Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

Jimi Hendrix is the rightful favourite on the back of a good third in the Britannia but the value has to be with LAWFUL COMMAND (best price 15/2) from an each-way point of view. He wasn’t far behind the former when fifth in that race last time despite racing keenly and wandering about in the latter stages. He had won four of his previous five starts beforehand, including when beating a subsequent winner, and has only gone up four pounds for that latest good run in defeat. If he can continue his good run of form, he’s surely going to be in the frame at the very least in this race being a pound better off with the favourite too which helps matters. 

I find it interesting to see George Boughey pitch his classy filly CORAZON (best price 33/1) into this competitive handicap on handicap debut here with Hayley Turner booked to ride, who’s a huge positive to have on your side. She’s not been seen for nine months but she made giant progress over five furlongs last season, in which she won a Group Three in France before an excellent third in the Group Two Flying Childers at Doncaster. The last time we saw her, she contested the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket but she ultimately failed to stay the distance, so her effort can easily be overlooked.

In simple terms, she could have been found an easier assignment elsewhere, so connections clearly feel she’s ready to do herself justice on her return with Hayley Turner booked to ride, who rides this straight course so effectively and better than most. Whether she can win this on her seasonal debut remains to be seen but, at double-figure odds, she has to be worth an each-way interest with various bookmakers paying five places. 

BURNING CASH (best price 11/1) has rediscovered his best form this season, in which he’s won his last two starts at Doncaster with much more in hand the winning margin has suggested. He’s gone up another four pounds for that latest victory but Ryan Sexton is back in the saddle, who can offset five pounds. The way he travelled through his race last time and quickened to the front suggests he’s got more in the locker if required and whilst he’s never run at this course before, this race should be run to suit his hold-up style of racing.

The four-year-old is clearly at the top of his game now and, with most firms offering five places, he looks a solid each-way proposition with a good chance of completing the hat-trick for the column too, having put him up in my column the last twice. 

BOND CHAIRMAN (best price 10/1) returned from an eight month absence to finish an excellent fourth over course-and-distance in a highly-competitive handicap three weeks ago at Royal Ascot, in which he hit the frame for the second year in a row at the meeting. He had filled the same position in the Windsor Castle Stakes a year earlier. He is extremely well-suited to this course-and-distance under fast conditions, as he’s finished his race off so strongly on both visits here and he’s sure to strip fitter for his seasonal debut.

He’s only gone up a couple of pounds for that latest effort, when beaten under a length, and is surrounded by all the pace today now that he’s drawn in stall eight with Graham Lee in the saddle as expected. If he were from a more high-profile yard he might be half the price he is for this contest despite it being competitive. He’s got an outstanding each-way chance at his favourite course with most firms paying five places. 

The Bunbury Cup is a minefield but I think the William Haggas-trained MONTASSIB (NAP) (best price 4/1) has an excellent each-way chance. He ran a cracker to finish fifth in the Buckingham Palace last time from a bad draw in stall one and despite being hampered at the start. I thought that was an excellent effort in defeat for a horse having just his fourth career start, as he stayed on strongly on the closing stages and he might have won with a clear passage too, as he had his run checked twice when beginning to mount a strong-looking challenge. He’s drawn low again here in stall six but remains on the same mark of 97, which is ideal, and if he gets a clear run at things this time round, he could gain compensation here. I cannot see him out of the first six at the very least with firms such as Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet and Betfair paying six places. 

An extremely competitive renewal of the John Smith’s Cup as expected but INTELLOGENT (best price 8/1) is a former Group 1 winner in France and has posted three solid efforts in defeat for current connections, in which he could have won all three of them had planned out differently. He ran a great race when a close-up second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot when carrying a monster weight last-time-out, faring much the best of those who were drawn low. He lost little in defeat in conceding nine pounds to Dark Shift as the front pair pulled clear of the remainder and the return to this longer trip looks a positive move, as he’s been hitting the line strongly in all three runs for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

He also finished fourth in the French Derby once upon a time and, essentially, is off the same mark as last time in today’s contest. He’s technically four pounds “well-in” as he’s due to go up four pounds next time and Adam Kirby, who was beaten just a short-head on him on stable debut, is back in the saddle. With high-class form in the book and three excellent efforts in such a short space of time for his in-form handler, this talented seven-year-old makes lots of each-way appeal in the John Smith’s Cup with various firms paying six places such as SkyBet, Bet365, PaddyPower and Betfair. 

In the Darley July Cup, I like the chances of the Aussie-raider ARTORIUS (best price 13/2) who caught the eye when he charged home to be nearest the finish in third in the Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot. He did well to get as close as he did considering he had to pass nearly every rival and that nearly materialised with success, as he weaved his way through the field to be beaten less than a length and may have won without getting blocked off at a crucial part of the race too, which forced Spencer to come round a couple of rivals before staying on strongly in the final fifty yards.

He would have learnt a lot that day as it was his first trip to the UK and, in the hope he takes to this course with a strong gallop likely to be in place, he’s a major player and compensation could be forthcoming. With nearly all firms offering four places, he’s sure to be coming home strongly in the closing stages, which could be enough to overhaul the rest of the field and take the spoils under Jamie Spencer, who’s retained to ride.  

WINTER POWER (best price 11/4) hasn’t been at her best in two starts this campaign but there’s no doubt she’s the best horse in the race and she returns for the scene of her career-best performance when winning the Group One Nunthorpe over course-and-distance on her last visit to the course. She won this race comfortably twelve months ago and whilst she’s yet to replicate last season’s form in four subsequent starts, she’s three-from-three over track and trip and clear of these on official ratings. Furthermore, she’s the only Group One winner in the field and her trainer could hardly be in better form.

Caturra has place claims on his best form but I thought he was disappointing last time and Royal Aclaim has looked special in two wins to date but the former sets the standard on the overall form and, with everything in her favour, there will be no excuses for her today and, at the odds, she has to be worth one more chance. If she was at her best, she would undoubtedly be odds-on for this contest, so with all of her best form at this course under these conditions, David Allan can guide her to another victory on the Knavesmire. 

WASHRAA (best price 9/4) ran a remarkable race to finish eighth in the Sandringham considering he clipped heels and almost came down when beginning to hit full stride. Despite this incident, she stayed on again under hands and heels and has been left on the same mark here off 84, which makes her extremely well-handicapped to win a race of this nature. This is a drop in grade and she had previously won back-to-back handicaps, including when beating a horse who is rated 82 with quite a bit in hand. Jim Crowley has been booked for the ride and, on assumption she gets a troubled-free passage in this smaller-field scenario, Owen Burrows’ filly can deservedly make it three wins from her last four starts. She’s a 90 plus rated filly in my view.