Thursday Racing Tips From Architect

This is a high-quality Norfolk and while Walbank and The Antarctic might have these race between themselves with the potential to reach the top, I want to look for value and the one I want to take the each-way price about is CRISPY CAT (best price 10/1). He won very well on debut and almost remained unbeaten in a Listed event next time, where he was only collared late on by Blackbeard.

He was then sent off favourite for a Listed event at Sandown and looked for the world like he was home and hosed until again, getting caught in the final strides. I don’t think she’s done much wrong in both her defeats, when a short-head second and then a neck second, and could easily be arriving here with a perfect record. 

The form of both her narrow defeats could hardly have worked out any better, as the winners from both have made big impressions at Royal Ascot this week to reach the frame. For instance, Blackbeard ran well to finish fourth in the Coventry and Maria Branwell, whom he was giving 5Ib too last time, ran a blinder to finish third in the Queen Mary, so this filly is seriously overpriced for the opener.

She’s got loads of speed and SIlvestre De Sousa, who’s booked to ride, is likely to make use of that asset from gate four. She might not have as much potential as the front two in the market but she’s certainly worth her place in the line-up and I reckon she’s the bet in the opener from an each-way perspective with her form looking rock solid. 

I like the angle of the London Gold Cup form this race and I am more than happy to stick with the winner who I tipped for the race ISRAR (best price 7/1). A lot of things went against him that day, such as a slow start and being forced find his way out of trouble as the race warmed up but the way he cruised into contention under a confident Jim Crowley ride before getting up to land the spoils a shade comfortably suggests this longer trip should unlock improvement. 

I like the fact that he’s getting better with each start and while he’s been raised six pounds for that victory, he looks the type to rank a bit higher than a handicapper in time. Stall 12 should allow him to slot into a nice position and if he acts well at this course, which he should do, then I can see him going close to winning the King George V Stakes. With five places generally available, he’s a standout proposition to at least reach the frame. 

SURREY MIST (best price 20/1) completed a double on the all-weather following an encouraging sixth on debut and did well to finish only half-a-length second in his hat-trick bid behind the former in the London Gold Cup on handicap debut. He may have finished even closer with a clear passage and has been saved for this since. 

He is going back up an extra furlong here, which he isn’t bred for, but he surpassed that with the way he hit the line strongly last time, which leaves little doubt about him staying this distance on the turf and he bolted up over this trip two starts ago. He makes plenty of appeal for each-way purposes in a competitive contest with more to offer and five places generally available. 

Sea Silk Road has looked good the last twice and goes in search of a third straight win but this can go to the Jessica Harrington-trained MAGICAL LAGOON (best price 9/4) who brings the best form to the table. She was a Group 3 winner on just her second career start and although she was down the field in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile on her final outing last term, she reappeared with an excellent short-head second to Concert Hall. 

That’s twice now she’s been virtually upsides the latter and that rival has subsequently filled the frame in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Oaks. Jessies’ filly holds History on a line through Concert Hall and now she tackles this longer trip for the first time, which she should improve for, this daughter of Galileo is a worthy favourite and can gain her biggest pay check and provide Shane Foley with a well-deserved winner at the meeting for his boss. 

This is ridiculously competitive but Joseph O’Brien is having a good week courtesy of State Of Rest winning a Group 1 yesterday and there’s a chance AMORTENTIA (best price 9/1) could be competitive here. The form of his debut second has loads of substance as he had two horses in behind who are group-class horses and even went on to finish fifth and sixth in the Derby at Epsom. On that evidence, he’s very well-treated off 93 here and he impressed on his seasonal/handicap debut last month to open his account. 

While the visual impression only saw him win by only half-a-length that day, there’s no doubt he would have won by further if his rider had pushed his buttons, as he got the job done very easily under Shane Crosse, who was never required to draw the whip at any stage. His winning performance can be upgraded too as not many horses win from off the pace at the course. This big-field scenario should really suit this strong-travelling type and, being open to greater improvement, he’s a really solid each-way candidate for this contest with five places generally available. 

I tend to stay clear of those towards the front of the market in these very tricky large-field handicaps but the handicapper has seemingly been very lenient with KING OF TIME (best price 11/2) who recorded good time at Newmarket in the latest of his three victories and looks well ahead of his current mark here. The form has taken a few knocks but he did well to win going away and quicken past a solid yardstick in the shape of Bullet Force despite being hampered at the two furlong pole and being forced to come wide round his five rivals.

I was really impressed with his performance, as he travelled well, overcame all the difficulties in the interim and still managed to win comfortably. A seven pounds rise doesn’t look excessive and what’s even more beneficial is his high draw in stall 29, which should see him avoid any possible carnage and get a clear sight of things. This is is toughest task to date but he’s not done anything wrong in three starts and his deadly turn of foot should see him go close to keeping his unbeaten record firmly intact.

Roger Charlton’s THESIS (best price 14/1) is another one I really like at huge odds for the Britannia Stakes. He has proved a bit expensive to follow in four starts, including at odds-on the last two times, but it’s interesting his top handler has put him into this despite remaining a maiden as we speak, who had Sinjaari (only runner at this meeting so far) run well to finish fifth in the Hunt Cup yesterday. This son of Kingman has yet to show his best but he looks well-treated on handicap debut off 90, gets into this off a low weight and has a decent slot in stall 10 too. 

He has finished second in his three starts but his form is working out well, as he was only a length behind My Prospero on his second start, who subsequently ran well to finish third in the St James’s Palace Stakes, while the winner from his debut third went close in the Queen’s Vase yesterday. He does need to take another big step forward on what he has shown so far, but he remains open to improvement and I’ll be surprised if a mark of 90 is the ceiling of his potential and ability. With six places generally available, he looks more than capable of running well at double-figure odds with a chance that he could come good if everything falls into place. 

The Stuart Williams-trained ABOVE (best price 20/1) is better known for his exploits on the all-weather but he does, however, bring course to this race and was a good seventh in the Wokingham at this meeting last year when conditions went against him. That was off a mark of 100 and he’s down to a handy mark of 94 here with the good ground massively in his favour. His form figures when racing on decent ground reads 2122 from four starts and he was last seen running a blinder to finish second to Blackrod at Newmarket, faring best of those who were drawn high.

I get the feeling this talented five-year-old has a valuable pot in him and Marco Ghiani, who was successful on this straight course last year in the Hunt Cup, is in the saddle. His mount couldn’t be in better form and everything looks in place for him to produce a huge display over a trip he’s unexposed at with six places widely on offer. 

EJTILAAB (best price 40/1) should be suited to the return to seven furlongs and while he’s got a big weight to carry, he’s a classy horse who wasn’t disgraced when fifth in a Group Two when last spotted. This six-year-old hardly runs a bad race and he’s ran well on all three visits to this course. The conditions will be absolutely perfect for him here and he’s another who has been granted a good draw in stall 17. He is likely to go forward and Callum Shepherd was the last jockey to ride him to victory too.

He defied this mark very comfortably on the all-weather back in March so he’s not exactly badly treated and, if he can consume enough energy for the final furlong, I can see this really consistent and solid servant going well at huge odds here. Six places widely available.