Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

Robert Cowell is no stranger to success in this race and he has an outstanding chance this time round with ARECIBO (best price 11/2), who drops into a handicap for the first time in a while. He was an excellent second in the Group 1 King’s Stand over course-and-distance last year and wasn’t disgraced in this year’s renewal when midfield, while he was only beaten a couple of lengths in a Listed event last time in a bunch finish. 

His best effort this season was when third in the Group Two Temple Stakes back in May, but he predominantly saves his best for this course, and Danny Tudhope is reunited with him too. The seven-year-old gets his favoured conditions, will get a good pace to aim at, and brings Group 1 course-and-distance form into this much easier assignment

INTELLOGENT (best price 11/1) is a standout each-way choice in the Group Three Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trained seven-year-old has been running extremely well in tough handicaps since joining this yard from France, which includes a second in the Royal Hunt Cup and a third in the John Smith’s Cup under big weights. 

He is a former Group 1 winner, who meets Anmaat on two-pounds better terms than when behind that rival last-time-out and his form is working out very well, as his close-up third behind Sir Busker and New Mandate has been advertised by the front two since, while his last two in-the-frame efforts have also been boosted. He handles most ground, he’s consistent, he tries hard, and is drawn well in stall six, so there’s a lot to like about his chances here. He deserves to get his head in front. 

I am surprised Roger Teal’s KENZAI WARRIOR (best price 11/2) isn’t shorter in the betting for this race. He is the class act in this race and he ran very well to finish a staying-on sixth of 18 in a good-quality handicap at Goodwood eleven days ago and has interestingly dropped a couple of pounds. 

He has to shoulder top-weight though, and is up against the unexposed Falling Shadow, but he brings the best form into this race and will find this race easier. Sean Levey has been booked to ride and his only two previous visits to Newmarket were actually in Group 1 and Group 3 events. This is a class two handicap and he’s now two pounds below his last winning mark as well, so if he’s able to put his best foot-forward, he could have too much for these. 

I am very fond of GO BEARS GO (best price 9/4) who’s never really been given the credit he deserves so far in his career and David has found him an excellent chance to add another big prize to his impressive CV. David Loughnane’s sprinter captured the Group Two Railway Stakes over course-and-distance here last year and ran well in other top events, such as when second in the Breeders’ Cup. 

He made a good return to action when winning a Group Three at Ascot and ran a remarkable race to finish fourth in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock considering he nearly fell coming out of the stalls. Looking back on that race, I’m pretty sure he would have won otherwise, and having disappointed in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, which was rare, he got back on track when second last time. In that race, he had Dubawi Legend held in third, who had the run of the race in front, and I expect him to confirm his superiority here. 

He’s drawn well in stall nine and the cheekpieces have been applied, which should help him in regards to travelling a bit better, as he’s developed a bit of a habit of racing lazily before staying on strongly in the closing stages. I have no doubt in my mind he’s the best horse in this race, so with very few chinks in his armour, he gets quite a confident vote to make it two-from-two on good to firm ground at the Curragh under Rossa Ryan. 

This is a roasting Group Three Fillies’ event, where a case can be made for nearly all participants but, at a double-figure price, I’ll take a chance on the Rae Guest-trained DIVINA GRACE (best price 18/1). She ran very well over course-and-distance on debut when only finding the already experienced Fairy Cross too strong, but that form looks solid, as the winner pushed the unbeaten Dance In The Grass close next time. 

She then confirmed that promise when getting on top back at this venue three weeks ago and while she needs to improve quite a bit now that she’s stepped up in grade, she’s going in the right direction and her experience of this track will count for plenty. Her optimum distance will probably be over a mile-plus in time given her pedigree but she’s displayed the speed to cope with seven the last twice and she would probably be half the price she is if she were trained by one of the bigger yards. I think she’s been overpriced by firms here, hopefully she can give the Rae Guest team something to cheer about with a big performance. 

JUBILEE GIRL (best price 11/2) makes plenty of each-way appeal on her handicap debut for the in-form Karl Burke team here. She has displayed promise in all three starts to date and ran a solid race at this venue three weeks ago. She led for most of the way here last time and whilst she was headed with a furlong to go and evidently dropped back to the back of the four-runner field, she kept on again in the closing stages under hands-and-heels.

She left the impression she would appreciate a longer distance when next spotted with more to come. An opening mark of 65 on handicap debut with Pierre taking off three-pounds makes her of some interest and her trainer is in a rich vein of form at present, so I can see this filly running really well in a race that won’t take a lot of winning, and she’s by far the least exposed runner in the field too. 

It’s a huge day in Ireland for AMO Racing and the feature race, the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, looks like it’s going to be an absolute belter. Little Big Bear and Bradsell, who were both successful at Royal Ascot, head the top of the market. Both have leading claims, as does Shartash, but I cannot believe PERSIAN FORCE (best price 9/2) is the price he is for this. Yes, he was beaten just a length into second by Bradsell at Royal Ascot, but this is a different course, different time and his trainer is confident he can make the splash into Group 1 company a winning one. 

He’s won three of his four starts and he got back to winning ways in the July Stakes at Newmarket last-time-out. He’s already knocked in some really time-figures and hasn’t done anything wrong in his career. He has been strong at the finish in each start and Rossa Ryan makes the travel over to Ireland for three rides, including him. He doesn't need a lot to turn the Coventry form around with Bradsell and is reported to have improved massively since, so given the fact he’s ranked as the one of the best two-year-old’s Richard has trained in a long time, he looks great value at the prices. 

STAR OF ORION (best price 9/2) hasn’t been anywhere near his best but connections have reached for the blinkers here and he’s now one pound lower than when winning comfortably over this course-and-distance last year. He has been behind Ropey Guest multiple times this year but meets that rival on favourable terms today. 

His mark is more than exploitable if he’s able to travel a bit better during his race this time and Ralph Beckett’s team is in excellent form too. This course clearly plays to this four-year-old’s strengths, so he shades the vote in the hope he can bounce back to his best with lots in his favour. There will be no excuses for him today in these calmer waters with Rob Hornby, who knows him well, taking the ride. 

The last race on the Shergar Cup card is very competitive with plenty of last-time-out winners and in-form horses but CORAZON (best price 11/1) but was progressive last year, which included a Group Three event, before an excellent third in a Group Two. She’s showed promise in both her starts this year, including here last time over five, where she didn’t get a proper clear run of things but stayed on nicely in the closing stages to take fifth of 10. 

On that evidence, she’s worth another attempt over six furlongs, as her only previous start over the trip was when down the field in the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, so that performance proved inconclusive in regards to her stamina. This is a significant drop in grade from that contest and she’s got the all-important experience of this course now with two runs under her belt, so despite her big weight, she’s worth another chance at double-figure odds with various firms paying four places.