Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

Ebro River could be too good for these if back to his best but that’s far from certain and the bookmakers have overpriced BIELSA (best price 8/1), who was well in front of the former at Newcastle last time when third in a Listed event and will get a good pace to aim at here. He is Kevin Ryan’s only runner today and the fact that connections bypassed the Stewards’ Cup with him this year in favour of this assignment should be noted. The seven-year-old is drawn wide but Kevin Stott knows him extremely well and his mount could have the perfect set-up here before pouncing late into the home straight in which he could potentially beat Ebro River for a second consecutive time on today’s better terms. He is an appealing bet at the morning odds in the feature race. 

The Hugo Palmer-trained FOOLS RUSH IN (best price 15/2) seems to save his best for the roodee in which he won twice at this track last year but he went very close to beating Tacarib Bay last time when beaten just a short-head. The winner has boosted the form since with a good second at Ascot next time and whilst Hugo Palmer’s course specialist has been put up two-pounds, Harry Davies takes five off, effectively leaving him in this race off a lower mark than his last win. If you take his claim into consideration, the four-year-old, who handles all conditions, is two pounds lower than when winning here last year. That victory was in a higher grade event too and he’s weighted to finish a lot closer to Red Mirage today (six pounds better off) from when they were first and fourth here back in May. If he can get himself into a good early position from his wide berth, he must have a great each-way chance with most firms paying four places. 

LORD DUDLEY (best price 12/1) has been in great form this year, winning two of his four starts, and has run very well the last two times from the front over six furlongs, including when only beaten a couple of lengths by Mr Wagyu last time. He has handled soft ground in the past and won a valuable pot over this trip from only a pound lower mark at Cork back in May, taking his form figures over this trip to two wins and a second from just three starts. Essentially, he’s drawn very well in stall two here, which should see him go forward, and off a mark that still looks within his capabilities, Declan McDonogh should get another fine tune out of him at a track that can favour front-runners. Five places generally available. 

MAJESTIC COLT (best price 10/1) ran a brilliant race last time when I put him up in my column at 50/1 in which he finished a fast-finishing fourth behind Mr Wagyu when beaten just a length. He was a former pattern-class winner in Germany and this will be just his third start in a handicap having been highly tried earlier this year. The return to this longer trip should prove beneficial given the way he rattled home last-time-put and he’s been left on the same mark too. Furthermore, he is drawn well in six and, if Joey Sheridan can get him within striking distance when the race starts to develop, he could have too many gears for these when he gets into full stride. With most bookmakers offering five places, he makes lots of appeal for the in-form Denis Hogan team. 

This is wide-open but the most interesting runner in the field is the well-treated MYTHICAL (best price 16/1). He hasn’t fired m in three starts for Simon Whittaker but he’s undeniably well-treated on his past form, particularly his Irish form, in which he was rated as high as 104 and even competed in the Epsom Derby two years ago. Stall ten isn’t ideal here, but he’s fallen to a dangerous mark of 82 and he wasn’t beaten far last time at Ripon. If he can just take any sort of step forward from his latest effort back over this longer distance, he could go very well at double-figure odds under Phil Dennis here.