Saturday Racing Tips From Architect

The Chesham Stakes is the opening contest for the final day of Royal Ascot and while the favourite Alfred Munnings is sure to be popular given his trainer’s fine record in this race, he looks way too short and I like the look of two here, each-way, who are available at bigger odds. The first one is the Andrew Balding-trained THE FOXES (best price 16/1) who shaped very well when fourth on debut behind Dark Thirty and is likely to take a huge step-forward from that experience here. 

I know this is a lot tougher than last time, but his debut effort was eye-catching, as he cruised into the lead and looked like bolting up until keeping on at the one pace, which was respectable. This expensive yearling, who’s a son of the high-class Churchill, is bred to absolutely thrive on fast ground, and that’s what he will get here with the forecast rain due after this race. He is held in the highest regard by his trainer, who’s already compared him to half-brother Bangkok and, with the step up in trip bound to suit, I rate his chances a lot better than his odds indicate.

John Gosden saddles three lively contenders here and while Frankie is onboard Alzahir, who he rode to finish second at Yarmouth, Jack Mitchell - who’s retained for these owners - has an excellent each-way chance with impressive debutant winner FAISAL ROAD (best price 14/1).

He only won narrowly on debut but the way he travelled through that race and quickened up suggested he’s far from short of ability and potential, and the second and third returned next-time-out winners to considerably boost the form. Finn’s Charm, who was back in third, knocked in a useful time figure when scoring next time, so there’s substance to his debut win. With more to come, now stepping up in distance, he looks fair value to at least acquit himself well in this grade. 

HELLO YOU (best price 28/1) was down the field behind Cachet in the 1,000 Guineas when last spotted but this is a huge step down in grade and I cannot resist the odds about her for this event having already proven herself at a higher level for connections multiple times. 

I don’t think she quite stays a mile despite finishing an excellent fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over the trip back in November and she’s back over her optimum distance with conditions in her favour. Her form ties in closely with Cachet in general, as she did beat that rival with a bit to spare when winning a Group Two back in September and was in front of that rival when second in the Albany at this meeting twelve months ago. 

That remains her only visit to this course and she only found Sandrine too good in the closing stages on ground that wouldn’t have suited. She’s drawn well in stall 9, so should get plenty of cover, and if able to rediscover her best form, she’s got the ability and quality form in the book to win this. So with the four places generally on offer, she commands plenty of attention in my view. 

Noble Truth is favourite, on the back of a decisive victory, but there’s no way TACARIB BAY (best price 22/1) should be the price he is for this, even if he would prefer a bit of juice in the ground. Thought a lot by his trainer, he impressed on debut when beating Kingmax, who subsequently ran well in the Craven, Dante and Hampton Court, and was then a close-up third in a Group Three at Newbury. He looked like he had won at the furlong pole until getting caught in the closing stages on deepish ground and, in that race, he had Noble Truth back in fourth. He then returned with a good second at Newmarket behind New Science and his latest display, in the 2,000 Guineas, was a lot better then the result suggested. 

He travelled very well throughout that race, looking dangerous at one stage, before seemingly not staying the distance. This will require a new personal best, but he’s only had the four career starts to date, so we can expect more, and he didn’t look out of place at the highest level last time. He was reported to have worked well with Lusail and Mojo Star in his preparation for this race given both of them ran blinders to finish second this week in Group 1 events. He holds a better chance than his initial odds and I’m not quite sure why he’s priced up as high as he is in comparison to some of those towards the top of the market as the price tag significantly underestimates his credentials here. Four places widely on offer. 

Hurricane Lane is the most likely winner here, even with an absence to overcome, but the value is with BROOME (best price 11/2), who gets his favoured fast conditions and should be able to give the favourite plenty to think about. He was an excellent second in the Breeders' Cup Turf the last time he raced on a similar surface and this former Derby fourth should strip fitter for his return in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland. His masterful trainer clearly used that as a prep-run for today’s contest and Aidan O’Brien has quite a good record in this race too. He was an excellent second in this twelve months ago and while Hurricane Lane is rated 6Ib superior, this six-year-old is a very smart horse on his day and this Group One winner is a very solid each-way proposition to hit the frame with fitness on his side and ensure this is no walkover for the favourite, who’s going to be at his most vulnerable.

