Friday Racing Tips from Architect

The top two in the market look like promising colts but HOO YA MAL (best price 3/1) is the highest-rated of these and ran a cracker on his return to action when a 5L third to Native Trail in the Craven over a mile here last time. His performance can be upgraded as he raced keenly throughout but stayed on strongly inside the final furlong and the step up in trip here should suit. He’s bred to stay the distance, will strip fitter for his reappearance and brings the best form to the table, so he gets quite a confident vote to put his four rivals aside. 

GUBBASS (best price 6/4) developed into a nice two-year-old last term where he won twice running well in Group One and Group Two events on his next three starts. He reappeared with an eye-catching fourth behind Perfect Power when doing all his best work at the finish on his attempt at seven-furlongs. This is a lot easier and with that run under his belt, he’s fancied to get the better of Noble Truth in receipt of three pounds and strike in the hands of Ryan Moore. 

FRENCH DYNAMITE (best price 7/1) looks pretty well-treated off 144 having beaten a 149-rated rival last time when showing a good attitude and that trait along with some other bits of classy form should carry him a long way here on handicap debut. The seven-year-old achieved an RPR of 152 last time which is the best by any of these of late and he impressed when seeing off a useful field by six-lengths in a beginners’ chase here back in November. He ran very well to finish fourth in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at this meeting twelve months ago and if able to get into his customary dominating rhythm in front, he could be hard to pass in this grade. 

Honeysuckle is probably going to win right, all being well, but I fail to believe that TEAHUPOO (best price 14/1) gave his true running in the Champion Hurdle and is handed another chance to give the wonder mare plenty to think about later on. He was disappointing at Cheltenham but he wouldn’t be the first horse to do that and it’s the only time he’s ran below-par so he can be given the benefit of the doubt. He’s three-from-four this season and the manner in which he put away a good field on his penultimate outing suggests he’s capable at the highest level. Robbie Power, who has his final ride to bring an end to a brilliant career, is in the saddle and it would be a fitting end if he could get this classy hurdler to run a career-best against the defending champion. 

BRING ON THE NIGHT (best price 4/1) shaped quite promisingly when fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and while he has a bit to find with El Fabiolo on a line through Jonbon, his stablemate had a hard race at Aintree and that could prove to be the difference in the outcome of this race. The former arrives fresh having been saved for this and is open to more improvement on just his third start over hurdles. It will be tough to beat the favourite if that one is over his Aintree run but he looks a solid option to place at the very least.