Monday Racing Tips from Architect

MAPLE JACK (best price 7/4) was desperately unlucky when fourth over course-and-distance last month, as he was denied a clear run twice at a crucial stage when going well and stayed on strongly once the race was all over to only be beaten a length. His performance might turn out to be for the better though, as the assessor has left him on the same mark of 67 here and he takes a couple of drop in grades. 

This will be his first start in a class six event and the form of that latest fourth has strongly been advertised by the winner, Call Me Ginger, who bolted up at Ascot over the weekend. On all known evidence, Julie Camacho’s sprinter looks at least a 75+ rated horse, so he’s ridiculously well-handicapped off his initial mark and he can therefore gain redemption for last time by making the most of this excellent opportunity under Graham Lee. 

An open-looking contest but David Barron’s GRIGADALE (best price 11/2) posted an excellent effort on stable debut over track and trip three weeks ago, where he battled on gamely all the way to the line and only just lost out by a small margin when third. He has gone up a couple of pounds as a result but that was a promising first start for his new handler and he remains well-treated on the pick of his Irish form. With the prospect of a lot more to come under the retained in-form Ben Curtis, this unexposed four-year-old should give his supporters a good run for their money, which can hopefully conspire into victory or, at the very least, reach the frame. Four places available with most bookmakers. 

Enforced ran a respectable race when fifth at Newmarket last time and has an obvious chance now stepped up in trip but I really do like Archie Watson’s NOBLE ANTHEM (best price 5/2) here. I thought he was value for more than the neck winning margin indicated over course-and-distance last time. He was always hot on the heels of Glasses Up and cruised up to challenge over a furlong from the finish. Whilst the runner-up forced him into a duel late into the action, I always felt he was going to get on top and he was gradually pulled away from the course-specialist in the closing stages. He’s up three pounds but the application of cheekpieces should sharpen him up on just his second start in a handicap and there’s every chance he will take another step forward here. Archie Watson has his team in decent form and he sends just this sole runner to Scotland, who can supplement his latest victory with another success here. 

An extremely-competitive event but I cannot understand why Jessie Harrington’s TAIPAN (best price 20/1) isn’t a single-figure price for this race. He wasn’t beaten far in a couple of Listed/Group events last year and was once thought to be a Derby horse by his trainer and whilst those expectations didn’t materialise, he warmed up for this race with a good second at Bellewstown on his reappearance. 

He was highly tried throughout last year and also caught the eye over 1m6f in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when a staying-on sixth before running very well over the same trip on his final start last year when a close-up third in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes. That form has substance as the fifth Rosscarberry has subsequently won a Group Three contest. 

He makes his handicap debut here off a nice mark of 100 with a seven pounds claimer booked to ride and has shaped as if he’s crying out for a step up in distance and gets that here now that he tackles two miles for the first time. I am inclined to think connections have had him aimed at this race for quite some time, which is why we have only seen him once this year.

The fact that he takes on lower-rated opponents for the first time in his career with high-quality pattern-class form in his back catalogue makes him of strong each-way interest with most firms paying six places. He’s massively overpriced for this race in my view. Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, 888Sport and Betfair are paying six places. 

I was interested in last year’s second Foveros for this at first glance but the more I watch last year’s replay back, the more I can’t help but feel LYNWOOD GOLD (best price 10/1) might have gone close without everything wrong for him throughout the race. Henry De Bromhead’ seven-year-old is only three pounds higher than when winning the Ebor trial this time two years ago and has produced some sterling efforts in defeat since, including when third off a mark of 93 over 1m3f behind Princess Zoe. 

He ran a remarkable race to finish fifth in this last year, in which he completely missed the break and lost at least twenty lengths which ultimately blew his chance of winning the race. However, not only did he get himself back into the race, but he stayed on strongly in the home straight to take fifth, beaten under five lengths, and he’s only a pound higher this time round. He shaped nicely on his return off top-weight when sixth of 12 and his masterful handler has clearly been preparing him for another tilt at this contest. That latest showing should have sorted him out fitness-wise too and he’s drawn nicely in stall nine. 

I have always felt this horse has a valuable pot in him when things click into place, so in the hope he gets away on level terms here, he’s got a good chance of bettering last year’s fine fifth. With luck-in running, I can see him going close, so backing him each-way with firms paying six places such as Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, 888Sport and Betfair, he’s an appealing proposition back at a course that definitely to his strengths based upon his two previous efforts here.

NEPTUNIAN (best price 5/2) shaped with promise when fifth on debut and easily got off the mark next time at Newcastle. He was then a fine third at Salisbury and shaped better than the finishing position suggested at Newmarket last time, where he travelled really well, and in what turned out to be a strangely run affair, he was beaten just two lengths. He was the last horse off the bridle that day and the form has worked out well with Lethal Levi winning twice since. He has had just the four starts in his career, so he should have more to offer and whilst he’s up against reliable types in this contest, he can go close to resume winning ways.