Tuesday Racing Tips from Architect

After shying away from the opener, which is a tricky-looking maiden and a no-bet race, I have two each-way suggestions in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Handicap. The first of those is Andrew Balding’s STONE OF DESTINY (best price 12-1), who returns to Britain on a mark that’s underestimated him with conditions very much ideal. His winless streak since 2020 doesn’t tell the full story of his ability given he produced a host of good runs before and after that victory and was luckless in this contest twelve months ago. He appeared to be travelling smoothly whilst looking to mount a potential winning challenge despite racing keenly until he was forced to sit and suffer behind a wall of horses before sprouting wings in the final half-furlong out-wide when in the clear under a hands-and-heels ride. 

Campaigned for the remainder of the season over the minimum trip, he ran very respectable races off marks between 99-104 in which he hit the frame in three of those and has come down the weights to a mark of 95, effectively leaving him on a mark that’s only a couple pounds above his last winning one, as well as a mark that’s four-pounds lower than when contesting this event last year. His hold-up style of racing means he needs plenty to go his way, as discovered when failing to get the rub-of-the-green in this last year but, essentially, he’s got the ammunition in his arsenal to really go close off his current well-treated mark. 

He’s the sort of horse who will derive from a particular strong pace and that’s likely to transpire in this event with plenty of confirmed pace-setters in the line-up who are likely to take each other on from the offset which could set it up for a closer such as Andrew Balding’s capable sprinter. With every possibility of getting a nice lead into proceedings, hopefully the gaps open up for him to finish with a real rattle and showcase his established capabilities in the latter stages for his in-form handler, as at 12/1 with most firms, he looks value to finish in the first four at the very least off his reduced mark, in a wide open handicap.

FULL AUTHORITY (best price 14-1) ended his time with Richard Fahey on a rather disappointing note with a lacklustre last place finish at Chelmsford on his final start of last year but he enjoyed quite a productive campaign as a three-year-old beforehand and looked on good terms with himself on stable debut for current connections following an eight-month break when fourth at Wolverhampton when last spotted. 

He left the impression he would come on plenty for his reappearance and sneaks into this event off a 2Ib lower mark off a featherweight. A winner back in November 2019 off a mark of 87, he was deemed good enough to contest two of the biggest handicaps of the calendar last year, the Victoria Cup and the Buckingham Palace and while he could understandably never land a blow being sent off 100/1 and 125/1 in each of those, he’s fallen to a career-low mark of 85. 

The last time he featured over this trip on the turf saw him finish a close-up third behind King’s Lynn and Starman, who both developed into quality sprinters last season, winning Group 1/Listed events between themselves and were rated 108 and 119. 

On that piece of evidence, he’s clearly talented and an initial mark of 85 is lenient. Unlike most of these, with the exception of Ostilio who has lost his way and doesn’t appear good enough anymore, this Gelding is race-fit and, with further improvement to come on just his second start for this stable, he could be about to plant himself right in the picture. Four places widely on offer. 

HOUSTON TEXAS (best price 9-4) should be a clear favourite in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Chase, at Ayr, to complete the hat-trick for Nicky Richards. He ran a very tidy race to finish a two-length second to Bavington Bob at Newcastle back In December and given the winner is now rated 130 and completed a four-timer earlier this month, he remains well-treated off 119 under similar conditions and is the one to beat back down in class under Sean Quinlan. 

He jumped very well en route to victory at Carlisle on his penultimate outing and had more up his sleeve than the margin indicated back there last time when stepped up to this distance. A bad mistake at the second last should have put him out of contention but he did extremely well to rally from the back of the final fence and fend off Mount Melleray by a short-head. He’s gone up a bit in the weights but he’s an improving chaser, who’s RPR’s put him clear of these, and can supplement his two earlier victories by winning this and enhancing his trainers excellent 20% strike-rate at this course. 

In the bet365 European Free Handicap, I really like TACARIB BAY (best price 2-1), who receives a bit of weight from New Science and appeals as the type to really take the step up the ladder in pattern class events this season. He comfortably beat Kingmax on debut at Haydock and while he picked up a minor injury afterwards, he returned with a fine third in the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury. 

While he couldn’t quite keep his unbeaten record intact, he ran right up to the level of a horse with serious potential and his performance can be upgraded, as the race was run at a searching gallop on testing ground. I thought he ran remarkably well to finish as close as he did based on the fact he did a lot more, mid-race, than the eventual first and second. 

It remains unknown as to whether the better ground will suit but I think it will and his trainer has a good record in this race which bodes well for this early 2,000 Guineas entry. He ticks a lot of boxes for this Group 3 event so, in the hope Ryan Moore can keep things simple, his mount can take advantage of the weight concession from New Science, who’s price is a little skinny, and lay down a marker for the season ahead. 

This is wide-open but the form of MAID OF HOUXTY’s (best price 8-1) handicap debut sixth last time has worked out well and she’s sure to find this a lot easier back against her own sex off a 5Ib lower mark. In fact, her only previous start over hurdles in a mares’ event was when she finished third on hurdles debut in which she was beaten less than two lengths. 

A reproduction of that form would certainly make her competitive at the very least and, in addition, the first and second are rated in the 100’s so she’s pretty well-treated off 94 and the combination of the slight reduction in trip and better ground will suit too. Theo Gillard, who has his only ride on the card, takes off 3Ib and can potentially guide this lightly-raced Native Ruler mare’ to a big effort with more to offer.  

HELLO YOU (best price 11-4) done us a favour on the column last term when returning an ultra-impressive winner of the Unibet Rockfel Stakes and while she has a 3Ib penalty to shoulder ahead of her return, David Loughnane’s filly should take a bit of beating back at the scene of her most dominant victory last season. She was just behind Cachet when a creditable fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at Del Mar on her final start but had earlier beaten that rival twice at this course and I expect a similar outcome again here, especially when Rossa Ryan eluded to the fact that she’s got stronger both physically and mentally in her time off the course. 

I can’t see her being beaten here unless Rishes Bear has improved significantly as Perfect News doesn’t look good enough and Cachet, who’s likely to go forward, will help the chances of Hello You, who can just sit in behind and use her turn of foot to strike late on. If that doesn’t transpire for whatever reason and she has to force the issue herself, I think she’s just got too much pace for her main rival and the remainder over this distance. I’m not sure whether the 1,000 Guineas trip will suit her more than Cachet but over the seven-furlongs, I think she’s too good for these.