Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

Andrew Balding’s ROCK EAGLE (best price 3/1) is very consistent and ran a cracker when eighth in the Ascot Stakes when last spotted, shaping much better than his finishing position suggested. He travelled well throughout the race, better than most in fact, despite being keen, and looked to be the winner when they turned into the straight, as cruised into the lead, but his earlier excursions told in the latter stages. He was just behind Going Gone and Reshoun but he would have been clear of that pair if he settled and wasn’t carrying such a huge weight. The drop in grade and trip will be a lot better here and he should get cover on this occasion, while he is also a lot better off at the weights with the two formerly-mentioned, who were in front of him last time. I think he’s got an outstanding chance off a mark that’s well within his capabilities. 

ANDREAS VESALIUS (best price 12/1) is an interesting runner for Joseph O’Brien. He was highly tried last season, in which he ran quite well in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot before finishing sixth of 14 in the Group Two Railway Stakes over today’s course-and-distance. That is strong form and he would have finished closer without being hampered in the closing stages. He returned to this track and trip and finished a close second in a Group Three before running well behind Twilight Jet on his penultimate start over five to finish fourth on his return despite being impeded at the start. He looked a little unlucky on handicap debut last time when beaten just a neck and that form has substance too. With more to come in first-time cheekpieces and a seven pounds claimer booked to ride this time, he’s a serious each-say contender. Six places available with SkyBet and PaddyPower. Five places generally elsewhere. 

MAJESTIC COLT (best price 50/1) is also appealing off a nice mark and weight. He was rated 111 at his peak in Germany and made his stable debut in a handicap off a mark of 108 which I thought was interesting. He was then highly tried in his next four starts, which included a seventh in a Group Two over course-and-distance and he wasn’t disgraced back here last time, where he finished sixth in a Listed race. He’s weighted to comfortably reverse previous form with Gustavus Weston and Quarantine Dreams and, with Joey Sheridan taking off three-pounds, he holds a much stronger chance than his monster odds suggest dropped into this grade. Six places available with SkyBet and PaddyPower. Five places generally elsewhere. 

This is a quality renewal of the Hackwood Stakes and while I have the utmost respect for the returning Chil Chil and Diligent Harry, I can’t help but feel GO BEARS GO (best price 14/1) has been overlooked by bookmakers on the basis of just one rare below-par effort last time. He was well fancied to make a serious challenge in the Commonwealth Cup when sent off just 13/2 but was a bit flat and weakened out of contention to finish a midfield tenth of 20. He’s a lot better than that and maybe the drop in grade will see him in a better light here. 

He was a Group Two winner as a juvenile, was unlucky when fourth in the Sandy Lane two starts ago and took apart a good Group Three contest on his reappearance. He came close to winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint back in November and has placed three times at the highest level. If he’s back on song, Rossa Ryan’s mount has solid each-way credentials at the very least with four places widely available. 

APOLLO ONE (best price 5/1) has yet to run over the minimum trip but he’s shown more than enough speed and pace over six to suggest this trip could be the making of him and he’ll find this easier than when a close-up eighth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last-time-out. He’s likely to face competition for the lead, but he’s a class horse on his day, and went close on his penultimate start off a pound higher mark. He ran a massive race in a highly-competitive handicap last time at the Royal meeting and came close to winning off a mark of 100 last year at Newmarket. Down to a career-low mark of 97 whilst still maintaining a good level of form and with Martin Harley coming here to ride, this four-year-old should be extremely competitive. 

Emma Lavelle has two good chances in the Summer Plate. The first of those is LIGHT N STRIKE (best price 20/1), who I know has his toughest test to date given the age barrier is against him, but he’s got to be considered each-way at large odds given the progression he’s made with more to come. He’s returned a good winner of two of his last three starts and he’s only finished out of the frame once in thirteen starts and his figures over fences reads an impressive 2123131. 

Jack Wildman has been in the plate in two of his chase victories and the manner in which he won last-time-out suggests a seven pounds rise isn’t excessive with Jack taking off the seven to reduce his big weight. This longer trip should prompt improvement and, with most firms paying four places, he makes some appeal at double-figure odds. 

Emma Lavelle also saddles MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN (best price 15/2), who has a really good chance with Tom Bellamy expectedly in the saddle. His two efforts towards the end of last season were below-par but he won the Grade Two Silver Trophy at Cheltenham last April, beating a host of horses rated in the high 140’s with lots to spare and is only a pound higher in this lower-graded contest with conditions ideal and up against horses rated no higher than 139. He returned from seven weeks off to finish second to Demachine off top-weight last time and that should have put him spot on for today’s assignment. 

Paint The Dream, who’s rated 157, beat him into second at Chepstow last year and the selection was competing off a mark of 144, so all the evidence points to this nine-year-old being extremely well-treated off 138 here. Tom Bellamy is an excellent jockey, who reads big-field handicaps very well, and if this talented chaser can get into his customary good jumping rhythm just in behind the pacesetters, he is bound to have a big say in the final outcome. Most firms are offering a generous four places. 

An ultra-competitive Super Sprint but I really like the claims of ROGUE SPIRIT (best price 9/2) for Tom Clover. He’s shown blistering speed to win two of his three starts and lost nothing in defeat when collared late on at Beverley on his penultimate start, where he skipped at least two lengths clear at the furlong pole before getting caught in the final stride. That very race featured The Ridler, who subsequently won the Group Two Norfolk at Royal Ascot and Tom Clover’s charge had him in trouble a fair from the finish at Beverley, likewise - Chateau, the eventual winner. 

The winner boosted the form by winning easily yesterday so the form looks rock solid and he’s expected to go forward from stall 18 here under Jack Mitchell. This race often favours speed rather than stamina and this son of Dark Angel looks all about pace. This is a deep contest but he’s on a nice low weight, has strong form in the book that has worked out well and has been trained for the race itself for quite some time by his up-and-coming trainer. If Jack can consume enough of his energy for the latter stages, he could have these cooked inside the final furlong. With most firms paying five places, he’s the main choice in this for me. 

I’ll also have an each-way interest in Ed Walker’s UNION COURT (best price 8/1) wasn’t disgraced when ninth in the ‘Windsor Castle and will have learnt a lot from that huge step up in grade from her two previous wins. A slow start didn’t help matters but she travelled nicely in that race and she retains potential based upon her two easy victories at Chepstow and Leicester on debut. Hopefully she can break on terms here and David Probert has been booked to ride, who gets down to do the low weight of 8-9. 

She will get a good pace to aim at here and, if she can use her high-cruising speed to stalk the pace and come through with a clear passage, she has possibilities of taking the spoils. Backing her each-way with firms paying five places is appealing and if she ends up in a handicap, I doubt this rating will be the ceiling of her ability given she gave weight and a beating to Tagline on debut, who’s now rated in the 90’s. 

This is wide-open but PACHMENA (best price 20/1) went very close on her only previous visit here, when second over course-and-distance, and is only a pound higher this time round on the back of a solid third last time. Gavin Cromwell’s mare is predominantly kept busy and has already ran six times this year, but she’s placed in two of those and while all of her best form has come on a softer surface, she was a close-up third on better going off a two pound higher mark behind Tudor City. Moreover, she was comfortably ahead of the favourite Kazakdaria here last year when in receipt of nine pounds, but gets seventeen pounds today, so the price between the pair is too big and therefore she’s worth an each-way interest with five places generally available.