Monday Racing Tips from Architect

David Evans is set to run two in this tricky handicap with the vote going to the well-treated LIHOU (best price 8-1), who’s put together a sequence of three solid place efforts of late in stronger company than this, including when third in a class-two last time behind a pair of horses who were rated in the 90’s. He returns to the turf in this off a surprisingly 1Ib lower mark in which he’s 6Ib below his last winning mark and finished no worse than fourth in ten starts throughout last year off marks between 88-92, all of which came in either class 2 and class 3 events. 

His two efforts over course-and-distance were also decent, including the latest of those, which saw him finish second off a tough mark of 87. He drops into this grade on return to this course for the first time since that runner-up display and he is drawn well in stall 11 to get a prominent position against the rail. He’s strongly fancied to make the most of some generosity by the handicapper and ease in grade under George Downing and make a bold bid in a field where quite a few of his rivals have question marks against them with the exception of himself. 

As we’ve seen on many occasions, this course can often suit front-runners and, with this taken into consideration, the one who appeals most is the Karl Burke-trained REBEL AT DAWN (best price 12-1), who’s got loads of early boot to give himself every chance of putting in another assured and consistent display for his in-form handler. 

He’s got plenty of smart sprint form to his name and is handicapped to strike for the third time in his career. This speedily-bred four-year-old by Dandy Man hardly runs a bad race and continued his food work ethic throughout 2021 in which he tasted victory at Nottingham off a pound higher mark, displaying his customary natural speed to beat a subsequent winner. He went on to run very well for the remainder of the campaign, where he wasn’t beaten far in any of them, formlines that have worked out strongly in nearly all of those events. A close-up third on his final start last season off this mark of 86, this track promises to suit his prominent style of running and with a fair record first-time-out, Clifford Lee looks set to get a massive showing out of this consistent sprinter with four places widely on offer. 

In the Pontefract Marathon Handicap, I am siding with Phil Kirby’s WEMYSS POINT (best price 5-1), who has excellent claims of winning this for the third time. He’s been running well at Newcastle of late which should have put him spot-on for today’s event. He landed this race very comfortably by three lengths twelve months ago off a mark of 60 and returns to defend his title from a pound lower mark. The field is littered with horses who are unproven over this trip on the level, including the favourite, and therefore this course specialist, who’s a little overpriced, looks the way to go from an each-way perspective with Liffeydale Dreamer feared most. 

At a bigger price later on at Windsor, I am quite happy to take an interest in REMEDIUM (best price 50-1), who pushed an 83-rated horse close on his only previous visit to the course. I have noticed since that runner-up effort, he’s been contesting all class four events in which he’s acquitted himself well in a couple of them to finish third and fourth against horses rated in the 80’s. He was last of thirteen on stable debut last time but that was his first outing in five months so he’s bound to strip fitter and it’s interesting to see Jordan Williams dismiss stablemate Zambezi Magic to ride him. The cheekpieces are applied and the combination of the drop in grade and run under his belt, could allow him to hold a better chance than his huge odds suggest.  

In the final race on the card, handicap debutant FAST DANSEUSE (best price 14-1) could be an each-way player off what is a very fair opening mark. She was down the field when last spotted at Goodwood but had previously shown a bit of promise to indicate that that’s a filly with some ability with better days to come. Her best effort to date was on debut where she made good late headway to take fourth and connections have deliberately kept her fresh since last time ahead of her reappearance. David Probert, who rode her last time, interestingly has been called up for the ride again and given this race is lacking any sort of strength in depth, she might be able to get herself into the picture at double-figure odds with four places widely available.