Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

The Ed De Giles-trained TREACHEROUS (best price 25/1) has excellent course form, who will be suited to the strong pace, and is three pounds lower than when winning this race easily two years ago. He ran well on his penultimate start at Windsor when a slightly unlucky third when forced wide but was still in front of a couple of today’s opponents on worse terms than here. He placed four times last year off higher marks and gets his favoured conditions in this race. He has beaten a few of these multiple times before and, off the same mark today, with a strong pace to aim at, he’s capable of another bold display at his favourite course at large odds with most firms paying four places. 

A wide-open stayers’ event but Mark Johnston has an excellent record in this and there’s every possibility THEMAXWECAN (best price 20/1) will bounce back to form off his reduced mark with track, trip and conditions to suit. Both of his wins at this course, over two miles, have been off higher marks (96 and 98) and he has shaped better than the result suggested the last two times in quality events. He’s a strong stayer, who is currently well-treated and has Ben Curtis in the saddle (won on him before). He is down to a mark of 94 and if the first-time visor has a positive effect, he has great each-way possibilities with four places generally available. 

BOSS POWER (best price 18/1) has caught the eye on his last two starts on the turf, including when a staying-on seventh at Ascot back in May off a mark of 95. He is three pounds lower here and that’s without Harry Davies’ claim taken into account, who takes off a further five pounds. He hasn’t exactly set the world alight in two previous starts over this trip but the five-year-old is lurking on a dangerous mark and he defied a mark of 91 easily on the all-weather last year. If he takes to this course, he could surprise a few at double-figure odds with a lot of firms paying four places. 

Emily Dickinson is undeniably the one to beat but, at an each-way price, URBAN ARTIST (best price 14/1) makes fair appeal. He is better known for his exploits on softer ground but she went close over track and trip last year and won easily her only other previous start at the course. I thought she ran very well in the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot when sixth and I get the impression connections have targeted her at this meeting all season. She will do well to concede weight to the favourite but Jason Hart rides this course well and this mare has a great chance to reach the frame once more. I think she represents some nice value at the morning odds. I would rather take a chance on her than the favourite instead of the other way round and potentially seeing a big priced winner go amiss. 

Roger Varian has highly tried SAINT LAWRENCE (best price 25/1) throughout his career and while he was well beaten last time, he ran a belter in the Group One Kings Stand Stakes on his penultimate start. He was suited to the strong pace that day as he stayed on strongly in the closing stages and this race is a lot easier despite the large number of runners. 

His second to Rohaan in a Group Three last year looks really strong form given the winner won the Wokingham off 109 this year. His trainer could hardly be in better form and dropped into a handicap for the first time this year, which might have been the plan all along, he makes each-way appeal with Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, 888Sport and BetFair paying seven places. 

CHIL CHIL (best price 10/1) brings some strong form-lines into this race and connections have booked Harry Davies to ride who offsets five-pounds, which puts her in this race off a mark of 105. She was third in a Group One last year and appears to be coming to the boil at the right time. Her record second-time-out is also phenomenal, so that bodes well for her chances here. 

This course should suit and her form figures on good or better ground aside from Group One events reads a very impressive 812111. From a good draw in stall 11, with Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, 888Sport and BetFair all paying seven places, she should make a bold bid for the in-form Andrew Balding team. 

My final pick for the Stewards’ Cup is French raider BATWAN (best price 18/1) who was last seen finishing a staying-on second in a Group Three in his home region. That form makes him well-treated off 101 here as he split two horses rated 107 and 109 and he wasn’t disgraced when midfield in the Wokingham, where he would have been closer without being hampered twice by the loose horse. 

Hayley Turner has interestingly been booked to ride and her mount is drawn in stall eight, which is ideal. If he can just get a clear passage this time round, he’s sure to be finishing his race off to good effect, which should see him in the mix. Again, with Bet365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, 888Sport and BetFair all paying seven places, the seven-year-old has an excellent each-way chance to showcase his qualities in the UK. 

An ultra-competitive handicap to bring a close to this year’s Glorious Goodwood and I will take a chance on George Baker’s GRAIGNES (best price 28/1), who was very smart two years ago when rated as high as 110 and ran very well at this meeting in that same year when eighth in the Group Two Lennox Stakes. He was also fourth of 18 in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot off 104 and has been on his travels since. He stepped up from his reappearance when a strong-travelling fifth at Windsor last time and has been dropped a pound since. 

That effectively means he will compete in this off a mark of 80, which is a big difference compared to the last time he was at this meeting when he was rated 110. He will need to settle better than last time but this race will be run to suit as he seems very effective in large-field handicaps and this is a drop in grade from when he was fourth at Ascot off 104. With a good draw to contend with and Neil Callan booked to ride, he could go well at massive odds, as all of his historical form suggests he’s handicapped to go close. Five places widely available.