Sunday Racing Tips From Architect

LADY LAVINA (NAP) (best price 9/4) has to negotiate a wide stall, but so does her nearest market rival Speriamo, and I think Mark Johnston’s filly has excellent claims here in receipt of six-pounds from the latter. She was desperately unlucky not to at least finish runner-up on debut behind Lady Bullet, where she was denied a clear run three times, including in the latter stages, where she basically finished her race with running left on the bridle.

The winner boosted the form by running well to finish sixth in the Albany at Royal Ascot and, on a line through the winner and Primrose Ridge, she should have Speriamo’s measure off level weights, let one being in receipt of weight. She then finished runner-up at Chelmsford behind a useful one and the winner previously ran well to finish fourth behind Persian Force on debut, so that’s another really good piece of form in the context of this event. With more to come, and the potential to be a Group filly, she should go very close here. 

HIGHWAYGREY (best price 5/2) is on a long losing run and can be an habitual slow-starter but his exceptional record at this course gives him a great chance of victory in this grade with conditions ideal. This six-year-old has won four times over course-and-distance and was rated in the high 80’s this time last year. The last time he ran here, he finished a good second to Living Legend off a ten-pounds higher mark (86) in a class three event and actually defied that mark at Doncaster last year in a better event.

He’s beaten some good horses here in the past, including Baryshnikov and one of today’s rivals on worse terms, El Picador. His record over track and trip in this grade or lower reads 1111, so in the hope he can build on his latest sixth at York back at his favourite venue, which he’s looked unbeatable at in around this level, David Allan can get him to capitalise on his much-reduced mark and back in the winners enclosure. 

In the Pontefract Cup, BYRON HILL (best price 16/1) looks quite a good each-way price with four places generally available. He showed some very smart form when trained by Charlie Fellowes last year, winning twice, including over two-miles off this mark at Nottingham in a class three when beating the 91-rated Speedo Boy. I thought he shaped nicely on his seasonal/stable debut when fifth at Salisbury just over three weeks ago and should take a step forward with that run under his belt.

A creditable staying-on seventh in the Northumberland Vase last year, this new trip is worth exploring and Rhys Clutterbuck offsets a valuable three-pounds too. If he stays, he must have a good each-way chance with four places on offer at double-figure odds here. 

I have this between Fishable and the Mark Johnston-trained APPROACHABILITY (best price 11/2) with marginal preference for the latter, who is open to more improvement on just his fourth start and could take some catching if able to get a prominent position in the early stages. He impressed when winning by three lengths on debut here and following a second at Nottingham, he was an excellent third in a Listed event on soft ground back here next time.

In that race, featured subsequent Epsom Derby third Westover so the form is red-hot and his latest effort at Epsom can easily be excused as he caused all sort of carnage in the stalls and was never put in contention at any point during the race afterwards. That was his reappearance, his first start in eight months, so he should strip fitter and this is a drop in grade back at a course that clearly suits. He’s reunited with Joe Fanning and, with the likelihood of better days ahead of him, he earns a strong vote to run a big race now. 

Kevin Ryan’s MILLION THANKS (best price 9/2) produced a brace of solid placed efforts prior to having a breathing operation in which he got off the mark despite doing a fair bit wrong at Musselburgh on his reappearance. He then ran a very good race to finish fourth when last spotted behind the progressive Jimi Hendrix on handicap debut and that form has a nice look to it, as the winner ran well to finish third in the Britannia earlier this week, while the third, Thunder Legend, subsequently finished second at Chester. His form-lines are strong and, off what appears to be an attractive mark of 82, this son of Churchill has to be of interest in this grade off this mark, which looks far from the ceiling of his ability.

Tim Easterby is triply-represented here and while David Allan has opted for Music Society, I get the feeling he may have chosen the wrong on here with the vote going to GOLDEN APOLLO (best price 12/1) who’s surely going to end his winless streak at some point. He ran his best race of the season when fourth in a big-field York handicap over this just eight days ago and sneaks into this event off a low weight with James Sullivan doing the steering.

He is a past course-and-distance winner and went close on his last visit here, when a half-a-length second to Corinthia Knight off a mark of 86. He’s fifteen-pounds lower now and meets that rival on the same terms, so while the latter is well found in the market, the former is priced up accordingly at an each-way price and could figure off his fallen mark with five places widely available.