Tuesday Racing Tips from Architect

TOMMY TAYLOR (best price 11/1) has to deal with the widest berth of the entire field in stall 13 here but he’s dropped into this grade on the turf for the first time in his career and is on the same mark as when a creditable third (beaten under two lengths) at York in a class three last time against higher rated opponents. He completed a four-timer earlier this year on the all-weather, defying this mark twice alongside a mark of 75 in the last of those wins. He will need a lot of things to his way here, given his hold-up style of racing, so Oliver Stammers will be hoping the gaps open up when the race starts to develop but, if things fall right for him, the eight-year-old has strong claims of making a mockery of this mark in this grade. Four places generally available.

I know he only won by three-parts of a length last time but I was impressed with the way SPELLS AT DAWN (best price 7/1) got off the mark over course-and-distance last time on turf debut and moves into a handicap off a lenient-looking mark of 74 with Stefano Cherchi, who claims three-pounds. This son of Dawn Approach, who’s bred to stay further, showed promise in his first three starts and came close to winning a novice event on his penultimate start when touched off by a neck. However, he won with more up his sleeve than the margin indicated last time from the front, keeping on well once challenged to hold on nicely in the closing stages. He’s going to need more improvement here but he’s progressed every time we have seen him and, with the likelihood he’ll go forward again, he could be tough to pass with every reason to suggest he’s better than his official mark. Four places generally available.

Myristica will take some beating if in the same form as when bolting up at Redcar but QAASID (best price 10/1) could be an each-way shout at the prices. He’s not really kicked on since finishing his time with Sir Michael Stoute but he ran his best race for his current handler behind the former last time when fifth under today’s rider Paul Hanagan and gets into this race off a two-pound lower mark. He was held-up off the pace that day and put in some good late work to finish with running left to only 

finish around two and a half lengths behind the top-weight when in receipt of two pounds. Essentially, he renews rivalry with that horse on ten-pounds better terms here yet, he’s three times the odds, so if the application of headgear has a positive effect, the trip to the venue for Paul Hanagan, who has his only ride of the day, could prove to be worthwhile. 

WABA DABA DO (best price 10/1) has a big weight to carry here but she’s done all of her racing in better races so far in her career and looks well-treated off a mark of 62 here. She shaped well on debut at Newcastle and besides an uncharacteristic unseat of her rider in the stalls at Doncaster, she ran to a useful level in three subsequent starts. In all of her races, she’s been mixing it with higher-rated horses and wasn’t disgraced on handicap debut at Pontefract last time, keeping on well to be third having got outpaced at a crucial part of the contest. This is a drop in grade and she could go well here. 

TERMONATOR (best price 11/2) hasn’t threatened the last two times but he’s generally consistent otherwise and came close to defying a three-pounds higher mark here back in April and is down to a career-low mark. He was narrowly denied last year off a mark of 61 twice over this trip and has placed ten times off higher marks so he’s handicapped to strike at any time now. Oliver Stammers knows him well and while he’s drawn in stall ten, the return to this grade off his reduced mark with his claimer offsetting three-pounds gives him excellent claims here. I know he isn’t the easiest to win with but it would be a surprise if he can’t at least make a big impact to reach the frame here at a course that suits with ideal conditions too. 

It’s no surprise to see the visor go on for the first time on DELAHOUSSAYE (best price 7/2) who can be temperamental but she’s getting close to gaining a first success and proved that when a close-up second over track and trip two weeks ago. That’s twice she’s gone close off this mark now and, interestingly, she is the second highest rated runner in the race but gets weight from Celestial Point which is essential. Pat Cosgrave takes over the reins today and, in the hope they go at good gallop, I can envisage this three-year-old coming home strongly which could be enough to see him get off the mark. 

SAMBA DANCER (best price 7/2) didn’t take to the bigger obstacles last time and is reverted back to hurdles here off the same mark as when he won easily at Cheltenham in a class three event back in October on similar ground. He won three of his first five starts for this stable last year, all on good ground, and would have needed his comeback run at Worcester. The form of his win at Cheltenham looks the best on offer and, with Fern booked to ride, who can claim five-pounds, her mount should go close to winning the opener at the meeting with unfinished business over the smaller obstacles.