Friday Racing Tips from Architect

GLAMOROUS EXPRESS (best price 12/1) gets the each-way vote in this competitive, large-field sprint event. He ran very well when third over course-and-distance last time on soft ground, which probably didn’t suit, and the return to better ground and being one of the least exposed runners in the race should see more improvement. The form of his win at Bath has been boosted by the third and fifth who have won since and, if he gets a clear passage under Trevor Whelan, he should prove capable of being in the shake-up with four places widely on offer. 

Mick Appleby’s UNITED FRONT (best price 11/1) could be the pace angle and the answer to this race off this mark, given he’s recorded all four of his career wins (on the all-weather) off marks of 89, 94, 95 and 95, with the latest two coming in class-two events. This is a class-three event and his latest start on the turf came in the Lincoln at Doncaster off a three-pounds higher mark. This a significant ease in grade from that formerly-mentioned race and, with Frederick Larson taking off further five-pounds and his trainer in great form, he must have excellent claims in this winnable race. 

DEVILWALA (best price 11/1) was much the best of these as a two-year-old, in which he ran well to finish in the frame in several Group events and also finished fourth in a Group One behind St Mark’s Basilica. He spent a long time in the doldrums after finishing well beaten in the 2000 Guineas the same year, but he has shown a bit more of his old self this year and caught the eye when a staying-on fourth of 10 over course-and-distance last time. That was his first start in this grade and he finds himself off a pound lower mark in this race. Jack Garritty also retains the ride and, from a decent slot in stall 1, there’s a possibility he could emerge as the winner of this low-graded event. 

Clive Cox’s POSITIVE (best price 6/1) was high-class a few years ago, in which he was fourth in the Group 1 St James’s Palace on his only previous visit to the Berkshire Venue behind Palace Pier. He shaped well when midfield in the Golden Mile after a near-two year absence without landing a blow and could pose a bigger threat here with that run under his belt off a two-pounds lower mark. Despite his big weight again, he’s the class act in the field and makes plenty of each-way appeal at odds that are really attractive for a horse who once beat the high-class Kameko in a Group Three as a two-year-old. If he can repeat that form, he would outclass these, but whether he is or isn’t the same horse now, he’s worth the punt at the morning odds. 

The Amanda Perrett-trained REBEL TERRITORY (best price 9/4) has won three of his last five starts and ran a very good race when sixth of 18 in the Golden Mile last time, where he travelled well take up the lead over a furlong out before fading in the closing stages. That was his first run after two months off though, so he’s likely to be fitter and this race is much easier in general with Ryan Moore booked to ride. He went close on his only previous visit to this course and appeals as the type to surpass this mark, so he’s a big player off the same mark here.