Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

HMS PRESIDENT (best price 6/1) went close numerous times off higher marks last season including at this venue over slightly shorter and while he couldn’t land a blow on his return at Musselburgh, that should have put him spot on for today’s assignment with Georgia Doble back in the saddle. He takes a drop in class for the first time since finishing second twice off marks of 89 when last seen in this grade and he looks set to run a big race off his reduced mark with conditions right in his favour. Five places generally available. 

GOLD MAZE (best price 50/1) was highly tried when trained in Ireland in which he contested both the English and Irish Derby, finishing ninth and sixth respectively and while he didn’t threaten in two starts for Roger Varian, he’s very well-treated on handicap debut off 95 on stable debut for the Jamie Osborne team, who often does well at this course. He actually didn’t shape at all too badly when midfield at Royal Ascot last time and he’s sure to find the drop into this grade for the first time in his career a lot easier. Saffie Osborne has her only ride of the day for her Dad and their combination has been a lethal force many times here. This five-year-old no doubt comes with risks attached but if Jamie can get him back to the sort of form when he was trained by Jessica Harrington, this former dual Derby participant, who’s drawn nicely in stall 12, could easily outrun his double-figure odds. Five places generally available. 

The Philip Hobbs-trained LUTTRELL LAD (best price 13/2) looks to have a great chance in the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle. He ticks most trends and this former classy bumper horse has taken well to hurdles without setting the world alight, winning on hurdles debut before filling the runner-up spot three times. I know he’s failed to justify favouritism the last two times but his second at Exeter looks good form as the winner ran in the Supreme, while his second in a Grade 2 at Chepstow is some decent form as the winner Camprond has held his form well in highly-competitive handicaps and scored at the Punchestown festival when last spotted. Philip Hobbs’ charge was sent off favourite that day so he’s clearly well-regarded and his form continues to work out well. He will be suited to the pace of this race and, being open to further improvement, this son of Beat Hollow looks a standout each-way proposition in this with five places widely available and the potential to surpass his initial mark of 135. 

Ben Pauling’s SEVERANCE (best price 9/2) benefitted from wind surgery when a cracking second at the Aintree Festival last time and he looks very well-treated off only a 3Ib higher mark with soft ground holding no fears. I have an inclination that this track will suit him better and he’s proven to be effective in a truly-run contest which is what he’s going to get here. He’s off low weight of just 10-8 and should be very competitive here being his trainer’s only runner on the card and with five places generally available with most firms.  

The boys in blue have a strong hand in here with preference for STUNNING BEAUTY (best price 15/2), who is dangerously well-treated back in the UK with Hayley Turner booked for the ride. She couldn’t land a blow in three starts in Dubai but she twice placed off slightly higher marks last term over this trip and was even sent off favourite for the Kensington Palace at this course but nothing went right for the mare. She arrives fit and all of her form points her to being extremely well-handicapped and while the market prefers stablemate Soft Whisper, I think she’s the each-way value with every possibility of winning this if Hayley Turned can get a tune out of her in this winnable event. 

I also like the look of Andrew Balding’s AURIA (best price 9/1), who will take a drop in grade on her return and ran well on her sole visit to this course last season that has worked out strongly. She was strong at the finish when second to Creative Flair and despite disappointing on her final start last term, the drop back to a mile with conditions in her favour back down in grade should see her make an impact with William Carver taking off three-pounds. She looked good when bagging a listed event last summer so she will find this grade a lot easier and despite needing a new personal best on handicap debut, I think she’s more than capable of making her presence felt in this company with her course form and proven form at a higher level to draw upon. 

HELENE (best price 13/2) was never going to win from such an unpromising position on handicap/seasonal debut but she did some good late work inside the final furlong to only be beaten around four-lengths and will appreciate the step up in trip here. She’s bred to be more effective over this trip despite showing a lot of promise to date, notably when third on her first two starts at Newbury. That latest effort was her first start for nine months so her fitness should now be up to scratch and this should reveal a lot more. On the basis of what we have seen of her, I’ll be surprised if a mark of 72 proves to be her limit so at quite appealing odds, she gets the each-way nod in this wide-open event. 

Kevin Philippart de Foy has two good chances in this with the vote going to the unexposed and improving ALREHB (best price 12/1), who has the ideal profile for this. He got no cover at Haydock last time in which he raced keenly but he was only run down late to be second and his performance can be upgraded, especially as it was his turf debut. He’s only finished outside the top two once in his career so far and he’s only been put up a pound for his latest big effort and gets the services of Franny Norton in the saddle which adds a bit more confidence. He’s going to be ridden more patiently so will need a lot of luck-in running but he’s got a turn of foot and is open to plenty of improvement on just his second start on the turf. Granted he gets a clear passage, I can see him producing a late surge which might be enough for him to take the spoils or, at the very least, reach the frame. 

The draw could be crucial in this year’s Victoria Cup and I think Keith Dalgleish-trained GIOIA CIECA (best price 50/1) has a much better chance than his odds suggest, especially from an each-way point of view with five places generally available. He was disappointing on his return at Musselburgh but the ground was softer than ideal and he’s a much better animal on a quick surface which is exactly what he’s going to get here. He’s ran once here before, in the Britannia, and while he was down the field, it was evident that he didn’t stay the one mile distance. He caught the eye when fourth at Haydock last-time-out and is drawn well in stall 18 too with his jockey having his only ride on the card. The last time he competed over this trip on similar ground he pushed Modern News close at Doncaster off a mark of 97 so his current mark of 96 isn’t beyond him and with RPR’s of 101, 105 and 101 in three starts on good ground over this trip, I can easily see him exceeding market expectations in this extremely-competitive event with a bold display. 

While CHIEF LITTLE HAWK (best price 10/1) couldn’t quite kick on from his promising two-year-old days when trained by Aidan O’Brien, this four-year-old has often left the impression that he’s got a massive performance in him and he’s got plenty going for him here. It was only last year that he was rated as high as 104 and while he’s yet to threaten in subsequent starts on the all-weather, he returns to the turf off a 13Ib lower mark than when down the field at York. The last time he ran at this course was when second-favourite for the Windsor Castle two years ago and while he could only finish seventh, his form at the track will stand him in good stead. He’s drawn well in stall 20, gets his favoured good ground and is down to a career-low mark so while some others arrive with a more polished profile, this well-treated sprinter by Air Force Blue might be to able to make the most of some generosity by the handicapper and put in a bold showing with five places generally available. 

I have to admire the way Richard Fahey has steadily campaigned WHITE WILLOW (best price 5/2) who looks a great bet to maintain her progression in this event on turf debut. I know she’s yet to prove herself on a surface other than artificial but she did shape with so much promise in her first two starts including when third behind two nice types on debut. 

She then opened her account emphatically at Wolverhampton and given her trainers runners tend to need their first run of the season, she went close on her return back at Wolverhampton last time despite it being a messy affair and the fact that she pulled quite hard throughout that race. However, the form is working out strongly too, as the second, Desert Emperor, ran a cracker to finish a clear second off a mark of 87 to impressive winner Pride Of America earlier this week at Chester. 

This race should be run at a much better pace and, with that eye-catching reappearance run under her belt and being the only one of these with potential to go beyond this initial lenient-looking mark of 75, Paul Hanagan, who travels to this course specifically to ride her, can guide her to a second-career success before having her sights set at much bigger assignments later into the campaign by her shrewd handler.