Architect Wednesday Racing Tips

JOHN ADAMS (best price 7-1) would probably be arriving here with two wins to his name without unseating his rider at the final fence on his penultimate outing over fences but he put it all together when returning an easy seven-length winner under this rider at Punchestown last month on return to chasing and can follow-up here. The eight-year-old has been prone to losing concentration, which reflects in his form figures, but a nine-pounds rise for his victory last-time-out seems tolerable and, with even more to offer in this sphere, this gelding by Presenting should prove a tough nut to crack under ideal soft conditions.

EXIT TO THE WEST (best price 13-2) is another one I want to advise in this contest, who’s produced some big efforts over fences so far, including with four runner-up spots alongside a win from just eight starts. She couldn’t lay a glove on John Adams who accelerated away from her down the home-straight when last spotted but she travelled strongly throughout and the reduction in distance looks very favourable, too. She’s gone up another couple of pounds for her effort in defeat but I think she’s better than this mark and should run another big race having reserved her best performances for this sort of ground.

PORT OF STARBOARD (best price 15-8) has taken really well to this sphere, finishing runner-up three times at Ffos Las, including when pulling clear with odds-on favourite Fine Casting last time and he gets the vote to open his account in this winnable affair. He’s the only one of these with an initial rating, 112, but looks the type to improve past that mark based upon his solid portfolio to date and, with potential for better still in this sphere, the five-year-old is selected to make light work of these with a bit of luck. 

Off You Go is an interesting participant, who bypassed the Dublin Racing Festival in order to tackle this assignment, but his big-weight and stiff mark is a combination concern and preference is for the Paul Nolan-trained DISCORAMA (best price 13-2). This admirable nine-year-old has placed at three Cheltenham Festivals and ran really well to finish seventh in last season’s Grand National following wind surgery. His only start this term was a spin over hurdles in which he finished an eye-catching fifth at a big price and, with the return to fences coupled with the soft ground and being down to a career-low chasing mark, Bryan Cooper’s mount is undoubtedly the best of these and should go very well here. 

At a bigger price, however, OPPOSITES ATTRACT (best price 12-1) isn’t one to dismiss despite failing to compete the last two times and might be a dark horse in this event. The eight-year-old has been disappointing the last two times but he’s had excuses both times and a reproduction of his three placed efforts beforehand would certainly bring him right into the picture. Also, all of his best form has been on soft ground with form figures reading 3112 and his close-up third on chase debut when just in behind School Boy Hours with Longhouse Poet back in sixth looks a standout piece of form so, with the hopes pinned on him bouncing back to form here with a lot in his favour, he looks good each-way value.