he went through that race and would no doubt have won with a better jump at the last. He actually rallied in the closing stages after losing momentum which was a credit to the ability he possesses. It’s interesting to hear connections might go for the Champion Hurdle with him rather than the Supreme and that will all depend on how he fares in this event. I think he’s a very, very good horse and while his stable isn’t in the greatest of form at the moment, this six-year-old has an excellent each-way chance in what is his biggest test to date. 

The Liffey Handicap Hurdle appeals as a good race to tackle from an each-way point of view and the first of two suggestions is CASK MATE (best price 8-1), who arrives on the back of a good second to Zanahiyr in WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and merits consideration off a fair opening mark for the in-form Noel Meade team. He developed into a good novice hurdler last term, where he won twice and was deemed good enough to contest a pair of Grade 1’s, including when a one-length second to Ballyadam in the Royal Bond. He meets that rival on seven-pounds better terms here with conditions to suit and his form figures over hurdles reads a consistent 22112012. He has a turn of foot that will stand him in good stead and given how reliable he is, he looks one of the best each-way bets on today’s card with five places widely available. 

I’m also still convinced that FASTORSLOW (best price 28-1) is a graded horse running in a handicap and I’m mildly surprised to see him available at massive odds given the fact he was sure to improve both physically and mentally for his reappearance. He was a good second on hurdles debut behind Lifetime Ambition and, while he couldn’t get involved on seasonal debut, he shaped as though he would come on for the run. This is clearly a tough task on just his third outing but I find it interesting to see his capable trainer throw him into the deep-end again and, being less exposed than most, I can envisage him performing better than his double-figure odds suggest with five places widely on offer.