Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

MINX TIARA (best price 11-2) is a very consistent mare who must have an excellent chance off top-weight under Sean Flanagan, who’s won on her in the past. While she remains winless so far this campaign, she’s been running with credit in each start, including when fifth in a Grade 3 two starts ago under Flanagan. That form looks really strong in the context of today’s event as the first and third from that race are leading contenders at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. In that race, she was right behind two winner’s from last year’s Cheltenham Festival and that is undoubtedly the best form on offer. She ran a blinder back in handicap company last time under a big weight, finishing fourth to Party Central, and with this race looking a lot easier in terms of the quality of opposition, I think David O’Brien’s mare is a massive each-way player. 

Willie Mullins has a strong hand in the Leinster National and I like the claims of last year’s fourth, CLASS CONTI (best price 16-1), who goes well on heavy ground and was twice placed in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase off marks of 145 and 147. In 2020, he chased home stablemate Total Recall before a good third in the 2021 version when just in behind Run Wild Fred. In that contest, he was giving a lot of weight to the runner-up, so his current mark of 144 is lenient, given that rival was an impressive winner of the Troytown prior to finishing second in a Grade 1 when last spotted. He was also fourth in this twelve months ago off a mark of 149 under a big weight of 11-10 but is 5Ib lower this time round carrying just 10-12 due to stablemate Franco De Port being in the line-up. His latest midfield effort in a third attempt at the Thyestes wasn’t a bad effort by any means and, having been dropped a couple of pounds upon his return to this track, which clearly suits, Sean O’Keeffe might be able to guide him to a big performance and go a few places better than last year. He makes a lot of each-way appeal with four places widely on offer. 

While the Irish National is ultimately his big aim, STORMY JUDGE (best price 11-2) should strip fitter for a spin over hurdles and had impressed on his penultimate outing over fences over today’s course-and-distance when beating Enjoy D’Allen (Grand National bound) and School Boy Hours, the latter who subsequently won the Paddy Power Chase. This seven-year-old will love conditions and is improving with each start in this sphere, where his form figures read 3F211 and Danny Mullins has been booked to ride, which is a positive sign. His mount is on a competitive mark, likes it here and has plenty going for him so a big effort could be on the cards in the Leinster National which will set him up nicely for his main target next time.