Tuesday Racing Tips from Architect

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hasn’t attracted a big field but it certainly is a fascinating and high-class line-up, in which Willie Mullins’ has three good horses to go toe-to-toe with Nicky Henderson’s pair Jonbon and Constitution Hill, with the latter well found in the market. However, I have gradually warmed to DYSART DYNAMO (best price 9-4) as the race has got closer and it’s quite simple to realise he’s a serious horse, who’s four-from-four and has yet to come out of second gear to date. He extended his unbeaten record to four by winning the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and I have little concern about him handling the prelims and the electric atmosphere. 

The only caveat would be the fact that he’s only raced right-handed but he’s a horse with immense potential and talent, who has a high cruising speed to match that too which will suit in this event. Initially, I was keen on Sir Gerhard for this, so with connections not only opting to supplement Dysart Dynamo in this race instead of last year's champion bumper winner but also end up being Paul Townend’s preferred choice out of Mullins’ trio, this 152-rated unbeaten Gelding by Westerner gets the vote to demonstrate his qualities in the opener and prove why he’s the highest-rated runner in the field. 

While this is undoubtedly a deep field and a good chunk of improvement is required now encountering Grade 1 company on just his second hurdle start, wildcard entrant BRING ON THE NIGHT (best price 28-1) is worth an each-way risk at the forecast odds. He looked a smart prospect based upon his impressive burst of power when scoring on hurdles debut by eight lengths without breaking sweat and he managed that despite looking quite raw who was learning his craft. Willie Mullins was full of praise about him post-race and I find it fascinating that connections are willing to roll the dice with him in this hot event instead of finding him an easier opportunity elsewhere. He might be the biggest price runner of the Willie Mullins’ trio and his inexperience might be a slight niggle, but that doesn’t diminish the interest given his untapped potential and, with Bryan Cooper in the saddle, he still holds a better chance than his huge odds of 28/1 might suggest.

There’s great depth to the Ultima Handicap Chase and, with Frodon’s presence in the field, who heads the weights, I like both of Colin Tizzard’s runners. Firstly, LOSTINTRANSLATION (best price 22-1), who’s produced some stellar efforts at this track over the years, including when third in the Gold Cup two years ago. He seems to blow hot-and-cold nowadays, but it’s clear to see that he’s a better horse on a sounder surface and for the fact that Brendan Powell has opted to ride him over his stablemate Oscar Elite is tempting enough let alone his back-class and this being his first time in a handicap too. His weight is essentially helped by Paul Nicholls’ charge and it’s plausible to suggest that he will find this a lot easier than previous assignments. I don’t think he’s badly treated off 155 and, with so much in his favour he could be a lively player at a big price, especially being a former grade one horse running in a handicap, who likes this track, I can envisage the ten-year-old running a big race in first-time cheekpieces with six places widely on offer. 

At the opposite end of the handicap and weights, his stablemate OSCAR ELITE (best price 20-1) has to merit some consideration, who clambers in here off a dangerous-looking mark and weight and, if able to put his best foot forward, would have big claims and is the second of three appealing picks. He was twice placed in Grade 1 company over hurdles last term, including when second at this meeting last year in the Albert Bartlett and while he’s not kicked on over fences, he looks absolutely thrown in here off 134 and the return to this longer trip will also suit too. In fact, he looked like beating both Does He Know and Threeunderthrufive on chase debut over this sort of distance here until falling three out. Harry Cobden gets down to do his lowest weight of just ten stone and, in the hope he gets into a good rhythm, he is a massive each-way player with up to six places on offer. 

GERICAULT ROQUE (best price 12-1) has to improve knowing that he’s going to compete from out of the handicap, but his trainer, owner and rider know what it takes to do well in this event and this highly-consistent chaser just gets in here off bottom-weight. Interestingly, he’s been left on the exact same mark as when runner-up to Eclair Surf in the Classic Chase at Warwick and will carry at least a stone less on this occasion. This is his first visit to Cheltenham but he jumps and travels really well and hasn’t done anything wrong in this sphere in placing in all four events. Moreover, Tom Scudamore, who has won this race three times in the past, does his lowest weight of 10-0 and it’s clear that this six-year-old’s best days are ahead of him. With six places widely on offer, he must have a decent each-way chance at the prices. 

A fascinating line-up for the Mares’ Hurdle and while her stamina is unproven, the highest-rated runner in the field - ECHOES IN RAIN (best price 9-1) could take some beating as she seeks a second Grade 1 of her career. She ran her best race of the campaign when third to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, beaten just seven lengths, and alongside that piece of form, she has some of the best form on offer. She’s the highest-rated of these at 150 and, although she’s never ran here before, I think she’s got a really solid each-way chance at the very least if she holds it all together under Patrick Mullins. 

QUEENS BROOK (best price 4-1) was third in the 2020 Champion Bumper on her only visit here behind Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It and warmed up for this with an eye-catching second behind Burning Victory last-time-out. Gordon Elliott has won this twice with Black Tears and Apples Jade and this mare could follow in their footsteps. I’m convinced we haven’t seen the best of her yet in this sphere and she’s never finished outside the top three in all her eight career starts so far. Whether she has the capabilities at the highest level is open to debate, but she’s going the right way and is worth a straight-up win only bet in the hope that she can improve with the step up in trip sure to see her to good effect under Jack Kennedy. 

In the Boodles,’ I like Paul Nolan’s HMS SEAHORSE (best price 9-1), who was useful when trained in the flat by Aidan O’Brien and has made a good transition to hurdles, who deservedly got off the mark when last spotted at the third time of asking following two placed efforts. His jumping has been really good and having shaped promisingly on his hurdles debut when tentatively handled to finish third behind Vauban and Pied Piper, who are vying for favouritism in the Triumph Hurdle, he then ran a big race to finish a two-length second to The Tide Turns on his penultimate outing and is 9Ib better off with the winner today. An opening handicap debut mark of 128 appears to be really lenient and this long-term plan by his connections could be rewarded. I think he’s a serious each-way player with five places widely available for Paul Nolan and Bryan Cooper who deserve a change of fortune this season. 

It’s a shame we don’t have more British runners in the field but it’s still going to a high-quality renewal of the National Hunt Chase and I am sticking with STATTLER (best price 11-4), who produced a proper-staying chase performance to win a Grade 3 at Naas when last spotted and has been aimed at this event all season by Willie Mullins. A lot of critics are not sure about him staying this trip but Willie Mullins has no issues about that and he did extremely well to get the better of the high-class Farouk D’Alene last time with last year's Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier well held back in third. He did really well to pick up in the latter stages under a well-judged ride from the champion jockey considering he was a bit novicey at a couple of his fences.

That was just his second start over fences and going over a longer trip, which is likely to be run at a sedate pace, will be right up his street. This will essentially benefit him in the jumping department, while the presence of Patrick Mullins is no negative, either. Run Wild Fred is feared but I think he’s going to find it tough beating Stattler, as I have firmly had him on my radar for this event ever since he made an impressive chase debut. Carrying the colours of last year’s winning owners courtesy of Galvin’s victory, who is second-favourite for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, he can prove that stamina is very much his forte and get the better of his two main market rivals in the finale.