Architect Thursday Racing Tips

I’ll be disappointed if the top-weight MULCAHYS HILL (best price 13-2) can’t figure prominently in the Virgin Bet Free Bets For Winners Handicap Chase, who will appreciate the return to his grade and is fancied to capitalise on a career-low mark. Warren Greatrex’ ten-year-old is probably past his best but he’s been running well in better events than this throughout his career and even a reproduction of his midfield finish in the 2020 Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 144 would certainly make him competitive here. He has dropped an astounding twenty-two pounds in the handicap since and the last time he competed over this trip was when fourth in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. He obviously comes with risks attached but this offers him a good opportunity to showcase his back-class and concede weight all round to his five rivals under Henry Brooke. 

Adamantly Chosen shaped very well when runner-up in a big field at Cork last month but, despite his team being in great form, he’ll do well to get the better of BARBADOS (best price 5-2). The latter chased home a possible Champion Hurdle candidate on hurdles debut and is rated 106 on the flat. Jessica Harrington’s team aren’t firing on all cylinders, which is worth bearing in mind, but this six-year-old should get a stronger gallop in this large-field event and if he’s within striking distance of Willie Mullins’ charge in the latter stages, his assured flat speed should prove to be all the difference in the outcome of this maiden event under Robbie Power. 

Charlie Hammond and Richard Newland have been a potent combination so far this season and they team up with their only participant of the day - FEIVEL (best price 6-1), who was unfortunate not to win last-time-out and is one to consider each-way in the Cazoo Handicap Hurdle. The seven-year-old will get his favoured soft ground and was off the mark at the second attempt for this yard in a Hexham maiden in December before bouncing back from a below-par effort next time to finish a close-up third at Haydock last month when returned to two-miles. He would no doubt have won that race with a better jump at the last and takes on easier opposition today off the same mark with the return to this longer trip sure to suit. It’s far from a simple task conceding weight to other improvers but he rates an appealing each-way contender at the forecast odds. 

TRIXSTER (best price 8-1) looked more like his old self when catching the eye to finish third last-time-out off a career-low mark, which was his first start in this grade, and if able to build on that here, Tim Vaughan’s well-treated individual might be able to outclass these. 

The eight-year-old’s mark is continuing to ease and it’s appealing to see senior rider Alan Johns take over the trains from claimer Charlie Price on this occasion. The nine-year-old is often seen in higher-grade events than this and there was plenty of encouragement from his latest showing, where he travelled with plenty of purpose before staying on nicely to take third behind two horses who are rated 112 and 106. A lot of today’s rivals have plenty to prove, unlike this capable performer, who’s got a lot going for him and he can therefore present a major threat to all in this line-up.

At Newcastle, in the Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap, I really like the claims of EEH BAH GUM (best price 5-1), who came close to ending an overdue success when second at Southwell three weeks ago on debut for Kevin Ryan and, with Oisin McSweeney taking off a valuable seven-pounds, the seven-year-old looks more than ready to strike in this basement event. His record in class-six events now stands at two wins and second from three outings and he’s evidently twenty-four pounds below his last winning mark. He was knocking on the door off higher marks last year on the turf and given he is thrown in on old form, he’s worth a strong chance to capitalise on his much-reduced mark. 

This could finally be the time ABERAMA GOLD (best price 3-1) gets his head in front for the first time since winning off a mark of 101 at Lingfield in a class-two event over a year ago. The five-year-old has a really good record on artificial surfaces, who ran very well to finish fifth in a higher-grade event last-time-out. He placed multiple times last year in stronger events off marks in the 100’s, including when second to Dakota Gold in a listed event, and looked on the way back to form two weeks ago. The assessor has dropped him a couple of pounds and given the last time he ran over today’s course-and-distance was in a Group Three, he remains one to be positive about back down in class.