Friday Racing Tips from Architect

Just the four runners here but this could turn out to be a fascinating contest with two horses I have already tipped previously rossing swords in the shape of Queenohearts and DE YOUNG WARRIOR (best price 5-2). However, as much as I like Kim Bailey’s mare, marginal preference is for the latter, who’s two-from-two in this sphere and, having advised him on both occasions, including when successful on chase debut at a huge price over today’s course-and-distance, he is fancied to complete the hat-trick. He might have gone up seven-pounds for his latest good-staying victory at Chepstow but he’s open to much more improvement and is a very assured jumper, who has loads of stamina in his inventory so can make the most of the weight he gets from his two rivals. 

It might seem like FARNE (best price 4-1) took a major step backwards from her promising chase debut when trailing home last of four at Chepstow in January but there were excuses that day and she’s proven in the past that she can bounce back at any stage. Her latest effort can easily be overlooked as nearly all of the fences were omitted and she wasn’t suited to the lack of pace either, where the first and second home were in that position throughout the contest and were never challenged by the selection or the other participant at any stage. Noel Williams’ mare has to prove she stays three-miles but there’s a chance she’ll improve for it and I’m quite glad to see Paddy Brennan remaining in the saddle too. A lot of these seem handicapped to the tilt with the exception of Farne, who bolted up from only a 4Ib lower mark over hurdles last season. On this evidence, alongside her third to the Glancing Queen on chase debut, she could go very well here. 

LE MUSEE (NAP) (best price 15-2) hasn’t been quite able to produce his best form as of yet this term but he’s shaped well in a couple of outings since being highly tried on his reappearance at Newbury in a class-two and could have a significant say in the outcome. I have recognised that he goes well for Kieran Buckley, who guided him to a twelve-length victory the last time he was successful over hurdles over this trip and that was off a 3Ib higher mark than today’s one. He wasn’t suited to the drop back in trip last time, where he did all of his best work at the finish having got outpaced, while the good ground wouldn’t have seen him to best effect either as all of his best form has been on soft ground or worse. His form figures on soft ground or worse reads an exceptional 22125110 with that latest display resulting with a midfield finish in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 145 over fences. 

He defied a mark of 139 over the bigger obstacles on soft ground at Perth, winning by twelve-lengths again, so he’s evidently well-treated off 119 in this sphere at present. A four-time winner on the flat a couple of years ago, the nine-year-old has proven he can win in any code as well as winning and placing off much higher marks in better events than this during his career. His penultimate fourth at Taunton off 5Ib higher over this trip in a class-three reads well in this context of this event as the third Sizable Sam, who was only two lengths in front of him, subsequently won off a mark of 128. He’s clearly been done a lot of favours by the handicapper on reassessment of his recent solid form and a repeat of his best form gives him an outstanding chance in this race with trip, ground, overall form, current mark and his stables good recent spell clustered into his positive credentials.  

The Devon National, the highlight of the day at Exeter, is going to require a horse who has so much stamina in abundance and I have two strong suggestions. 

While he doesn’t win that often, Nicky Martin’s THE TWO AMIGOS (best price 10-1) is a bit of a specialist over marathon trips and has won over today's course-and-distance in the past too. He enjoyed yet another consistent campaign last term, who was a three-length second in the Welsh Grand National off a mark of 142 and had previously finished fifth in the 2019 version off the same mark. He wasn’t at his best when last spotted finishing second at Haydock but the assessor has dropped him six-pounds to a mark of 134, which has left him attractively well-treated. David Pritchard’s five-pound claim is a plus too and, with conditions holding no fears, a bold bid is anticipated from the top-weight with four places widely available. 

Harry Fry’s CAPTAIN DRAKE (best price 16-1) hasn’t really been at his best this term but his only previous chase start at this venue resulted with victory on similar ground and he has been placed in a variety of big staying handicaps in his time in this sphere. The nine-year-old was fourth in last season’s Welsh Grand National off a mark of 140 and is a full 13Ib lower in this easier event. He goes very well on soft or worse conditions and Bryan Carver’s three-pound claim is also useful and, having warmed up for this assignment with a spin over hurdles last-time-out, he makes good each-way appeal with four places widely on offer.