Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

DEYRANN DE CARJAC (best price 7-2) might not be the force of old but he’s still capable of operating a better level than this, as demonstrated with some really good efforts in defeat in three Grade 3 events at Cheltenham already, and can make the most of the handicapper’s generosity here. The nine-year-old hasn’t had many starts for his age and will appreciate the ease in grade on ground that’s very much in his favour too. Tom Cannon is back in the saddle and the pair could be set for success in the opener. 

FOXBORO (best price 8-1) is an each-way play in the same event. He remains winless in this sphere but he’s been knocking on the door in all of his last three starts, including when he went close over today’s course-and-distance last month. He couldn’t peg back Le Cameleon last time but a return to this venue will favour him better and he gets weights from the whole field too. He’s holding his form admirably well in defeat this term who deserves a change of fortune and that could possibly happen today with Stan Shepherd in the saddle.

MILLERS BANK (best price 4-1) undoubtedly arrives here with risks attached based on the fact that he’s failed to complete the last two times but he has the ability to really serve it up to the market principles with a clear round. He was third in last year’s Aintree Hurdle and looked like giving Paul Nicholls’ charge a race at Newbury before they both departed. Alex Hales’ smart individual was still in contention when unseating at Cheltenham last-time-out and has been given wind surgery since which could signal improvement. I can envisage the flat right-handed this track playing more to his strengths given his good record this way round and, in the hope he can put in a clear round, Kielan Woods mount can land the Grade 2 Coral Pendil Novices' Chase. 

It was a great day when I tipped ECLAIR SURF (best price 13-2) to win Warwick’s Classic Chase in which he duly obliged by an easy thirteen lengths and, while he’s been hit with a 10Ib rise for that victory, I am quite confident he’s still ahead of the assessor and is fancied to make a bold effort in today’s Eider Chase. Besides making one mistake, he jumped flawlessly en route to ripping the heart out of his rivals when last spotted under a beautiful ride by Tom Bellamy. This eight-year-old had long been touted to be a long-distance staying chaser by connections and the manner in which he dominated good horses last time suggested he’s going to be a serious force in these types of events. He is, of course, carrying more weight with an even longer trip to contend with here but he’s open to further improvement and a repeat of that display with front-running tactics likely to be in place again, must surely give him every chance of making the long trip to Newcastle worthwhile with five places on offer. 

JUST YOUR TYPE (best price 14-1) has a tendency of making the odd bad mistake during his race and that proved to be the case again when unseating Will Kennedy last-time-out but he’s a stout stayer, who has acquitted himself very well over marathon trips previously, and is a big player in today's event. He is now three-pound below his last winning mark and was sixth in this race back in 2019 off a mark of 134, where he would have finished a lot closer without being badly hampered when the race began to take shape. It seems like connections have unfinished business with him in this event and he’s on an attractive mark at present with stamina his forte. If he can keep the errors at bay, I have no doubt this capable ten-year-old can pose a threat to all in this line-up and therefore he makes good each-way appeal with five places widely available. 

A typically strong renewal of the Grade 3 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase and I am surprised to see GOOD BOY BOBBY (best price 14-1) at a double-figure price, who is clearly at the peak of his powers this season and arrives here on the back of an excellent victory in the Rowland Meyrick Chase. That latest victory came after a gutsy second to Aye Right in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and, while a career-best would probably be required to come out on top, he ticks a lot of boxes for this event and is currently in better form than most here. He likes to race prominently, which will suit around this venue, and given the fact that connections have decided to rely upon Sam Twiston-Davies to do the steering instead of booking a claimer to reduce his welter-burden is interesting. With that said, a bold bid is forecast from this consistent nine-year-old who makes a lot of appeal for each-way purposes in a competitive contest with four places generally available. 

Risky but talented, SOLWARA ONE (best price 11-1) is given one more chance to put aside his mishap last weekend with a good performance in the Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap Hurdle. It’s far from ideal arriving here with three consecutive mishaps to his name but his sixth at Aintree in a Grade 3 off today's handicap mark looks a strong piece of form when put in context of today’s easier grade and he gets the assistance of Sam Twiston-Davies, who has ridden him before. His mount looked to be still travelling strongly prior to unseating Harry Reed last time and, off the same mark coupled with the potential for better on just his sixth hurdles outing, Neil Mulholland’s charge could go very well here.