Wednesday Racing Tips From Architect

It’s been nearly three years since SAMEEM (best price 6/1) got his head in front and while he couldn’t quite get the job done in a lower grade event last time, he’s become extremely well-handicapped at present and can make the most of the generosity from the assessor under Brandon Wilkie. It’s a shame he’s not been able to kick on from his excellent run of form in 2018/19 in which he was rated as high as 96 and claimed a listed event but he’s down to a mark of 62 and there’s every chance of him being able to dominate this small-field event. If Brandon can judge the fractions right, he will surely go close to claiming the spoils, especially with his last two starts at this venue coming off marks of 91 and 95 in class two/three events. 

I really like the claims of two runners in this race. Firstly, ELSALS (best price 9/2) who built upon his reappearance when dominating a race from the front in first-time cheekpieces at Lingfield last month, scoring with lots in hand and beating a subsequent winner. He’d previously had the one start for Richard Hannon at York before his return and caught the eye to finish third, faring best of those held-up and makes his handicap debut off a mark of 74 here which shouldn’t be the ceiling of his true potential and ability. I know Lord Caradoc is better off the weights here on their previous tussle but I expect the former to confirm his superiority, who was in front of the latter on debut. William Buick has been booked for the ride, which is great, and with further improvement anticipated dropping back in distance, this son of Havana Gold looks capable of going close to following-up here under similar positive tactics.

Amy Murphy’s PRIDE OF AMERICA (NAP) (best price 5/4) has been hit with a nine-pounds rise for his latest victory but that’s hardly surprising given the manner in which he he made useful yardsticks look ordinary when winning easily by five-lengths from the front at Chester’s May Festival. He’s clearly at the top of his game for his current trainer, in which he’s now won two of his last three starts and there’s every indication that he’ll be able to dominate this small-field event. The five-year-old will have to concede weight to his three rivals but the numbers he recorded last time suggests he could be better than this grade, as he was only a fraction slower (0.08) than recent Derby participant Star Of India, who won the Listed Dee Stakes over the same course-and-distance. He should be very well-suited to this course as he’s uncomplicated and his one-dimensional style of racing under positive tactics from the front under Silvestre De Sousa with all the qualities in abundance can hopefully transpire into another success for the pair in the finale.