Friday Racing Tips from Architect

Not often I get involved in two-year-old events but I really like TRILLIUM (best price 5/2), who left an eye-catching impression when second on her debut. Despite being awkwardly away from the stalls before racing keenly, she still travelled strongly and cruised into the lead before the final furlong, where she looked like she was going to win easily. However, her rider at the time didn’t see the experienced Galeron sweep down her inside but she kept on well once headed to be gaining on the eventual winner at the line and that experience will have definitely done her a lot of good. With more to come, she can go one better under Pat Dobbs.  

MUSCIKA (best price 5/1) hasn’t been at his best this year and maybe age his catching up with him a little but his close-up fourth at Epsom, on his penultimate start, is the best form on offer, as he split two horses rated in the high 80’s. He’s nine pounds below his last winning mark and having won and placed numerous times throughout his career off much higher marks, he’s eligible to compete in a class five event for the first time in his career off a basement mark of 76. Furthermore, a seven-pounds claimer has been booked to ride, so he’s effectively well-treated on these terms. If he can back up his last couple of performances in this grade, he should go very close here. All of his form points to him being the class act in this field. 

Able Kane did the job very nicely last time but giving chunks of weight to PARISIAC (best price 17/2) who’s been given a two pounds higher mark than the former ahead of his handicap debut could see him struggle to follow-up. The latter should be able to leave his return behind him and make more of an impact here and Brian Smart’s charge is clearly feared by the assessor, which is why he’s been given this mark of 89, but he comes best at the weights. 

If his penultimate close-up fourth in a Listed event proves to be no fluke, he could be a serious player and that form looks useful, as he wasn’t far behind Flaming Rib and Deodar and he had previously beat the 96-rated Eldrickjones on debut over track and trip. He was beaten by a 200/1 shot on his seasonal debut when sent off favourite, but that was his first start in eight months, so he’s sure to strip fitter and, at the odds, he looks the value against the favourite. 

A competitive fillies’ handicap but I’ll take a chance on CET HORIZON (best price 11/2). She has been well held on both her starts this year but she was deemed good enough to contest a Listed event on her return and the form of her Nottingham success looks strong, as the runner-up River Of Stars is now rated 92 and has won since. On that evidence, she’s clearly well-handicapped off 78 here and the drop in trip could be exactly what she needs, as she always tends to show lots of early pace despite racing freely in her latest efforts. The tongue-tie goes on and Stevie Donohoe often does well when teaming up with William Haggas’ representatives, so if she can just settle better here, she could make a complete mockery of this mark and is William Haggas’ only runner on the card. 

Joseph Parr’s ENIGMATIC (best price 9/2) needs to bounce back from a couple of below-par efforts the last two times but the return to this track will be beneficial and his last visit here saw him win a similar race over course-and-distance off a three pounds higher mark. His win can be upgraded too, as he had to navigate his way through the field due to traffic problems and while he was completely short of room after the turn for home, Kevin switched him around the carnage and flew home to win by a neck quite comfortably having made up so much ground. 

On that occasion, he beat Shelir, who has been beaten by Redarna on similar terms, but this time round, Enigmatic gets eleven pounds from the top-weight, which gives the selection a huge advantage. The eight-year-old is likely to get a strong pace to aim at again here and it’ll be interesting to see what Kevin Stott does with him from stall one. If he can get him settled in behind the pacesetters, his finishing kick back at his favourite venue should come into effect and be enough to see him grab a second win from three starts here. This race looks to have been a long-term plan by his trainer for the eight-year-old, who’s handicapped to strike if he can deliver his best with loads in his favour. 
 

George Boughey’s HELLOMYDARLIN (best price 5/2) has a pretty modest win strike-rate for a filly of her ability but she’s ran some huge races in defeat since winning on debut and she arrives here on the back of an excellent third in a Listed event at Ayr when beaten just half-a-length. Her second to Flotus in another Listed event is also a smart piece of form and she’s the highest rated in the field here at 92. Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride, which means connections mean business, and if she’s able to continue her consistent run of form, her class should come to the fore and see her come out on top in these much calmer waters.