Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

FOURSHADESOFSILVER (best price 11/1) looked an improved model when tackling soft ground for the first time at Newmarket, where he split two subsequent next-time-out winners, while the fourth and fifth have also placed since. He’s two-pounds higher here but that form gives him every chance in this company and a repeat showing should be more than enough to hopefully go one better in the opener here. 

Highland Frolic is going to be tough to beat but the value could be with BERKSHIRE BREEZE (best price 6/1) who’s not done much wrong in placing in all three starts to date and is likely to give his running once more under his excellent apprentice. Andrew Balding has got the services of seven-pounds claimer Harry Davies to do the steering this time round and although has raced a bit keenly in his races to date, he should be far more tractable back over this longer distance. His comeback fourth at Newbury looks a standout piece of form with the second, third and fifth all winning since and his latest front-running third at Chester looks good form too in the context of this race. Despite this being a fiercely-competitive maiden for the grade, this son of Mastercraftsman will be very difficult to kick out of the frame. 

In the Betfred Good Luck To Wigan Warriors Handicap, HEY MR (best price 25/1) makes a bit of each-way appeal at huge odds. He showed quite some useful form for Roger Varian previously, placing six times, as well as winning once from eleven starts. He could never land a blow on stable debut for current connections last-time-out but it appeared that his trainer was using that as a preparatory run and it’s further interesting to see him pitched into this instead of being found an easier opportunity elsewhere. 

He has actually never ran a bad race when the ground is described as ‘good’ and he sneaks into this event off a career-low mark of 82 with Lewis Edmunds onboard, who has his only ride of the day. Furthermore, Les Eyre, who’s well established in the sprinting ranks has his only runner of the day and whilst recognising that event is littered with well-handicapped individuals, this four-year-old might be worth chancing at the prices to produce his best with plenty going for him and with four places widely on offer. 

KISS KISS (best price 8/1) has caught the eye in all three runs to date in which she’s hardly been asked for maximum effort which has left the impression that she’s got a lot more to come on the turf. Each effort hasn’t been short of promise and the booking of James Doyle catches the eye ahead of her handicap debut here. It’s interesting she’s switched to the turf now and an opening mark of 60 looks extremely lenient. On the evidence she’s displayed so far, it would be highly surprising if she weren’t able to prove a lot better than this grade and current mark so she’s fancied to come good in this weak event. 

JOHN LEEPER (best price 11/2) looked a promising middle-distance performer when winning twice early last year but was well held in the Derby when only ninth and didn’t really kick on afterwards either. However, he left plenty to work on at Chester on his return, where finished his race very strongly to take fourth in the Ormonde Stakes. He looked to be coming with a strong challenge when getting short of room on the turn for home which forced Ryan Moore to bring him wide of the field.

He wasn’t given a hard time of things but stayed on strongly in the closing stages to suggest this longer distance might unlock further improvement. On that form, he doesn’t have much to find with the likes of Thunderous and even though he’s going to need more to win this harder race, there’s a chance he could be a high-class stayer and he’s a very solid each-way player this evening. 

George Boughey has his team in red-hot form of late in which his last four runners have all won and I am confident FIORINA (NAP) (best price 6/4) can make it five for him in the Kirkbampton Handicap. The fact that he’s willing to run this filly against three last-time-out winners suggests she’s capable of really making an impact off her current mark on the turf. She missed out by only a nose on handicap debut off this mark on the all-weather last time when finishing her race very strongly and should get a nice pace to aim at before charging home late here. Ben Curtis has been booked to ride and having just her second turf start, which is a significant drop in grade from when sixth at Newmarket in a class three event, she can open her account.