Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

WALNUT BEACH (best price 12/1) confirmed the promise he displayed beforehand when opening his account in this sphere at this venue back in February. His previous short-head second to Vina Ardanza makes him look attractive well-treated off 118, especially given the winner is rated 137 and has ran well twice in subsequent Grade 1 events.

This horse was decent on the flat but is clearly better in this sphere and having warmed up for this race with a spin on the flat last time following an eighth place finish in a Grade 3 that has worked out strongly due to Gatsby Grey running well to finish second in a Grade 1 the other day, everything points to Walnut Beach being very competitive here on handicap debut with six places generally available. 

I also like BOLD APPROACH (best price 20/1) who makes his handicap debut too. A smart performer on the flat, rated as high as 99, he ran well in a couple maiden events and while he was well-held when last spotted, that should have put him spot on for today’s test. He did, however, run a lot better than the beaten margin indicated last time and his second over course-and-distance to Kilcruit on his penultimate start reads well in the context of this race.

His prominent style of racing will suit here and given that this may have been a long-term plan with an opening mark of 117 looking extremely fair on the balance of his flat form, this six-year-old could be a lively player at a big price under Ricky Doyle with most firms paying six places. 

This looks like a good opportunity for GRANGE WALK (best price 5/2) to gain compensation for his late fall when last spotted. Despite conditions being far from ideal, he travelled powerfully and jumped really well when just got to the front on the bridle until taking a heavy and unfortunate tumble. He would have no doubt beaten a few of these, including Mt Leinster, and he’d previously produced a fine second to Gentleman De Mee in Flyingbolt Novices' Chase. 

The winner followed-up in a Grade 1 at Aintree so the form has a lot of substance, while his penultimate second at Leopardstown looks really good form too, as he had subsequently Topham second Batcio back in third.

Essentially though, the assessor has only put him a pound which is really lenient as he would no doubt have gone up at least five-pounds without mishap as he looked set to bolt up easily so, if none the worse from that fall, this classy seven-year-old has outstanding claims to make amends under Shane Fitzgerald who can offset the weight with his valuable claim too. 

I do, however, think MAGIC DAZE (best price 5/1) has a cracking chance on handicap debut. She was second in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year and having ran well to finish third on chase debut behind Grand National winner Noble Yeats, she jumped her rivals into submission on her second start at Cork to win by a wide-margin.

She then lost little in defeat when caught on the run-in by Concertista back at Cork in December for a Grade 2 and was actually sent off odds-on favourite for that race. Too keen for her own good in the Arkle at Cheltenham, where she finished eighth, this is huge drop in class and, with some of the strongest form on display allied to this course playing to her strengths, she could be tough to pass if able to dictate matters from the front under Robbie Power, who rides this course very well. 

The Jessica Harrington-trained NEVERUSHACON (best price 15/2) is a bit of a course specialist at this venue in which his form figures here read an impressive 32211U4 and he likes the cross-country course here too which has saw him collect two events. It’s interesting that connections are pitching him into this longer distance event rather than shorter trip, which indicates that this race has been the plan.

This veteran has beaten most of these before without too much fuss and while he was behind Shady Operator on his last visit here, this longer trip could see him reverse the form. It seemed like a prep' run at Wexford last time where he shaped really well to finish second and, with a lot to like about him, he’s a major each-way contender as he bids to enhance his fine record in this discipline. Four places available with most firms. 

As ever, this is a difficult handicap to solve, but DOCTOR DUFFY (best price 33/1) isn’t handicapped out of things and could be worth an each-way play at ridiculously massive odds. This nine-year-old ran a blinder to finish second to Melon in a Grade 3 when last spotted over fences and connections seem keen to put him back over hurdles off a much reduced mark. He’s got some very strong chase/hurdles form in the book and caught the eye when eighth of 27 at Leopardstown in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle on his latest start in this sphere off a mark of 133.

He would have finished a lot closer without being hampered three out and the assessor has taken a light view of that performance by dropping him another pound. While he’s going to need plenty of luck in-running, his trainer appears to have targeted him at this event and that can hopefully transpire into a bold showing from this well-treated individual with six places available with most firms. 

MAHLER ALLSTAR (best price 12/1) is the other one I like in this competitive event with the six places generally available. He won a weak event last-time-out but did it nicely and had previously chased home some very good horses, including when placed behind The Nice Guy and Stattler which is seriously good form.

The eight-year-old was a good third on debut in a bumper behind Appreciate It and was deemed good enough to contest the Champion Bumper at Cheltenhams couple of years ago in which he finished midfield behind Ferny Hollow. He has been lightly-raced since and I have an incline that this race has been his main target for quite sometime.

An opening mark of 123 underplays his ability and although needless to say, this race will prove a much sterner test to his credentials, he is open to further improvement and is well-handicapped in a race of this calibre to have a say in the outcome. 

HAUT EN COULEURS (best price 5/1) could only muster sixth place in the Arkle last time but he’s a lot better than that and is better judged on his chase debut success in which he thumped Gentleman De Mee. This talented five-year-old was third in last year’s Triumph Hurdle on debut for Willie Mullins and ran a monster race to fill that spot at this meeting 12 months ago, where he displayed a good turn of foot score go clear on the home-bend before his inexperience told and he was caught in the latter stages.

With the Aintree hero now declared a non-runner, this does seem like an excellent chance for him to showcase his capabilities in the two-mile novice chase division and Bryan Cooper maintains the partnership too. I have no doubt he’s a better horse than stablemate Saint Sam and, if he can just settle a bit better than he did at Cheltenham, he could just have too many gears for these. 

MANITOPARK AA (best price 7/1) has undeniably thrown away some good opportunities to date but she’s taken well to fences and while she was turned over at evens’ money last-time-out, the longer trip in this race should suit her a lot better. She went close on her penultimate start under Sean O’Keeffe and makes her handicap debut off what is a lenient-looking mark of 111 in this race.

Furthermore, she’s set to carry just 10-3 and while she needs more to trouble the likes of Minx Tiara etc, I feel as though her best days are ahead of her and given how well Willie Mullins does at this meetings, including in the handicaps too, this mare by Walk In The Park could be dangerous to discount. Four places generally available with firms.