Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

KAUTO RIKO (best price 2-1) pushed the Kim Bailey-trained Two For Gold to within half-a-length when second at Doncaster off only 1Ib lower on seasonal debut and a reproduction of that display must surely be enough for the veteran of the party to see off today’s field under Kieran Buckley, who’s claims 3Ib. In the duration of his career in this sphere, he’s produced some excellent efforts in defeat, most notably a second in Grade 2/Listed events. However, two of his three last efforts have suggested he’s still towards the top of his game, including when tentatively handled to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Cotswold at Cheltenham last time. 

In that latest examination, where he was ultimately punching above his weight in the lion’s den against four opponents who were rated 150 plus, he saw out his race very strongly, splitting the likes of Aye Right and Simply The Betts. On the evidence of that informative piece of form, he looks attractively treated off 139 (technically 136 with his riders claim taken into account) taking a significant drop in grade here. Being open to a bit more improvement on just his third start over a trip in excess of three-miles plus, I’m pretty convinced his connections will be left quite puzzled if he couldn’t go close to winning this race, especially when you consider the quality of opposition he’s invariably tackled throughout his career. 

If you're potentially looking for some each-way value, though, perhaps the Alastair Ralph-trained ENCOUNTER A GIANT (best price 18-1) could get himself into the frame at large odds under the services of Alex Edwards. 

He didn’t show a great deal following a twenty-sixth month absence three weeks ago at Exeter but that reappearance would have been needed and he’s better judged on his easy maiden chase victory at Hereford under similar conditions to what he’ll encounter this afternoon. The ten-year-old seemed to really benefit from being ridden aggressively that day, where he jumped brilliantly and beat Dan Skelton’s inmate Supremely Lucky by eight-lengths. His winning performance can be upgraded to an extent too as the runner-up had no excuses on the day and was rated 137 going into that event. If that horse's rating beforehand was legitimately justified, then surely a mark of 130 underplays Encounter A Giant in today’s affair and that’s without factoring into consideration Alex Edwards claim too. I just think at the forecast odds he’s overpriced and for that reason, he’s an outsider who could run better than his current price suggests. 

The BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase is clearly wide-open but AMOOLA GOLD (best price 14-1) always runs well in good-quality handicaps and his solid sequence of good efforts this term since winning on return at Ascot is a clear indication that he’s capable of being competitive in this event. 

He often saves his best for Ascot but has proven himself to not just be a Berkshire venue specialist with excellent efforts elsewhere, including when a fair third behind Celebre D’Allen at Warwick just three weeks ago. His form is continuing to stack up extremely well and, interestingly, the last time he ran on soft or worse ground was when he pushed last year’s impressive Grand Annual winner Sky Pirate to a two-length second at Warwick. Other notable achievements that are worth a mention include his neck second to Grade 1 winner First Flow, his win over the 157-rated Ibleo, plus his narrow second to Before Midnight and his win over subsequent winner Monsieur Lecoq (won here yesterday). He goes back up in grade now but, with Jack Andrews taking 5Ib off in the saddle, he is effectively back on a winning mark and appeals most with his forecast price looking more than fair in my view.

With Wilde About Oscar heading the weights, this has certainly increased the chances of the rest and the one I have latched onto is course-specialist ELVIS MAIL (best price 13-2), who looks the best each-way bet in the race. 

This is obviously a deeper race than when chasing home Stainsby Girl the last twice but the step up in trip should suit and the last time he ran over this distance resulted with an eye-catching fourth under a big weight at Aintree three runs back on soft ground. He’s a pound lower in this event and the manner in which he travelled smoothly in that event in Liverpool indicates that he has more to offer over that sort of trip. His form figures over hurdles at this course reads 131122 and his mark of 137 marks him down as a well-handicapped individual when you reflect on his mark over fences in which he’s rated a lot higher. The eight-year-old won’t be hindered by conditions so at 9/1 each way, with very few chinks in his armour, he is worth considering back at his favourite venue. 

In the ‘The Download The BetVictor App Novices' Handicap Hurdle’ it could pay to side with MADIBA PASSION (best price 14-1), who has shown potential both in bumpers and on his two hurdle runs to date despite being far from straightforward to train having returned from a long absence twice. His form behind the 140 plus-rated pair Enrilo and House Island on debut at Kempton had worked out quite strongly before the step up in class at Newbury in a Listed race on just his second start seemingly caught him out at such an early stage of his career. He didn’t jump fluently, showed greenness and lacked experience but still ran well to finish third in this sphere last time and an opening mark of 110 on handicap debut is lenient. With improvement forthcoming, the Alan King-trained gelding should be able to get into the places at the very least here. 

While it would be great to see former two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air make a triumphant return to action, Nicky Henderson’s high-class is vulnerable off top-weight under these conditions and I like the look of last last year’s third in this event, FAIVOIR (best price 10-1) who’s able to compete off the exact same mark this time round for the Skelton’ duo. 

The seven-year-old is very consistent and, having shown good form over fences earlier this season, he wasn’t disgraced when third behind Goshen and Adagio in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last time. He goes particularly under these conditions and has won five of his nine starts in this sphere, including a Grade 2. There is bound to be a lot pace on offer with Voix Du Reve likely to go forward and that will suit the selection who likes to come from off the pace so, with an ideal set-up, and Harry Skelton likely to play his cards late, I think he has a better chance of reaching the frame, at least, than his odds suggest, so he makes plenty of each-way appeal.

STORM CONTROL (best price 7-2) threw away the Sky Bet Chase here when idling late on having gone clear on the run-in and, while he’s gone up 4Ib as a result, he ticks a lot of boxes for the Grimthorpe and compensation may await Kerry Lee’s charge if delivered a little later under his claimer Daire McConville. 

He’s able to take off his useful 10Ib, which is vital in terms of this assignment. The nine-year-old hasn’t always been the most consistent of individuals but he’s put together two solid performances under today’s rider and this track clearly plays to his strengths too. The form of his latest second here has also been advertised by the third, Cap Du Nord, who subsequently won the Grade 3 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase. A lot of the remainder either need improvement or are on a revival mission so even a replica of Storm Control’s last run will see him prove hard to beat.

The best bet of the day, from my point of view, looks to be KATESON (NAP) (best price 6-1) in the ‘In the BetVictor Non-Runner-No-Bet At Cheltenham Seniors' Handicap Hurdle’, who has never competed off a mark this low in this sphere and is newly eligible for this grade which makes him an extremely attractive proposition to potentially return to the winner’s enclosure. 

The nine-year-old has posted a couple of placed efforts over hurdles in December for Alastair Ralph and is well suited to today’s course-and-distance, where he’s won a novice hurdle event alongside an excellent third in a Grade 1 event behind Champ. He won at Aintree on soft ground back in 2020 off a mark of 134 in a class-two event, in which he beat some good horses that featured the likes of Hunters Call and Mint Condition. He ran very well in a pair of Grade 3 events last season off marks of 139 and 138 and placed twice this season prior to a good fifth at Ascot when last spotted. Jay Tidball is able to claim a valuable 10Ib and, with conditions, track, trip and grade right up his street, he can make the most of this good opportunity.