Friday Racing Tips from Architect

The Go North Grey Bomber Series Final looks like a good race to tackle from a betting point of view and the Alan King-trained THUNDER AHEAD (best price 13-2) is fancied to supplement his victory at Doncaster last month with victory in this contest. He was a shade fortunate that day with Lifetime Legend falling when well clear but the form has substance given he had two next-time-out winners back in second (Rewired) and third (Hasty Parisian). He was also hampered when the leader came down so he did well to recover and win the race. He’s improved with each outing over timber and gets the assistance of Johnny Burke in the saddle. An opening mark of 111 appears lenient and, with more to come, he gets the vote to strike on handicap debut and reverse previous form with Kayfast Warrior. 

From an each-way point of view, in the race above, GENUFLUX (best price 8-1) could be the answer for the Milton Harris team. He put aside a disappointing effort at Warwick with a good second at Kelso last time and he probably should have won that race too. Cuban Cigar caught him on the run-in but he travelled through the race like the best horse in the field and having gone clear approaching the last hurdle, he seemed to lose momentum and concentration when stumbling over the last hurdle with the race at his mercy. He’s 6Ib better off with the winner on today’s terms so he’s got every chance of reversing the form, while his previous three length second to Porticello in a listed event is a standout piece of form so, with Angus Cheleda claiming a valuable 5Ib, he’s an appealing each-way proposition in an open-looking contest. 

WHATSDASTORY (best price 10-1) ran a remarkable race under the circumstances to finish fourth at Ludlow last time considering she was brought to a standstill when badly hampered mid-race and is worth another chance in a race lacking any strength in depth. She’s extremely well-treated off the same mark in today’s easier grade and is only a couple of pounds above her last winning mark too. Sam Twiston-Davies takes over the reins on this occasion and, granted better luck in-running, the top-weight gets the vote to give the favourite plenty to think about and potentially come good in his lower-grade affair.