Monday Racing Tips from Architect

GLOBAL HUMOR (best price 18/1) hasn’t been able to produce his best form so far this season and alarmingly refused to race on his penultimate start, but he’s extremely well-handicapped at present and is sure to relish the drop in grade. He’s four pounds below his last winning mark, which came in a class five event, and his form figures in this grade on the turf read a win, a second and a third from three starts. The seven-year-old is normally seen in better races and his latest sixth at Hamilton can be upgraded, as he didn’t get any sort of clear run from the two to the one furlong pole. The winner, Jordan Electrics, who I tipped that day, subsequently went close over the weekend to advertise the form, so while the selection comes with risks attached, which reflects his double-figure price, he is worth an each-way punt in the hope he’s on a going day with the cheekpieces removed. If everything goes to plan, he’s got a good chance on these terms. Four places generally available.

The other one who I like is IDOAPOLOGISE (best price 5/1) who’s ran well the last two times at Doncaster to finish runner-up and could go one better. His penultimate start, when beaten just a head by Good Earth, reads solid form, as the winner won next time out at York off a mark of 76. Brian Ellison’s charge is twelve pounds below his last winning mark and has improved with each start for his handler. Despite this being a large-field handicap, I don’t think it’s a strong race and he’s the only horse in the field to have won off a higher mark. In the hope he’s ridden a bit closer to the pace on this occasion, which is likely to be strong, he should be finishing his race off strongly, which could be enough to see him deliver the goods. Either way, he’s a solid choice to a top four finish with four places generally available. 

Iain Jardine had a good winner over the sticks yesterday with Glen Ava and his team are generally in good form, so it would be foolish to dismiss BULLS AYE (best price 22/1) who’s down to a good mark and is slightly dropped in grade. He was well held at Musselburgh when fourth in his most recent return, but he wasn’t beaten far when staying on steadily in the latter stages over the mile distance and on that evidence, he’s worth another chance over this longer trip. Others arrive with more convincing profiles, but his close-up fourth here last year, back in July, is good form, as the first three from that race are now rated 88, 94 and 103. He’s fully ten pounds lower this time round and, off a fallen mark, he could get involved. Andrew Mullen is likely to deliver him as late as possible and given how weak this race is in general, I’ll take my chances on him potentially outrunning his large odds. 

I’m not entirely convinced about Pearl Reef’s mark justifying his official ability here as I think he was flattered last time and he was all out to take the spoils against an odds-on favourite who ran well-below form. Tessy Lad’s form looks questionable, so I cannot see why ZAMBEZI MAGIC (best price 10/3) isn’t favourite for this contest to be completely honest. Yes, he’s only one from twenty three on the turf, but he’s well-treated on his previous form and his latest fourth at Chepstow was a significant step in the right direction. His only previous visit to this track, which came over course-and-distance, he was second by just a neck off a mark of 72 and is down to a mark of 63 this time, and that’s without taking his riders three pounds claim into account. All of his form points to him being extremely well-handicapped and his win ratio doesn’t justify his actual ability at this level, so he’s got to be the play at the odds. If he can repeat his second here from last year, he’s got strong claims of ending his long losing streak. 

ZIM BABY (best price 9/1) isn’t in the same form as when scoring over course-and-distance back in April but Mick Appleby’s charge is clearly well-suited to this course and the horse she beat on her last visit here, Inver Park, subsequently won the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot off a mark of 94. The selection was giving the runner-up seven pounds that day and beat him with lots to spare so she’s dangerous to discount off a mark of 87 with Frederick Larson taking off a further additional five pounds. This five-year-old mare placed numerous times last year off higher marks elsewhere and is drawn well in stall one to attack early. If she can get into a good early position, she might be able to raise her game and run the finish out of her rivals. She’s too well-treated with the form in the book to not warrant consideration here.