Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

GIOIA CIECA (best price 7-2) looks like a really smart colt for trainer Keith Dalgleish, who produced a smart performance to win over this course-and-distance back in June before backing that up with a good second at Doncaster next time when pushing the 105-rated Modern to within three-parts-of-length. 

That form looks very solid given the third, Run To Freedom, ran well to finish fourth in a Group 3 at the Craven meeting a few days ago. He could only finish fourth on his final start of the campaign on the all-weather at Newcastle but he's dropped a pound and it’s significant to note that he ran well around this time last year to finish a close-up fourth in a competitive Listed all-weather championships qualifying event. 

That was some effort considering he was right in behind three horses rated 112, 112 and 102. He’s the highest-rated in this field at 97 and the class act in the field so with the track, trip course form and a good draw in stall five to draw upon, this prominent racer should go very well here. 

MAKANAH (best price 4-1) has an excellent record at this venue in which his form figures over course-and-distance reads 1123 and those two defeats could have easily been victories as he was denied by the narrowest of margins each time. He was rated 103 the last time he won over track and trip and his two close-up unlucky placed efforts were off 99 and 100. 

Additionally, the assessor has dropped him a couple of pounds to a mark of 97 and he ran well on his final few starts in his last campaign, including when sixth in a listed event on his final start. There is going to be a strong pace in this field with a lot of runners wanting to go forward and that will play to the strength of this strong-travelling seven-year-old, who would no doubt have won at Doncaster on his penultimate start with a clear run too which came off a mark of 100. 

If he gets some luck in running, he definitely has all the ingredients to enhance his fine record here with another bold display back at his favourite hunting ground with four places widely available under the assistance of Paul Mulrennan, who has been on board in four of his six career victories. 

In the Betway Queen's Cup, I am keen to play two bets at decent odds with the five places generally available with most firms. The first one I like is the Mark Johnston-trained STATE OF BLISS (best price 12-1) who’s the pick of Joe Fanning’s initial options including over last year’s winner Themaxwecan and appears to have been targeted at this race for quite some time. 

This Gelding by Gleneagles caught the eye on his reappearance at Thirsk just seven days ago, where he travelled beautifully before the petrol light flickered and he understandably needed it, trailing home in fifth of the eleven runners. His trainer has saddled the last two winners of this event, including when Joe and Mark teamed up to score with Austrian School two years ago so connections know what it takes to do well in this tricky handicap. 

This four-year-old is sure to strip fitter for his latest appearance and finds himself only two pounds above his last winning mark in which he claimed a valuable pot on Shergar Cup day at Ascot. He’s yet to win over a distance further than 1m3f but the combination of his low-weight, realistic mark and conditions should give him every possibility of being competitive for his trainer who traditionally does well at this time of the year. 

As we’ve seen time and time again, these french recruits are always worth a second look and that’s the case with HALIPHON (best price 20-1) who is interesting on just his second start for Ian Williams. He ran a very good race on stable debut to finish fourth just ten days ago and I find it really interesting to see him pitched into this warm event as he could have been found an easier assignment elsewhere. His best form has come on a softer surface and his stamina has to be taken on trust but the booking of Royston Ffrench, who’s now based in the UAE, travels to Scotland for his only ride on the card, which is rather interesting. He could go well at double-figure odds with four places generally on offer. 

I wouldn’t normally like to put up a price shorter than 4/1 for a highly-competitive event with a large number of runners but SALEYMM (best price 3-1) ran a belter from the front to finish second in the Lincoln at Doncaster on his reappearance. William Haggas has a 31% strike rate with four-year-old and older runners at the course and this promising colt is sure to strip fitter for that latest display. 

He previously won in a canter by seven lengths at Chelmsford prior to winning very comfortably on handicap debut at Wolverhampton, both times under James Doyle. He then saw off all bar one horse last-time-out, which was his first start since wind surgery and, additionally, he’s only gone up a pound. He set a furious gallop that day and did well to finish as close as he did and if James Doyle can just steady him down a bit from his high draw and produce him at the furlong pole, he looks sure to go close.

I’m not too sure why the favourite Farout and FELIX DESJY (best price 25-1) aren’t a lot closer in the betting, especially when the latter had a luckless passage in the County Hurdle last time and there was only a neck separating the pair at the finish. This former Grade 1 winner has been performing in various events between Grade 1 and 3 company throughout this season and shaped promisingly last-time-out when tenth of 26 at Cheltenham. 

He appeared to be travelling smoothly rounding the home bend but was badly sandwiched when about to mount a challenge and was forced to pull back which checked his momentum before keeping on steadily up the hill in the latter stages. I think he would have finished in the first five with a clear passage and, essentially, the handicapper has dropped him a handy five pounds. On all known evidence, he’s pretty well-treated off 139, especially when you take into account that was sent off favourite for the 2020 Galway Hurdle off a mark of 151. 

If this classy operator can manage to get a clear run at things when the race begins to take shape, he undeniably has the ability and the form in the locker to come through late and make an impact off this mark at overpriced odds under Jack Kennedy with five places widely available. 

Admittedly, I was disappointed with both the efforts of Farout and Tax For Max in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and I cannot see why both are so short in the betting for this, especially when stablemate LA PRIMA DONNA (best price 11-1) looks better treated on handicap debut. This mare had finished runner-up on all previous three starts until she looked set to go close last time until stumbling on the landing side of the second last in which she ended up on the floor. 

Interestingly, she’s pitched into this warm event instead of being given a confidence booster which indicates that she’s well-regarded by Willie Mullins and it’s possible the assessor has found it difficult giving her a mark for this. An opening mark of 125 could be lenient and Bryan Cooper, who tends to ride Mighty Tom, has been booked to ride. With five places widely available, she’s an interesting candidate off a low weight on just her third start for Willie Mullins. 

ENCOUNTER A GIANT (best price 13-2) remains lightly-raced for his age and having ran well on his latest visit to this venue, the fitting of a tongue-tie and drop in grade off a three-pounds lower mark should see this ten-year-old go close under Johnny Burke.  Alastair Ralph’s charge impressed on his second go in this sphere when galloping Supremely Lucky into submission and stepped up on his two previous efforts when third at this course last time off top-weight off a three-pound higher mark against higher-rated opponents. Johnny Burke has interestingly been retained to ride and therefore this lightly-raced multiple point winner makes a ton of appeal dropping down in grade and being quite a few pounds better off with Chef D’Oeuvre, which should be more than enough to turn the tables over this shorter distance.