Wednesday Racing Tips From Architect

It proved to be an absolute nightmare for Ortiz Jr and Wesley Ward yesterday with Golden Pal in the King’s Stand who blew the start due to Ortiz looking the wrong way when a horse who was being backed out of the stalls distracted him before realising he’s still in the stalls when the others were away and gone. He’ll be looking for redemption and to redeem himself today and I think he can do that with two strong chances on the card.

The first being LOVE REIGNS (best price 3/1) who looked sensational when romping to a ten-length success on debut, maintaining a relentless pace from the front and quickening up stylishly when asked to go about her business, like something out of the ordinary. This is obviously a tougher assignment but her trainer has won this four times in the past and if she can prove her capabilities on these shores and handle the preliminaries, I think she could have too much pace, afterburners and turbo for Dramatised and the remainder when it matters most here. 

I was, however, deeply impressed with ALL THE TIME (best price 20/1) on debut at Nottingham, where she travelled beautifully and showed a good turn of foot to win going away without being asked for maximum effort in the latter stages of the event to score by an easy five-lengths. Simon and his son Ed Crisford have combined with winners at this meeting in the past with two-year-old’s, so connections are no strangers to getting one ready on the biggest stage of the season.

She will need improvement to remain unbeaten here but her debut performance left a feeling that she’s a talented filly and she’s drawn well in 13 too. With James Doyle retained for the ride, she looks fair each-way value to reach the frame with five places generally available. 

This is a very open-looking edition of the Queen’s Vase and while I think Roger Varian’s unbeaten Eldar Eldarov will take a bit of beating with more to come, the Fozzy Stack-trained RULER LEGEND (best price 16/1) could go well at a fair price with firms paying four places. He was runner-up on his first two starts and seemed suited to positive tactics when winning easily last time by five-lengths. His form is nothing to shout about but he did what was required that day and this longer trip should unlock improvement. With Jamie Spencer booked to ride, this progressive three-year-old might be able to up his game and be competitive for the Irish here. 

FANTASTIC FOX (best price 16/1) shaped very well when third at Epsom the last day, making up loads of ground inside the final furlong, and is one of three appealing bets in the Royal Hunt Cup. He’s generally been strong at the finish in most of his races, particularly when there’s not been a lot of pace on, so his efforts can be upgraded and the same happened last time at Epsom.

He came from miles off the pace to be third behind Totally Charming on Oaks Day and he is eligible to compete off the exact same mark here whilst being weighted to finish a lot closer to the winner on these terms. I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet and his third behind Snow Lantern on his second start makes him very well-handicapped off 98 here. With a good draw in stall 21 and David Egan in the plate, he’s one to consider each-way at a big price with six places generally on offer across the board. 

REBEL TERRITORY (best price 16/1) is another one I like for this year’s Royal Hunt Cup from an each-way perspective at large odds. His trainer, Amanda Perrett, won this race five years ago, and history might repeat itself with this improving four-year-old, who has a nice profile for this race. His record in handicaps around this trip reads three wins, a second and a third from six starts and he’s now won three of his last four starts too.

He travelled very well the last day and showed a good attitude to see off a useful handicapper in the closing stages under Jim Crowley. He’s upped in class but I think he’s got loads of fuel left under the bonnet to cause more damage off higher marks and, from a good draw in stall 19, he looks just the type to be very competitive in a big race like this. Six places generally available with firms. 

There’s a good chance INTELLOGENT (best price 50/1) can win this if everything falls right for him here and I cannot resist the massive odds available about him with some of the best form on offer. A former Group 1 winner when trained in France, he’s posted two very good efforts in defeat since joining this yard, firstly, when unlucky on stable debut at Newmarket, where he would have won with a clear passage. He would have got up in another whisker, as he was touched off by the narrowest of margins and he then ran well over track and trip in a Listed event last time when up against higher rated horses then himself.

The fourth Valiant Prince subsequently won a Listed event at York to advertise the form and even though an opening mark of 105 is pretty high, he still looks nicely treated on his best form and has been primed for this assignment. With six places widely available, he’s an each-way steal in my view as he’s likely to be charging fast and late under the Doyler. 

WODAO (best price 14/1) was behind Little Big Bear on debut at the Curragh but improved loads since and was twice right in behind The Antarctic which reads very good form and given the winner is a short-price for the Norfolk this week, Donnacha O’Brien’s useful sprinter looks massively overpriced here. He got off the mark emphatically at the fourth time of asking last time, showing loads of pace and speed to burn off his rivals.

I think he’s drawn very nicely, as he’s likely to be ridden handy and we know he’s got a turn of foot to match his speed so, with most firms paying five places, this Irish raider looks capable of making a splash in this grade and should be more than good enough to, at the very least, hit the frame with more to offer.

 Wesley Ward has won this twice in the past and I think SEISMIC SPIRIT (best price 20/1) can make a bold bid against Little Big Bear. He showed loads of speed on debut until getting caught in the final strides and it’s interesting his trainer sends him here on just his second career start. He’s drawn right down the middle in stall eleven and could be well-suited to this course.

I can envisage him taking a major step forward from his debut performance and, provided he can make a clean start from the gates, he might be the one to reach the frame under Ortiz Jr at the very least with the five places generally available. 

STATE OCCASION (best price 12/1) has solid each-way claims in the Kensington Palace Stakes. Ralph Beckett’s filly is lightly-raced for her age and looked better than ever when awarded the race at Chelmsford just under three weeks ago which was her first start in seven months. She’s been ultra-consistent so far in her career and should be fully effective back on the turf over this distance here.

Also, she’s been given a handy stall in five and now has figures over a mile reading an impressive 21323 from five outings. Most bookmakers are offering five places, so with those places considered and the possibility of surpassing her current mark of 89, I see her as an attractive proposition in the finale to day two’s action at the Berkshire venue.