Tuesday Racing Tips from Architect

Ed Walker’s CARADOC (best price 7/1) ran a huge race to finish second in this race last year off a two pounds higher mark and has shaped better than the result on multiple occasions this term, including when eighth of 22 in John Smith's Cup at York last time, where he would have definitely finished a lot closer with a smooth passage. He was also second over this course-and-distance off a four pounds higher mark back in April and is weighted to reverse the form with the winner Moktasaab. If he gets the gaps when needed, from his good draw in stall five, everything looks to have aligned perfectly for him to produce a big performance off this mark. He won’t have many better opportunities to finally deliver on the big stage. Either way, he’s sure to be thereabouts with most firms offering six places in the opener. 

KENZAI WARRIOR (best price 40/1) defied this mark on the all-weather last year at a big price when I tipped him in my column and it wouldn’t come as a huge shock to see him do so again if the return to this trip helps. He couldn’t get involved at Royal Ascot last time, when plugging on to finish around midfield having been held-up off the pace in rear, but he’s always been held in high regard by Roger Teal, which is why he was deemed good enough to contest the 2,000 Guineas as a three-year-old, in which he finished ninth. He’s clearly had his issues with injury, but when he’s on-song, he’s a very capable performer. Jack Mitchell knows him well and, if he can adapt to this strong pace scenario over this distance, I can see him hitting the frame or even bettering that at huge odds off a handy mark with most firms paying six places. 

Holloway Boy might well prove to be a cut above these but I’m not convinced by that Chesham form and, from an each-way perspective, Charlie Hills’ GALERON (best price 8/1) is an attractive bet at the odds. 

He showed a lot of promise when fifth over six furlongs here on debut given the circumstances of being awkwardly away from the stalls and set with quite a lot to do. However, the way he stayed on strongly late on was eye-catching and that form has substance given the fourth, Show Respect, ran a belter to finish second in a Group Two at Newmarket behind Persian Force. He then built on that promise when beating subsequent easy winner Trillium back here next time, who’s held in high regard by Richard Hannon. 

There is every reason to suggest a stiff seven furlongs will be right up his street, especially now he goes up an extra furlong and it’s clear to recognise this three-year-old is thought a lot of by his handler, who has him entered in both the Gimcrack and the Group 1 National Stakes. His form has worked out well and there’s lots to like about him, so he makes lots of each-way appeal in the Vintage Stakes. 

Andrew Balding’s SANDRINE (best price 10/1) is an appealing each-way proposition in the Lennox Stakes. I don’t think she was given enough credit for her latest third in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, in which she was only beaten around two lengths and she drops in grade here. She gets all the allowances, which is a bonus, and has been shaping a lot better than the results have suggested this term. She has been dining at the top table for well over a year now and ran a good race in the Coronation Stakes on her penultimate start despite being hampered by Tenebrism on multiple occasions.

She caught the eye when fifth in the 1,000 Guineas on her return in May, form that has worked out strongly, where she did well to finish where she did, considering she was forced to do her own work on the wing of the field, as well as conceding race fitness to most. She’s a very high-class filly, who has excellent form over six and a mile, but I get the impression this trip will see her advance her form to a new level, as she’s a strong-traveller who will be suited to the pace of this contest. All things considered, she has a really good chance and rates excellent each-way value with four places widely on offer. 

The Andrew Balding-trained STONE OF DESTINY (best price 8/1) isn’t one for the faint-hearted, but he’s down to a career-low mark of 84 and, with Harry Davies taking off his valuable five pounds, this could be the day he puts it all together and returns to the winners enclosure. Despite being his own worst enemy during his career, he’s ran some huge races in defeat at this course off much higher marks in the past, including when a ‘head’ second over track and trip off 95 here last year. 

He is nine pounds lower than when winning the Portland Cup nearly two years ago and ran well in the Epsom Dash for the second consecutive year this time round. Off a career-low mark today, with conditions ideal, he has to be given one more chance. He’s risky, but if everything goes to plan and the cheekpieces help, Harry Davies might be the man to get him home in front, as he’s certainly got the ability off this mark to cause some serious damage. Four places generally available. 

Roger Varian’s DUSKY LORD (best price 7/1) didn’t get the clearest of runs when fourth behind Celsius on the July course last time and I am quite confident he can reverse that form this time round, as I’m adamant he would have won last-time-out without interference. He was right in behind Epsom Dash winner Tees Spirit that day and he had previously ran well to finish midfield behind that rival at Epsom despite losing two shoes in the process. 

He remains open to more improvement than most after just eight starts with three wins already under his belt and the application of headgear is a positive sign. This track should suit, as he’s a very strong finisher, so in the hope he gets daylight when the race develops, it’s very difficult to not see him heavily involved in the outcome of this race. Four places are generally available too. 

Crystal Caprice has been well found in the market and, at a bigger price, I like the claims of MY SILENT SONG (best price 14/1), who may have collected the spoils at Beverley last time with a troublesome-free passage. Ed Dunlop’s charge has been in good form all year, and having given weight and a beating to a subsequent winner at Pontefract last month, she wasn’t disgraced when midfield in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot.

This will probably require a new personal best to come out on top, but connections have booked Marco Ghiani to ride, she’s drawn well in stall three and there’s optimism about her raising her game in this grade. At a double-figure price, she appears to be the overpriced runner in the field with a chance of exceeding market expectations and making her presence felt with four places generally available. 

GRANTLEY HALL (best price 12/1) returned a beaten odds-on favourite last time but it was a messy three-runner event as there was not much pace on and the winner got first run on her before she could get into full stride. This filly stuck to the task well in the end to only be beaten around a length though and it seems bookmakers have overlooked her here based upon that one performance. 

She had previously won impressively at Redcar when she got the required strong pace and she’s likely to get that here and, essentially, she’s drawn well in stall seven to get a good early position. It’s interesting she’s pitched into this race on her handicap debut, in which she sneaks into the race at the bottom of the weights and will receive a lot of weight from the rest of the field too. An opening mark of 74 looks very fair off just 8-8 with Joanna Mason in the saddle again and she’s going the right way given her progressive profile after three starts. 

It’s obvious connections clearly feel she’s up to being competitive in this race and her allowance will count for plenty. With most firms paying four places, I am happy to take a chance on her each-way to prove she’s a good deal better than her initial mark. This race will be run to suit, so she can track the pacesetters before hopefully finishing her race to good effect with the step up in trip likely to signal improvement. I think she has been significantly underestimated here. 

Johnny Murtagh has found KARAKOUL (best price 9/4) an excellent opportunity to open his account here. His second in Killarney last year when splitting Piz Badile and Buckaroo is outstanding form for this grade given what the first and third have done since who are both now rated 111 and 110. He returned a beaten favourite when last spotted, but he’s been given a short break since and if he can reproduce that one key piece of form from last year, this son of Fast Company should prove difficult to beat under an attacking ride here.