Architect Saturday Racing Tips

This is an open affair of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase and I fancy J’AI FROID (best price 5-1) to build upon his couple of chase starts and hopefully reverse previous form with both Doyen Breed and Corach Rambler. The nine-year-old established himself to be a good-quality hurdler last term, in which he completed a four-timer (including over today’s course-and-distance) before a good second at Aintree’s Grand National meeting when seeking five on the bounce, his final start over hurdles. Since that busy but excellent campaign, he has shaped encouragingly in two spins over fences and while he has a bit of work to do to turn around last-time-out form with Lucinda Russell’s charge, he should be able to get closer to that rival on today’s 9Ib better terms returning to scene of his win at this meeting last year. Essentially, he’s the only runner in the line-up to have tasted victory at the Berkshire venue and, with conditions right up his street, he could hardly have more in his favour in order to produce a really good performance under regular rider, Max Kendrick. 

 There have been enough positive signs this week that the Paul Nicholls team is on the way back to form and while his best form is at marathon trips, TRUCKERS LODGE (best price 20-1) still looks a decent each-way bet in the greatbritishstallionshowcase.co.uk Swinley Chase (Listed Limited Handicap). The ten-year-old will handle conditions better than most and is a thorough stayer who was last seen placing in the Welsh National for the second time. His trainer expressed that his main aim would be to try and win the Midlands National for a second time and while I acknowledge that he’s vulnerable to speedier rivals, he stays all day and it’s interesting that connections opted for this rather than the Grand National trial. He doesn’t look badly treated off 147 (3Ib lower than last time) and, in the hope that Lorcan Williams can ride him prominently throughout, he shouldn’t be dismissed as an each-way contender despite being the outsider of the field at double-figure digits. 

Colin Tizzard has his team in excellent form of late and while he has to shoulder top-weight, FIDDLERONTHEROOF (best price 5-2) has the class to beat his inferior rivals under Brendan Powell. His second in a Grade 1 to Monkfish at last year's Cheltenham Festival is a standout piece of form but he was last seen producing a career-best performance when second in the Ladbrokes Trophy and should be able to go one place better in this less competitive event with the possibility of then either going for the Cheltenham Gold Cup or waiting for Aintree. 

Over to Haydock for the William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase and I have two suggestions for this. Firstly - SAM BROWN (best price 6-1), who’s lightly-raced for his age and ran an almighty race to finish a half-a-length second in the Peter Marsh here last month. He’d earlier won a Grade 2 novice chase on heavy ground on his only other visit to this track and it’s mildly surprising that the assessor has only put him up a couple of pounds for that latest excellent display in defeat which seems lenient. Anthony Honeyball’s charge clearly likes it here having reserved his best performances for this track and this sort of ground and, with every possibility that he’ll stay the extra yardage, he should at the very least reach the frame. 

THE GALLOPING BEAR (best price 4-1) very much confirmed that stamina is his forte when putting up a good weight-carrying performance to win the Surrey National over 3m5f in heavy ground when last spotted, making it three-from-three over fences, and a 5Ib rise seems very fair on reflection, as he had much more in hand than the two-length margin indicated when passing the finishing post. I was very confident Ben Clarke’s lightly-raced nine-year-old would go close in that race last time and I feel as though he will take some beating here despite coming up against classier rivals as he will keep galloping when a lot of these have cried enough in the final mile. I think he’s tailor-made for this assignment and, being open to more improvement than most, he gets the nod to continue his rise through the staying chase ranks this term under Ben Jones. 

I have gone over this race multiple times and I have come to the realisation that the top-weight CH’TIBELLO (best price 10-1) makes a lot of each-way appeal despite being unproven over the distance and arriving here on the back of an early fall. The eleven-year-old has been highly-tried throughout his career and while today’s test will really ask a lot of questions in regards to his stamina, I can envisage Harry Skelton riding him cold at the rear of the field before delivering him as late as possible. He also has a good record on testing ground (312) with the latest of those coming at this track in a Grade 2 affair and his falling mark is making him a dangerous horse to dismiss at this stage of his career. He’s four-pound lower than when winning the County Hurdle so a bold bid is forecast from the top weight with four places widely available.

SOLWARA ONE (best price 14-1) has been let down by his jumping in two starts over fences and, while it’s not ideal arriving here with two consecutive mishaps, the return to hurdles should have a more positive outcome. His excellent sixth at Aintree in a Grade 3 off today's handicap mark looks a strong piece of form in this easier grade and he should be really suited to the step up in distance. If those latest mishaps haven’t dented his confidence, Neil Mulholland’s charge could be a major player here coupled with Harry Reed doing the steering on this occasion, too.

BOBO MAC (best price 40-1) is of course more exposed than most but he goes well in the mud and ran some big races in this sphere and over fences off stiffer marks during his career. He has placed in six starts over fences off higher marks and was rated 136 when last sighted over the smaller obstacles. The last time he ran in this grade was when winning at Warwick off a mark of 126 so he’s dangerously well-treated if the application of blinkers again can spark him back to life and, with Isabel Williams booked to ride, who can claim 5Ib, this useful eleven-year-old makes plenty of appeal in this big-field event with up to four places widely on offer. 

GROSVENOR COURT (best price 25-1) also merits consideration, who ran a good race to finish third last time despite losing a shoe and has been handed an initial lenient mark of 119 for his handicap debut. His hurdling debut close-up third behind Sounds Russian and No Ordinary Joe has been strongly advertised since by the winner and the runner-up and I cannot believe he’s three times the odds of Atakan who was two places behind him when second to Earth Lord on his penultimate outing for Alan King. He has plenty of stamina in his pedigree so he’s certainly bred to relish this longer trip and with most firms offering four places, backing him each-way with them makes plenty of appeal.