Friday Racing Tips from Architect

LADRONNE (best price 10-1) has proved to be generally consistent throughout his career so far and took a major step forward from his Wetherby reappearance in February when scoring for the second time in this sphere at Newcastle last month. He jumped and travelled nicely throughout and showed a good attitude in the latter stages to see off his nearest pursuer who was seeking a three-timer. He went up seven pounds as a result but that’s because the runner-up was on a hat-trick and he’s open to more improvement whilst knowing connections have deliberately targeted him at this race. Interestingly, the eight-year-old has undergone wind surgery since winning last time out and the cheekpieces will also be applied. I am fairly optimistic about him staying the 3m6f trip and, with Sean Quinlan maintaining the partnership, he could offer some attractive each-way value with four places widely available in the Highland National. 

I also like DUBAI DEVILS (best price 8-1) for the Highland National, who remains low-mileage over extreme distances despite his advancing years and looked better than ever when sauntering to success at Hexham over 3m7f in March. The handicapper took a reaction to that impressive display and put him up an extra eight pounds and while he’s never been this high in the weights, he’s clearly in the form of his life this season and gets on well with Peter Kavanagh who can offset five-pounds. The runner-up from last time has subsequently advertised the form by winning since and with stamina his forte, conditions in his favour and form at this course within his catalogue (placed here on both previous visits) to draw upon, this eleven-year-old Irish raider makes plenty of each-way appeal with four places generally available.

The Roger Varian-trained OBLONG SONG (best price 4-1) shaped promisingly on debut at Yarmouth to finish 7th of 16 and put that experience to good use when just beaten a short-head at Nottingham in November. She stuck to her guns in game fashion and may have won in another stride as she rallied in the final stages to force a photo with the eventual winner. Now that her stamina is drawn out a bit further going up an extra furlong, she should be suited to it based upon her pedigree. She currently holds an Oaks entry, so if she’s to take up that possible assignment, she will need to be going close at the very least in this event. Furthermore, she’s drawn well in stall three and her valuable experience in comparison to most debutants here will count for plenty under the bang in-form David Egan so it’s difficult to see her out of the frame unless most of these turn out to be above-average. 

Quite a good finale and I like the claims of Marco Botti’s GIAVELLOTTO (best price 7-4) who belied monster odds on debut and proved that performance to be no fluke when following up at Newcastle last month. Both of his performances can be markedly upgraded as he was slow into stride on both occasions but showed a lot of gears each time to finish strongly and claim the spoils with plenty to spare. In that latest victory, he was slow to break, got warm beforehand, didn’t get a clear passage and was carrying a penalty. 

Yet, he still managed to power home once in the clear to win by over three lengths and beat Polyphonic, who was receiving seven pounds and was previously hot on the heels of subsequent listed winner Eydon on debut. He makes his turf/handicap debut here and an opening mark of 88 seriously underplays his credentials as I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t at least develop into a Group horse rated in the 100’s at some point this season, so with improvement on the cards, this promising Colt by Mastercraftsman is fancied to remain unbeaten under Neil Callan by making it three-from-three.