Friday Racing Tips from Architect

REVICH (best price 13/2) warmed up for this with a fair showing in the Lincoln on his seasonal debut and is back on the same mark as when a close-up fourth in this last year. Sent off 11/4 favourite twelve months ago, his chance was pretty much gone with a sluggish start out of the gates but he did do some nice work in the latter stages. The form has a lot of substance too, as the winner, Grove Ferry, was last seen finishing third in the Royal Hunt Cup off 101 and the third, Kynren, scored off a mark of 98 at York when last spotted, while a few of those who were in behind have boosted the form in their own ways since. 

This three-time course winner then had three more stabs at this course-and-distance in which he finished by half-a-length before an unlucky third back in August, where he would won with a clear passage. He’s weighted to reverse that form with Fools Rush In and comfortably had Boardman back in fourth place so I see no reason why the latter should reverse the form despite winning nicely last time. Significantly, he’s drawn in stall one, which has proved the winning box in three of the last seven runnings and, with the services of crack 7lb claimer Harry Davies in the saddle who gets his first rate of the course, redemption for his near-miss here last year, may be on the cards for this course specialist. 

At an even bigger each-way price in the opener though, I wouldn’t rule out FAME AND ACCLAIM (best price 25/1) though, who is closely matched with the former and firmly got back on track with an eye-catching second last month. While I acknowledge the fact that he’s not won in fifteen starts, last year’s efforts make him a very well-handicapped horse in this, notably, his four placed efforts off marks between 97 and 99, including twice when a close-up third over this trip off top-weight. It’s actually quite surprising to notice that he hasn’t actually won for this stable as of yet, but it seems only a matter of time before things fall right and he makes more appeal than the current huge odds about him would indicate in this. 

The favourite, Mujtaba, is sure to strip fitter from his reappearance effort in the Lincoln with the step up in trip likely to signal improvement but, even so, I think the solid proposition has to be BARYSHNIKOV (best price 10/3) who ticks most trends for this as he bids to gain a third course-and-distance success. 

He has often made life difficult for himself given his tendency to be an habitual slow starter but that hasn’t stopped him from winning twice here, in which he was evidently doing his best work at the furlong pole, coming with a strong late surge to grab the spoils. A slow start in seek of maintaining his unbeaten record at the course proved his undoing back in September but he still ran very well and following two good efforts in defeat the next twice, he made a successful reappearance last month. 

He cruised into contention and won a shade comfortably, beating yesterday’s nap - Pride Of America, who bolted up at this course by over five lengths. This six-year-old has been hit with a 5Ib rise but that seems fair on a line through his latest victory and he should be more than capable of going well on the Roodee once more. 

Flaming Rib and King’s Lynn may well fight out the finish for this event but despite their only being two places available, I am going to take on the front of the market with two participants who have the class to make their presence felt in this small-field scenario. 

ACKLAM EXPRESS (best price 9/1) has been a bit hit-and-miss since the start of last year but he’s a very capable sprinter on his day and his close-up second in a Group Two in February reflects that. He had excuses last time when only seventh of 16 and while he missed the cut for the major sprint event over in Dubai, it’s interesting Nigel Tinkler brings him back to the UK to test his credentials at Chester. Nigel has an excellent 22% strike-rate at this venue and his stable star should be suited to this left-handed track. He’s the joint highest-rated in the field at 108 alongside Flaming Rib and King’s Lynn while many expect the latter to win this event, I just get the impression that the odds between the pair is just too large, so he is one of the two suggestions in the Boodles Secret Garden Conditions Stakes. 

I’ll also take a bit of chance on the outsider of the field, KING OF STARS (best price 25/1), who despite having a bit to find with a few of these, could take Flaming Rib on for the lead and gets his favoured drying conditions too. He probably needed the outing more than anticipated last time and is better judged on his last appearance on the turf, in which he beat yesterday’s winner Look Out Louis. Interestingly, Mick Appleby pulled him out of a handicap at this course yesterday in favour of this conditions race and, if he can get himself into a prominent position heading into the first bend, he could run a lot better than his current drifting odds indicate. 

HEART OF SOUL (best price 5/1) won this race three years ago off only a 2Ib lower by four lengths and this three-time course-and-distance winner has plenty going for him in search of another win on the roodee. Ian Williams’ charge has shaped quite well in two starts this season and is one-pound lower than when winning here last June. He’s drawn well to attack from stall one and Ben Sanderson has plenty of form on him too. He has often gone well when the visor has been applied and that has been refitted today which is a positive move and, having gained all of his wins here off marks of 78, 79 and 80, another bold showing is likely to happen from this capable performer with four places generally available. 
 

In the Chester Plate, Ian Williams’ HYDROPLANE (best price 5/1) has an excellent chance to go two places better than when third in this race last year. He remains open to improving as a stayer on the flat and has Jim Crowley in the saddle. The two horses who were ahead of him twelve months ago are now rated a lot higher while the third is also rated higher so he remains extremely well-treated off 78 here. This looks a lot easier than last year and being drawn well in stall two, he looks set to make a significant impact with four places generally available with most firms. I’ll be disappointed if he can’t, at the very least, finish in the first four again this time round.