Monday Racing Tips from Architect

WHAT’S THE STORY (best price 2/1) has been running in much tougher races than this for a while and even though hasn’t won for three years, this is an excellent chance for him to return to the winners enclosure. He ran another good race at York last time over this trip when second and his second in the Listed Doncaster Mile last year is a standout piece of form. His only two previous starts at this course have been over course-and-distance in Listed events (second in one of those) and his record in this grade or lower reads 2221113. He has done most of winning and placed efforts off much higher marks and is effectively thirteen pounds below his last winning mark here. With track, trip and conditions all suitable, the eight-year-old can end his long losing streak in this grade and gain reward for his consistency. 

This race isn’t the strongest of events for the grade and I really like the look of BLISTERING BARNEY (best price 3/1) who has quite a consistent profile overall and, having opened his account for the year in good style at Nottingham back in May, he looks ready to score again here. He ran well to finish third behind two major improvers off top-weight when last spotted, who are now rated 74 plus. This race is easier taking on opponents rated no higher than 66 and he is rated clear of these on 75 (eleven pounds higher than the favourite) so while he has to give a lot of weight to these, his class might see him shine under Dougie Costello. He should be pushing for favouritism based on the ratings and form available here. 

DAKOTA GOLD (best price 3/1) has a monster weight to carry here but he’s the class act in the field, who’s rated eight pounds clear of these and both himself and his trainer are in great form too. He rolled back the years to win at York in this grade back in May and ran well when second at Newcastle last time. He has won over this course-and-distance in the past and has also claimed various Listed/Group events during his fabulous career. This ultra-tough eight-year-old sprinter remains well-treated on past form and is a big player. He can defeat Hyperfocus. 

The Patrick and Eddie Harty-trained appear to have a serious filly on their hands in the form of CORALILLO (best price 9/1) who returned a really impressive on her debut. Given how keenly she raced throughout that race, she travelled extremely well and produced a good burst of speed to go to the front and despite being challenged by the odds-on favourite, she found another gear to score by over a length. A faster race in this large-field will definitely suit and she’s drawn nicely in stall 16, as she will get a good pace to aim at with Matilda Picotte likely to go forward. With much more to come and quite a few firms paying four places, she makes lots of each-way appeal at nearly double-digit odds under Chris Hayes. 

DRUNK IN LOVE (best price 14/1) has returned a beaten favourite in both starts to date but she’s clearly a filly with an enormous amount of ability judged on her second to Meditate last time. She did remarkably well to get as close as she did to the Royal Ascot winner considering she bucked bad coming out of the stalls and gave away a lot of ground, around seven lengths. That didn’t stop her travelling beautifully into the race (better than the winner) and left the impression that she has more to come. I just think this race will suit her nicely and connections will have done lots of work to make sure she doesn’t play up coming out of the stalls again here. She’s drawn well in stall 20 and this race is likely to have been a long-term plan, so at large odds compared to her first two runs, she has to be worth an interest with various firms paying four places.