Saturday Racing Tips From Architect

THRONE HALL (best price 8/1) has been struggling for form in three starts so far this year for Archie Watson but the return to the Knavesmire could easily spark him back to life off what is an exploitable mark based upon his previous efforts. He’s twice run over this course-and-distance, and both times he’s produced career-best performances, where he’s finished second and third respectively off a mark of 98, with the latest of those in the Sky Bet Handicap when touched off by a neck. That form is strong, as the winner Sam Cooke is rated 97, and that was the last time he ran at this venue. He obviously needs a revival but this is a drop in grade from his two placed efforts here before and, if he can somehow get back to that sort of form, he’s surely the standout each-way bet in the opener with four places widely available. 

The best bet of the day, in my view, is CATURRA (NAP) (best price 13/8) in the Coral Scurry Stakes. He produced some high-class form as a juvenile which included wins in Listed/Group Two events and reappeared with an excellent second in a Group Three in France. Clive Cox's charge then contested the Group Two Sandy Lane at Haydock and shaped a lot better than his fifth place indicated having met a bit of trouble in running and may well have finished third otherwise. He travelled well throughout that contest and will find this is a lot easier, so while he has a penalty to carry, this classy sprinter can make his class count in the latter stages and resume winning ways under Adam Kirby before a tilt at the Group 1 July Cup next month. 

This is a good race for the grade and while those towards the top of the weights command respect, THUNDER LEGEND (best price 4/1) is given one more chance at a track that should see him very difficult to overhaul. His three runs last year were very solid and having shaped promisingly on stable/seasonal debut, he was then a good third two weeks ago, where his performance can be significantly marked up. He used up a lot of petrol to get across from his wide draw and despite finishing third, he was only beaten around a length at the line as he kept on strongly again in the latter stages. This time, he’s drawn better in stall three, so that will be favourable and, with the ease in trip looking likely to suit him better, he gets a solid each-way choice in this competitive heat. 

Tim Easterby has already won this race five times in the past and he has some strong contenders in this year’s renewal with two of those being my tips for the race. The first one of those is ATOMIC LADY (best price 11/1) who’s on a very fair mark on her seasonal debut and is the choice of David Allan. She’s not been seen since finishing third in a Listed event at Ripon, but her trainer must be more than happy with her ahead of this assignment, as she could have been found a slightly easier opportunity elsewhere. I think her current mark of 91 underestimates her chances and her actual ability, as she split both Ever Given, who’s rated 108 and Wings Of War, who’s rated 109. There appeared to be fluke about that performance either with useful horses in behind and that form has been strongly advertised by the first and third, as the winner subsequently scored at Epsom and the third ran well in the Group Two Sandy Lane to take third. This filly also has course-and-distance winning form in her inventory, and that can be recognised as a distinct advantage to have at this venue, so from a good draw in stall eight, she’s likely to bowl along down the Knavesmire towards the head of affairs and make her presence felt as a horse who looks way ahead of her initial mark. Five places generally available. 

At the bottom end of the weights, I also like the formers stablemate, ROACH POWER (best price 9/1), who’s a half-brother to the stable's very smart sprinter Art Power and was unlucky to be collared late at Leicester last time having travelled powerfully throughout. The return to this trip on this tighter track should play more to his strengths and he will be required to carry a featherweight with James Sullivan doing the steering. This son of Ribchester came close to winning over this course-and-distance back in September when beaten just a neck, so he’s another with valuable experience of this course and should have more to offer from a nice draw in stall ten too. Five places widely available. 

IT’S GOOD TO LAUGH (best price 9/2) twice scored here last term and while conditions will be quicker today, he’s got a fair chance of making win number three here today with the services of Joe Fanning in the saddle. He was far from disgraced when a never-nearer seventh in the Chester Cup on return to the Flat last month, where he was given an impossible task from his position towards the rear of the field but stayed on strongly late into the action and this race is by far an easier examination. He remains unexposed over these kinds of distances on the level and is drawn nicely in stall seven too. The assessor has dropped his mark a pound for that latest solid effort in defeat and he’s now only three-pounds higher than when winning in this grade easily in September so he’s got excellent claims of being extremely competitive here. 

ERNIE’S VALENTINE (best price 13/2) hasn’t done much wrong in his career and since recording three wins from six starts last season, he’s put together two solid efforts in defeat, including an unlucky third at Newmarket when last spotted. He was held-up in rear but didn’t get the smoothest of passages and just when he began to look dangerous, he had the door slammed in his face. He still, however, kept on strongly all the way to finish to only be beaten a couple of lengths into third and has been left on the same mark here in this lower grade event. It has been evident how strongly he’s been in the latter stages of each race to date which suggests the step up in trip could unlock further progression going forward. The first-time cheekpieces replace the blinkers and if he gets the splits when required, his finishing kick could be too much for these if he appreciates the extra yardage with Mohammed Tabti once again claiming his valuable seven-pounds on ground he’ll relish too. 

Charles Bishop, who could have ridden Sheer Rock elsewhere, instead, makes the trip to Bath to ride UNCLE DICK (best price 9/1) who’s got a great chance now dropped back in grade. He’s mostly seen in class five events and has placed multiple times off marks similar to today’s one previously, including when second at Windsor on his penultimate start off this mark when only beaten a length and at Nottingham the time before that effort too. He shaped better than the beaten distance indicated last week and has proved on more than one occasion that he’s capable at a slightly better level than this when things fall right for him. It’s been a while since he gained his only career success but there’s a lot to like about his chances here and this race offers him the chance to be very competitive in the closing stages which might be enough to see him get his head back in front.