Wednesday Racing Tips from Architect

BRIDGETOWN (best price 2/1) still remains a maiden after eight starts and it doesn’t help the fact that he returned a beaten odds-on favourite into second when last spotted. However, he’s had a wind operation since which could just make the difference this term and the excellent Oisin McSweeney is in the saddle. He’s up against some other potential improvers but he was twice placed in this grade last season and if the break has helped alongside recent wind surgery, he might finally be able to get his head in front here. 

SHARK TWO ONE (best price 15/2) returned to form at Ripon last time when only finding one too good in the latter stages. Despite racing keenly throughout, it looked as though he had the race won, only to be collared late on by the favourite Fortamour. That was off a mark of 80 and he’s technically 3Ib lower this time round when you take into consideration Connor Murtagh’s 3Ib claim. That latest piece of form has worked out strongly too, given the winner has subsequently won again since and, with every possibility of being able to dictate matters in this smaller-field scenario, Richard Fahey’s charge could prove tough to pass. 

The ground went against REPUTATION (NAP) (best price 9/1) when trailing home last of eleven when last spotted so his run can easily be excused. He’s better judged on the performances he’s produced in better ground in which all of his wins have been on ground ranging from good, good to firm. The last of those was off a mark of 90 in a class two event and while he’s never won over this trip, he was a good second on his penultimate start off a mark of 77 when chasing home the 87-rated and inform Wizard D’Amour.

His mark has continued to tumble and he’s now eligible to compete off a new career-low mark of 76 here, dropping into this grade for the first time in his career. He needs to bounce back but this is the easier task he’s been granted for a very long time and, with plenty in his favour, Ruth Carr’s veteran of the field can roll back the years and make his presence felt in this wide-open contest. 

URBAN VIOLET (best price 11/1) hasn’t been at her best for quite a while now but there’s no doubt she’s handicapped to strike if able to rediscover her earlier form. She’s now two-pounds below her last winning mark and shaped better than the beaten margin indicated last time on her first start in seven months. For the most part of her career to date she’s been kept to softer ground but she wasn’t disgraced on both previous efforts on good ground so she may well improve for it now and she should get a nice lead into proceedings so, off a near-career low mark, she’s worth an each-way interest. 

SOLAR JOE (best price 12/1) might have been well held on his course-and-distance handicap debut but remains lightly raced after just four starts and the standout piece of form in this field is by far his penultimate two-length second to Raadobarg, as the winner is now rated 110+ in Ireland and has won his last two starts. That effort behind the latter was on seasonal debut last term, so the best time to catch him might be fresh here, especially with his two best performances from his four starts being on either his debut or his return. The assessor has dropped his mark a couple of pounds since he was last sighted and, with Tony Hamilton booked to ride, he’s a very interesting candidate, and could be ready to roll in this wide-open event.