Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

Kevin Ryan’s SEVEN BROTHERS (best price 8-1) developed a patchy profile last term but was highly-tried throughout the season and proved his capabilities at a higher level when a close-up second at Goodwood off a mark of 86 in a class two event. He maintained his fantastic record fresh when making it 2/2 on his seasonal reappearance at this course in a class three event when beating the 101-rated Popmaster. In addition, he’s 2Ib below that winning mark and gets on well with Kevin Stott, so dipping into a class four event for the first time in his career, he makes plenty of each-way appeal at the very least with five places generally available in the SBK Price+ Gives You The Best Odds Handicap. 

The Paul Nicholls-trained MAGISTRATO (best price 12-1) hasn’t been at his best the last two times but he’s held in high regard by Paul Nicholls and his earlier fourth in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham is a decent bit of form, where he looked set to finish a clear second to Knight Salute before losing two places in the closing stages. He could only finish fifth on handicap debut last-time-out but that was in a ‘novice’ handicap hurdle event and back against juveniles here should prove more suitable. He’s worth one more chance at the prices, each-way, with four places widely available. 

I also like the Milton Harris-trained HASTY PARISIAN (best price 16-1) in the Colts & Fillies Club Juvenile Handicap Hurdle with four places on offer. He found one too good on hurdles debut when he bumped into the smart Saint Segal on hurdles debut and was then a good third next time despite being hampered. He got off the mark with authority when last seen, powering to an eighth-length victory, and given the fact that he’s only gone up 5Ib with more improvement to come, he is strongly fancied each-way to make his presence felt. 

An open-looking contest and I like MATCHLESS (best price 16-1) at double-figure digits, who’s ran well to finish fourth in a pair of handicaps at Wolverhampton of late and is very well-treated back on the turf off a mark of 78 based upon his smart form when trained in Ireland. He was rated as high as 97 when in the care of Aidan O’Brien, in which he ran in the Group 1 Irish Derby (used as a pacemaker), as well as a few other runs in Group 3 events without fully disgracing himself. Trainer Ivan Furtado couldn’t have his term in better order, who had a nice double yesterday too, and his only runner on the card could surprise a few at a nice price with four places widely available. 

I also want to have another runner on side in this event in the shape of ANNANDALE (best price 4-1), who shaped very promisingly on stable debut for Jim Goldie just over three weeks ago. He’s a pound lower than when winning a good-quality event up at Ayr last year in this grade and ran well on his sole visit to this venue when just touched off by a horse now rated 99. On the balance of his form, he’s extremely well-treated and has fitness on his side too, which cannot be said about the majority of these. With plenty in his favour and knowing that he’s likely to put his confirmed fitness and stamina to good use under an attacking ride, he should launch a bold bid from the front in the hands of Paul Mulrennan.

PENDLETON (best price 8-1) has been running creditably for a long time in high-quality handicap for trainer Michael Dods, in which he ran well off marks in the high 90’s and finds himself 2Ib below his last winning mark. He rounded off last term with a good fourth over an inadequate trip at Nottingham and returns off a mark that’s not without reach in this grade. I have also recognised his excellent first-time-out record which reads 212 and the last time he ran over this trip in this grade was when a close-up second to the 97-rated Fresh at Ascot. Now that he has finally been given some relief by the assessor with a lot going for him, he makes appeal for each-way purposes in a competitive contest with five places widely on offer. 

Another horse with an excellent chance in this tricky event is Michael Dods’ other participant, WOVEN (best price 15-2), who is so well-handicapped and ran well to finish second when last spotted. He’s won and placed multiple times off this sort of mark or higher in the past, including over this trip a few times and has a good record first-time-out too. He’s drawn nicely in stall fifteen and, if he gets a clear passage, he looks to run a massive race with track, trip and conditions in his favour, alongside the generous extra places available under Paul Mulrennan.