Wednesday Racing Tips from Architect

The Nicky Henderson-trained CAPTAIN MORGS (best price 3-1) looks extremely well-treated off a mark of 131, especially upon reflection of his second place effort in a Listed event in which he had two horses rated 145 and 147 in behind. I think that’s the best form on offer in the opener given the winner boosted the form by placing in three highly-competitive handicap events, such as the Betfair Exchange Trophy, the Imperial Cup and the Scottish Champion Hurdle. The soft ground was the explanation for his lacklustre effort at Kempton in December and having ran a good race to finish a staying-on third behind Guard Your Dreams and Coole Cody on his last visit to this track over slightly shorter which has worked out strongly, the six-year-old has solid claims in the opener. 

I also like the look of STRAW FAN JACK (best price 14-1), who was unlucky to be touched off by a head at this course carrying top-weight back in October and probably would have won without being denied a clear passage shortly after the second last. That was off a mark of 132 and while he failed to match that form in three subsequent starts, he went close on his penultimate outing, pushing the improving Black Poppy to within a neck. The winner, who was in receipt of nearly a stone in weight, went close back there next-time-out to advertise the strength of the form. He wasn’t able to match that effort over the same course-and-distance last time but, again, was carrying top-weight and the addition of a two-pound drop in the handicap allied to carrying less weight back on good ground should be the contributing factor to him going very well and potentially gaining compensation for his near-miss here the last time he encountered these conditions. 

This is a nice-looking Novice’ Hurdle event and the one who appeals most is the progressive CALL OF THE WILD (best price 9-4), who’s rise through the ranks can be supplemented with a third consecutive victory for Alan King. He confirmed his initial debut hurdle promise when he powered clear in emphatic fashion against a dual subsequent winner, defying a penalty in the process, and giving weight to the runner-up. He has won three of his four starts and pushed a 136-rated individual close on hurdles debut in the shape of Onemorefortheroad at Stratford, who boosted the form by placing in three high-quality handicaps since. With improvement on the cards over this longer trip, this five-year-old by Fame And Glory could have too many gears for these at the business end of the race. 

MID WINSTER (best price 9-1) proved as good as ever last term, where she won at Doncaster prior to excellent efforts at York and Ayr. She ran a good race to finish second off a pound higher mark at York the last time she competed on good ground and then made a bold effort from the front when fifth in the Silver Cup off a mark of 89. She could only manage a midfield finish back at York when last spotted but is back on a workable mark and ran well on her return last season so fitness shouldn’t be an issue. This mare is drawn well in stall five and has a lot of pace so Graham Lee is expected to get her into a prominent position and while the market much prefers the chances of her stablemate Saluti, it is the latter that interests me most, who could have the speed to burn these off in the latter stages. With four places widely available, she has to be the each-way bet in this. 

At an even bigger price, I wouldn’t rule out NOT ON YOUR NELLIE (best price 33-1), who’s got winning form over course-and-distance and has saved her best for these conditions. She went close to winning twice of this mark last year and in one of those, she was a place in front of Sound Reason when giving the third a pound in weight too. On a line through that form, I’m not sure why she isn’t closer to Kevin Ryan’s charge in the betting given she’s nearly a stone better off with the favourite on these terms. A wide draw isn’t ideal but she’s carrying no weight with Sophie Clemente taking off an additional seven-pounds and having won first-time-out last season, she could be set to produce a big effort and outperform her double-figure odds with four places on offer. 

NOTACHANCE (best price 9-1) has a good chance in the Weatherite Handicap Chase, who bounced back to some kind of form for connections when second last month under positive tactics. The handicapper has dropped him a further pound, effectively leaving him in a mark that’s 5Ib lower than when winning the Grade 3 Classic Chase at Warwick last year and I’m convinced this course is likely to play to his strengths. Ideally, he’d prefer some juice in the ground as his best form has come on a softer surface but he’s a strong stayer, who jumps very well, and merits each-way consideration with three places available and with Tom Cannon likely to make plenty of use of his confirmed stamina from the front. 

Former Grade 1 winner LISNAGAR OSCAR (best price 15-2) turned in a poor showing in this year’s renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle but he did win that race two years ago and if he can reproduce his penultimate third behind Paisley Park and Champ, Rebecca Curtis’ nine-year-old surely still has the ability to outclass these. His mark has continued to fall and he’s clearly well-treated off a mark of 145 back in a handicap in this significant drop in grade. He’s taken on the best year after year and his record over this course-and-distance speaks for itself. If he’s on a good day, I am pretty confident this high-class stayer will rock back the years and win this event under Adam Wedge. 

I am willing to give another chance to Dr Richard Newland’s JESUITIQUE (best price 13-2), who won three of his first four hurdles starts and did very well to beat Beauport when the pair clashed back in November and the runner-up subsequently placed at the Aintree Festival off a mark of 148. He went close next time before absolutely bolting up at Haydock under a positive ride and while he failed to meet market expectations in a really high-class Grade 3 event last time, he’s worth another chance back in calmer waters. Off a mark of 130, following wind surgery and Sam Twiston-Davies booked for the ride, he’s got a great chance of beating the favourite. 

JAY BEE WHY (best price 7-2) didn’t really make the transition to chasing as Alan King would have liked but he still ran well enough in all three of them and the form of each event has worked out well. He was only just behind subsequent winner Certainly Red in of those and he caught the eye back over hurdles over today’s course-and-distance last time in a stronger race than this when fourth of 17 behind Press Your Luck. I think that’s the strongest form in the field so far this season as the third, Annsam, bolted up at Newbury next time off a mark of 130. He gets into this lower-grade event off the exact same mark and Aidan Coleman has interestingly been booked for the ride. A repeat display from last time should be enough for him to return to winning ways.