Friday Racing Tips from Architect

A lot of these are on handy marks in what is an open-sprint contest to start the day but COTTAM LANE (best price 4/1) looks solid each-way material with a good chance of victory here if able to rediscover his best form. The four-year-old hasn’t been at his best so far this year in three starts, but he’s dropped into this grade for the first time since bolting up at Pontefract off a pound higher mark last year.

He was close to defying a five pounds higher mark at the course later that month in a class four event, so he’s clearly capable off this mark at a higher level. Alex Jary takes off seven pounds and, if able to take a step forward from his run at Hamilton, he should pose a threat in the backend of this race. 

I am going to take a chance on MAYTREE RESPITE (best price 9/4) who should go well for the William Muir team. After finishing sixth of 13 on debut at Wolverhampton, he put that experience to good use when improving to score back there three weeks later, in which he saw off a rival who’s now rated 91, and that makes his mark of 83 lenient here.

He then competed in a large-field novice event over this course-and-distance and ran a good race off top-weight to finish fourth of 20, only weakening in the closing stages, having been up with the pace throughout. There’s a chance he could get his own way in front if Danny sends him forward here, so while this is a step up in grade, he’s fancied to take it in his stride. 

The Robert Cowell-trained CORVAIR (best price 12/1) is quirky but he’s down to a career-low mark and has the capabilities to win this if he can produce something near his best. Rated as high as 94 last year, he’s nine-pounds below his last winning mark and placed four times last year off marks between 90-94 in higher grade contests than today’s event. He’s not threatened in any of his starts since the turn of the year, mostly due to his slow-starts, but the booking of Luke Morris is interesting and he’s thirteen-pounds lower than when third over course-and-distance last year so, at the forecast odds, he could be the value against the rest of the field. 

James Ferguson’s NOVA LEGEND (best price 2/1) brings the best form-lines into the race, courtesy of his second to potentially smart stayer - Salvator Mundi, who boosted the form by winning a good-quality handicap at Doncaster next time, while the third has also won since, so the form is working out nicely. This son of Galileo has been crying out for a step up in trip on the evidence of his efforts to date and that latest appearance was on stable debut for his current handler, so he should have plenty more to come. He’s fancied to give weight and a beating to these with plenty in his favour. 

This is seriously competitive but Andrew Balding has an excellent 27% strike-rate at this course over the last five seasons and his runner in this race STONE OF DESTINY (best price 6/1) looks really interesting here, who has a good chance at the weights. The seven-year-old hasn’t won since September 2020, but his last win was in the Portland Handicap off a mark of 93 and he’s effectively three-pounds lower here. He’s ran with credit in all three starts on the turf this year, including when sixth of 20 in the Dash at Epsom last time and finds himself two-pounds lower here. 

He was actually third in that race at Epsom twelve months earlier off 102 and has placed numerous times off marks between 99-102 in good-quality handicaps, as well as running well in various Group events too. He’s competed here four times previously, winning once and placing twice and was a close-up third over track and trip when rated 105 in a conditions event the last time he was seen here.

The first time blinkers will be attached, which should sharpen him up, PJ McDonald has been booked to ride and he’s drawn well in stall 14. With a strong pace guaranteed and in the hope the gaps open up when required under his daredevil hold-up tactics that are likely to be the plan again, everything looks to have aligned perfectly for this talented sprinter to go well, who holds a much better chance than his odds might suggest. Four places generally available,

The other one I like at a big price is JUST FRANK (best price 33/1), who is seen to best effect when ridden in a certain manner, which is to break from the gates as quickly as possible, and try to rip the hearts of the rest from the front. I know he hasn’t been able to pull off that stunt since beating a good field at Thirsk off a four-pound lower mark last year, but I don’t think he’s harshly treated for his debut on this surface. He could have been targeted at an easier race on the all-weather so this is a bold move and an interesting choice of race by his handler.

While his best form has come over further, his connections do seem adamant he can do some damage over the minimum distance and it’s possible he’ll go forward from his favourable high draw here which can often suit prominent racers. With proven stamina over further, and having run well to finish second to the classy Clarendon House last time, Lewis Edmunds’ mount should be primed to give a good account of himself from the front on his tapeta debut. Four places generally available. 

In the Comer Group International Curragh Cup, MASTER OF REALITY (NAP) (best price 3/1) looks an attractive bet to gain a big paycheque for his boss Joseph O’Brien. He doesn’t win all that often but you cannot dispute his consistency in staying’ Group events and he was a good second in this race two years ago. He couldn’t land a blow at this course last time, when fourth in a Listed event, but connections were clearly using that as a prep/run for today’s assignment and he is the one to beat in my view.

The favourite Wordsworth failed to stay in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot and will find this less demanding but he had a hard race that day and I’m not convinced the quick turnaround will do him any good against fresher rivals. Gear Up has loads of class and his the main danger “if” he stays, but Master Of Reality gets his ground, has lots of form over this distance and hardly runs a bad race, so he’s got every right to go close in this year’s renewal. 

ROUNDHAY PARK (best price 9/1) has dropped to a two-pound lower mark than when last successful which came over course-and-distance and while he’s not yet threatened in each of his starts this year, that should all change on return to this course. He wasn’t given the best of rides here from a bad draw on his last visit when his rider got him into traffic problems but he ran on strongly when in the clear to finish seventh and will be suited to the better conditions this time round. He’s been granted the inside berth in stall 1 and Cieren Fallon is a fascinating jockey booking, so he makes fair each-way value with four places generally on offer.