Wednesday Racing Tips from Architect

A competitive-looking handicap hurdle event but the vote goes to the unexposed and improving A DISTANT PLACE (best price 6/1), who’s taken very well to hurdles and can make another serious impact with an error-free round of jumping. He might have been a shade unfortunate not to have followed-up his Hereford success when second at Ludlow last time out, where a final flight mistake ultimately cost him any sort of chance. The form of that event might appear questionable to some given the winner fluffed his lines next time-out, but a couple who were in behind have emerged with credit since, including when River Bray won off a mark of 119 last week. The return to this longer trip will suit this seven-year-old and he is an each-way player at the very least for the Jonjo O’Neill team. 

At a bigger price, I wouldn’t rule out SHANTOU EXPRESS (best price 16-1), who was a promising novice hurdler last season and, although he hasn't improved on that form this term, he’s pretty well-treated now going up in distance. He’s now eligible to operate from a career-low mark and a 6Ib lower mark than when a neck second on handicap debut to the 140+ rated Pay The Piper, whom he was giving weight to. While he’s generally been out of sorts since that effort, he didn’t look a lost cause when third at Stratford last time and being David Bass’ and Kim Bailey’s only ride and runner on the card, the seven-year-old could be set to outrun his double-figure odds. 

Quite an interesting card at Kempton this evening, where the first of two bets comes in the Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Novice Stakes. The one I like is RHYTHM AND ROCK (best price 9-2), who’s bred to be pretty useful being related to Fascinating Rock and got off the mark at the second attempt at Leicester when last spotted. He did a lot wrong on debut here over seven-furlongs, where he was slow into stride and ran green throughout before the penny finally dropped and he stayed on strongly to grab third in the latter stages. He then confirmed that promise when winning smoothly at Leicester in October and that form could turn out to be useful as the runner-up was rated 94 going into that event. David Egan has been booked to ride and, with more to come this season, he looks set to run a big race. 

This is really competitive but, at a double-figure price, I will take a chance on the George Baker-trained PASSIONOVA (best price 14-1), who isn’t out of this if able to get back the sort of form she produced last term. I know she finished last of seven at Southwell on return but she will strip fitter for the run and she’s nicely treated on a line through her form last season. She was only beaten four-lengths last time, so she wasn’t exactly disgraced, and now that she’s reunited with Pat Cosgrave, who’s the last rider to win on her, this filly by Bated Breath could go well with the application of cheek-pieces likely to help her chances too.