Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

QUEEN OLLY (best price 17/2), who is the second highest rated filly on official figures in the line-up behind the Godolphin-owned Fairy Cross, is a solid each-way option here. Since winning in great style on debut at York, she ran a fine race when fourth in the Albany and equalled that form when third in the Duchess of Cambridge. Each of those pieces of form have worked out really well, given she wasn’t far behind Mawj and Meditate in each race and was right in behind Lezoo when behind the Godolphin-owned filly last time at Newmarket in that Group Two event. 

The runner-up, who’s trained by Ralph Beckett, has boosted the form since by winning a Group Three at Ascot and, what’s interesting about her claims, trainer Dave Loughnane has expressed that he’s wanted a bit of rain for this filly all season, so there’s a chance she will advance her form under softer conditions here. She will be will be partnered for the first time by Rowan Scott, who replaces Rossa Ryan, and this filly who holds Group One entries, can put her experience to good use and defeat the likes of Bright Diamond and Fairy Cross. 

SAFE VOYAGE (best price 16/1) hasn’t been at his best the last two times and maybe age his starting to catch up with him but the nine-year-old is still high-class on his day and this multiple Group/Listed winner wasn’t beaten far in the Lincoln in March. His trainer has had a fantastic month and season and his runner won a good Listed event at Chester last year to show he still has what it takes. 

His chances here though are increased due to his fourth in the Lennox Stakes over track and trip two years ago, where he was unlucky not to go close behind Space Blues and he easily had Sir Dancealot in behind off level weights that day. Essentially, he gets seven-pounds from that rival today, so should confirm his superiority and Jason Hart comes here to ride him too. 

From a lovely draw in stall four, with course form to draw upon and conditions looking suitable, he has the back-class to make an impact off a mark that’s dipped below 100 for the first time in over four years. He’s mostly competed in Group events since winning off a pound higher mark at Galway back in 2018. With most firms paying four places, he’s an attractive betting proposition here. 

TACARIB BAY (best price 6/1) has always been held in high regard by connections and while he couldn’t land a blow in the 2,000 Guineas, likewise to when down the field in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot when badly hampered, he capitalised on a drop in grade when scoring on handicap debut on his penultimate start, beating a next-time-out winner. 

He was unlucky not to finish closer last time at Ascot when denied a clear passage when travelling well but still managed to grab second place behind the likeable Tempus. I have no doubt he’s the best horse in this race right now and he is a huge player once more with Pat Dobbs in the saddle. 

Treasure Cove hosed up at York seven days ago when beating Rocket Rodney and is the rightful favourite but she isn’t so certain to run to that level turned out so quickly and she might prove vulnerable to OCEAN QUEST (best price 4/1) who could have the ammunition to beat these. I thought she ran a cracker to finish third in a 24-runner field last time. She had previously won over this course on debut, where she showed so much quality to get the job done. She dwelt out of the gates, then didn’t get a clear run and then he even stumbled too. 

To her credit, however, he overcame all of these difficulties to quicken up in the closing stages like a smart prospect in the making for Jessica Harrington. She then overcame positional bias to fare best of those held-up last time, where again, she didn’t get a smooth passage but once she got into the clear, she stayed on strongly to nearly snatch second from Matilda Picotte. That effort came after a four-plus month absence and she split subsequent Lowther third and a Deauville Listed winner, so the form has substance already. With more to come and her trainer going well, she should be ready for this step up in grade and to hopefully serve it up to the favourite. 

I am fully aware of the Beverley Bullet event often favouring those who are up with the pace but there’s a chance this year’s renewal will set up perfectly for one of the closers and I have two suggestions. The first one is EXISTENT (best price 9/1) who’s been acquired to compete in some stiff examinations this season and was a shade unfortunate not to at least finish second on his penultimate start in a Group Three. 

He didn’t really get the rub-of-the-green four weeks ago in a Group Two at Goodwood but was still only beaten four lengths and a repeat of his best form would entitle him to go close in this grade with conditions absolutely ideal. He is drawn well in stall two and this will be the first time in a Listed event in his career, which he should find easier than his last six assignments, as they have all been in Group One-Three events. With most bookmakers paying extra places, mostly four, this capable sprinter, who has the ability to win this race, rates decent each-way value at the odds.

ARECIBO (best price 11/1) hasn’t threatened in his last three starts but he’s a good horse when things go right for him and he proved that when second in the Group One King’s Stand at Royal Ascot last year. He wasn’t suited to how the race developed when last spotted but was also reported to be lame and the seven-year-old, who’s worth another chance, should get this race run to suit. 

Kevin Stott has been booked to ride and all of this runners form points to him having a slight class edge over most of these. He needs to bounce back to something near his best to win this, but he will be seen in much better light and if the gaps open up when the race starts to develop, his turn of foot could prove to be all the difference and he should go very well at double-figure odds. Four places generally available. 

SAM MAXIMUS (best price 22/1) is the outsider of the field but he’s overpriced and has a chance of at least making the frame here if back to his best. He was a very useful two-year-old, in which he was a close-up third over course-and-distance in a Group Two behind Lusail which is high-quality form. This race is a lot easier and if he can reproduce that sort of performance in this, he would have a good chance of beating these. 

He was below form in the Hackwood Stakes last time but that was a deep race and he wasn’t far behind Great Ambassador that day either. His previous two efforts when midfield in the Group One Commonwealth Cup and third behind Tiber Flow and Ehraz were decent showings and the application of first-time cheekpieces under a positive ride back at this course could work the oracle. PJ McDonald knows him very well and this classy sprinter could easily exceed market expectations at this venue again with four places widely on offer. 

A competitive stayers’ event but I do like the claims of the unexposed TRAILA (best price 4/1), who shaped well on debut when fifth and comfortably got off the mark at Wolverhampton in October, winning with any amount in hand. He ran very well after nine months off to take third at Doncaster last time, in which he was conceding a lot of weight to the front pair. 

He should strip fitter here, while an opening mark off 90 on stable/handicap debut looks lenient on the balance of his form. That latest bit of form has worked out very well too so, with loads more to come and being the least exposed runner in the field, he should relish the step up in distance and play a significant role in the outcome. 

STAR HARBOUR (best price 16/1) has a great record at this course and ran a huge race when fifth in this twelve months ago and is two-pounds lower this time round. He was a creditable sixth of 18 at Galway last time and has placed twice over track and trip this year in large-field handicaps, including when third in the Irish Lincolnshire off only a pound lower mark. 

He is drawn well in stall 18, so he’s likely to avoid any possible in-running carnage throughout, and has the services of a top rider in the saddle. With the form in the locker at this course, the four-year-old should make a bold effort to improve on last year’s finishing position in this race off his reduced mark. Six places are generally available, which is generous. 

I am happy to take on the favourite Grocer Jack in favour of ACHELOIS (best price 9/2) who has an excellent chance on these terms here. She’s a tough and consistent filly and having ran a blinder to finish second in the John Smith’s Cup and returned a good winner of a Listed event at York when last spotted. 

Conditions shouldn’t hold any fears here and on a line through Anmaat, she’s got excellent claims of beating the favourite. She should get a good pace to win at too, with either Grocer Jack or Majestic Dawn likely to go forward here, which will set the race up perfectly for Andrew Balding’s improving youngster.