There’s a good chunk of value in this year’s Wokingham and the first one I like is APOLLO ONE (best price 33/1) who’s an attractive price to run a huge race and firmly got back to something near his best when second at Chelmsford three weeks ago and has the assistance of Benoit De La Sayette in the saddle here, who claims five-pounds. He’s proved his capabilities in big-field handicaps, such as when narrowly denied off a mark 100 at Newmarket over this distance on similar ground, splitting both Blackrod and Popmaster and is weighted to reverse the form here. He ran well on his only previous visit here in a Group Three when a close-up fourth behind Rohaan, so he’s got course valuable form at the track and is well-handicapped off 98. It’s hard to dominate a race of this calibre if positive tactics are applied but he’s got the class to go very well here with six places generally available. 

Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle have had a good week and I think they have another good chance with TABDEED (best price 14/1) who should be ready to produce a bold display in this red-hot handicap with six places on offer. He was an excellent second to Great Ambassador and has been in solid form ever since, including when third the last two times in a pair of Listed events behind the likes of Run To Freedom and Raasel, which reads good form in the context of this race. He was rated as high as 112 last year, so is definitely well-handicapped off 102 and he’s a former course-and-winner too. Drawn in stall 14, which should allow Hollie to settle him off the pace, his turn of foot and late surge should see the talented seven-year-old right in the mix with luck in-running from an each-way point of view. 

I also like the claims of SUMMERGHAND (best price 20/1) who is back on a nice mark and was last successful in a Listed event and has proven himself in various Group races too. He’s got loads of good form in big-field handicaps, including in this race in the past, where he was beaten just a short-head in this race two years ago off this exact mark under James Doyle. He goes extremely well over this straight course and ran well at York last time finish sixth of 22 under a big weight, so off his reduced mark, this classy performer looks a serious each-way player provided the gaps appear when required as he’s going to flying through late, which can hopefully conspire to further reward for this consistent individual. Six places generally available. 

ALDOUS HUXLEY (best price 9/1) was in front of Missed The Cut by six-lengths when the pair clashed at Newmarket on much worse terms than today and is fancied to confirm that form under his excellent claimer Benoit De La Sayette here. After an impressive winning debut, he ran a good race when second to New London under a penalty and was narrowly denied in a Listed event when last spotted. That was his first taste of soft ground but the return to better ground will be much more suitable here and, with his limit not yet reached, the top-rated runner represents great each-way value back down in class with five places generally available. 

Mark Johnston’s KNIGHTSWOOD (best price 18/1) has won back-to-back events since switching to the turf on the back of a promising debut third and might have been let in here lightly on handicap debut now turned out quickly after winning eight days ago. It’s great to see Jason Hart maintain the partnership and he’s going the right way, in which he was tested properly last time but dug deep where it mattered most. This demands another personal best, but he’s open to even further improvement, and could surprise a few at double-figure digits with five places generally available. 

Last year's winner of this race STRATUM (best price 14/1) makes fair each-way appeal in the final race of Royal Ascot with four places generally available. He hasn’t scaled the heights on the Flat since that victory but he has won twice (over hurdles and fences) and it’s likely Willie Mullins has laid him out for this as he bids for back-to-back wins the race. He showed loads of endless stamina on soft-to-heavy conditions to win by three lengths from Calling The Wind twelve months ago and the arrival of rain is seen as a blessing towards his chances again this time round. William Buick is in the saddle this time, which is interesting, and while this is a hotter renewal than last year, he is overpriced and is good enough to at least get himself into the frame for a trainer who’s repeatedly done well with stayers’ at this meeting.