Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

The Bryan Smart-trained EMPEROR CARADOC (best price 3-1) showed loads of pace and tenacious battling qualities to score in a soft-ground maiden event at Redcar on his final start last season and improved with each of his three starts beforehand. He’d earlier finished a good fourth over seven furlongs at York, where again, he broke well from the gates and considering he raced keenly throughout, he did well to finish as close as he did in a race that has worked out quite well. This track often favours front-runners and his customary quick starts should enable him to get a prominent position, having been given a fair opening fair of 75 on handicap debut, he’s fancied to continue where he left off last season and follow up on his reappearance under Graham Lee. 

BURROWS DIAMOND (best price 3-1) lost little in defeat when she bumped into the useful Soldier Of Destiny last time out but she’s back against her own sex today and already has the beating of a few of these, including Precious Eleanor. This improving seven-year-old mare has really taken her form to a whole new level this year and this stiff test of stamina should massively play to her strengths. I think she’s got a bit more improvement to come off her mark of 127 and, with plenty in her favour, Sue Smith’s likeable chaser is taken to make it three-from-four in this scenario for the year. 

SHARK TWO ONE (NAP) (best price 15-2) hasn’t been able to deliver on the initial promise he displayed as a two-year-old but he’s not had his favoured ground, as all of his best form has come on a softer surface and, the good news is that he gets it today back down in trip with Paul Hanagan coming to Ripon to ride him, who’s his only ride on the card for boss Richard Fahey. Of course, he comes with risks attached, but he’s down to a ridiculously low mark of 80 and the last time he competed on soft ground, he absolutely thumped the 103-rated Spycatcher with the minimum of fuss. He’s race-fit following a spin over seven furlongs at Doncaster and with the conditions, past form and the services of Paul in the saddle in this grade all in his favour, hopefully, that can transpire a big performance from this four-year-old who’s handicapped to strike at any point. 

A chance is taken on the Roger Varian-trained EYDON (best price 14-1), who’s not out of this by any means despite being turned over as a short-priced favourite when last spotted at Newcastle. He was unlucky on debut where he was badly hampered and shuffled back through the field before staying on strongly to take third and was narrowly touched off there next time when caught in the final few strides. On the face of it, that wouldn’t be good enough form to win this but his trainer was adamant it was an error on his part and it’s fascinating to see connections pitch him into this huge step up in grade. He’s clearly well-regarded as he could have been found an easier opportunity elsewhere. He currently holds entries in the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Dante and if he’s going to take up those options, a big performance has to be on the cards in today’s assignment. At the morning odds and based upon the initial promise he’s displayed, he could be a serious force under David Egan. 

Trainer George Boughey has an excellent 22% strike rate at this course and I fancy HELLOMYDARLIN (best price 14-1) to build on her reappearance and make an impact with four places available. She beat a very smart filly on her debut and while she hasn’t won since she finished runner-up twice in this grade last term and looks to have the tactical speed to really make her mark in the five-furlong sprinting division. It’s significant to note that Hayley Turner, who has her only ride on the card, is booked for the ride and her mount is drawn very nicely in stall 16, which is where you want to be. Moreover, this filly is actually the joint highest-rated in the field at 100 alongside Illustrating and Fearless Power so the comparison in price with a run under her belt is just too large. If she gets a good pace to aim at, her turn of foot could prove to be all the difference in the closing stages. 

GET AHEAD (best price 15-2) shaped promisingly in both her starts last season, where she showed a bright turn of foot to win on debut at Ascot before running a blinder to finish sixth of 21 in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot on her final start of the season. Her performance that day can be upgraded as she fared second-best of those drawn low and while she couldn’t quite hold on at Kempton on her reappearance about three weeks ago, that should have put her spot on for today’s event. Clive Cox is a master with sprinters and it’s pretty obvious this race has been something of a long-term plan for this speedy filly by Showcasing and, with the forecast conditions suitable, she is certainly worth an each way interest at the prices with four places available.