Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

TRIPLE TIME (best price 13/2) is fancied to take the scalp of the quirky Reach For The Moon. I have an inclination that Andrea Atzeni is here mainly to ride Kevin Ryan’s charge, who’s impressed in winning his last two starts at this venue. He beat a subsequent winner by nine lengths on his penultimate start and had subsequent Queen’s Vase third Hafit well-held in second over course-and-distance last time. He’s two-from-two at this venue and is worth his place in this line-up, so he could complete the hat-trick. It’s hard to see him out of the frame either way. 

A devilishly-competitive renewal of the Old Borough Cup but I am going to give one more chance to TAIPAN (best price 16/1) who’s ridiculously well-treated off 97 and made some good late progress when fifth over this trip last time to suggest he’s not a lost cause. Jessica Harrington’s charge has yet to run a bad race over this trip and, if he can repeat some of his best efforts from last season in this race, particularly his Listed third behind Interpretation with Adam Kirby in the saddle, he should go well at huge odds with four places generally available. 

If there’s ever a horse who deserves to land a valuable large-field handicap, it’s ROPEY GUEST (best price 16/1), who has always threatened to land a big one at this course many times throughout his career but he’s been more consistent this year than is usually the case, which is a good sign, and is back down to the same mark as when second in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot. Jimmy Quinn is in the saddle and, if his presence has a positive effect, this could be his day the five-year-old strikes. I recommend backing him each-way with five places widely available. 

Charlie Appleby does very well with handicappers in these types of events and therefore his sole representative SILENT FILM (best price 33/1) is worth a roll of the dice at double-figure odds. He has been slightly disappointing this year, ever since winning in Dubai which came after beating the 110-rated Run To Freedom, but he retains potential based on last year’s form and Harry Davies takes off three-pounds. He is drawn nicely in stall 13 and should get a good pace to aim at, so I cannot let him go unbacked at large odds with firms offering five places. 

An excellent Group Three event, where a case could be made for most of these, but RUMSTAR (best price 7/1) returned a big-priced winner for us when last spotted and is taken to do the same again on this surface, albeit he’s a lot shorter in the betting this time round. He has improved with each start and following a good fourth on his penultimate start at Sandown, which has worked out strongly, he quickened up in great style to win going away at Goodwood last time. That is very strong form and he’s open to even further improvement, so in the hope Rhys Clutterbuck can keep things simple, his mount must have outstanding claims here. 

An excellent field for the Sprint Cup in which eighteen stand their ground. I have always been a huge fan of Go Bears Go but he’s been found out at this level several times before and I want to risk backing Irish raider CASTLE STAR (best price 20/1) each-way here, who offers quite a bit of value at the odds. He shaped very well on his return when fifth behind Ladies Church last-time-out and has probably been aimed at this race all season by his excellent connections. 

His half-a-length second to Perfect Power in the Group One Middle Park is a high-class piece of form and he probably would have won that race with a clear passage too. That was his first trip to the UK, so it was a commendable performance in defeat and, with the likelihood of not seeing the best of him yet, he is likely to be given a patient-stalking ride before attempting to pounce late on, which could be enough for him to take top honours or, at worst, reach the frame with five places generally available. 

William Haggas has two leading chances here and I really like the claims of LA YAKEL (NAP) (best price 11/2), who was unfortunate not to finish a lot closer to the already experienced and 111-rated Secret State and 92-rated Laasudood on debut when third, beaten just two and a half lengths and that form has been positively advertised by the winner in recent months, who’s now rated 107, won two more events since and was runner-up in a quality Group Two when last spotted at York. 

This son of Time Test returned a beaten favourite at Windsor next time after being hampered at the start when only third but kept on strongly late into the action then comfortably got off the mark at Southwell last-time-out. While that wasn’t a strong race by any means, he lengthened clear of the field once he got into his stride, looking well-suited to the step up in distance to this trip. He has undoubtedly been let in lightly on handicap debut off 87 here, whilst Adam Farragher’s claim of five-pounds is more than valuable, who regularly does well for this yard too. On a line through his debut display, he could be the group horse running in a handicap here and is a great each-way bet in my opinion. 

There was a lot to like about the way MUKER (best price 12/1) went through his race on his return, where he travelled well from the front and showed the speed he possesses to nearly have all rivals beaten a fair way out before fitness told in the latter stages. He should have taken a step forward from that reappearance and has fallen to an attractive mark of 83, which is definitely exploitable if able to back up that latest showing with more to come. 

He was rated as high as 103 early last year and even finished third in the Windsor Castle two years ago, while his second in a Group Three that year in Ireland is also solid form. Off bottom-weight, just 8-3, with the expectancy of adopting his usual trailblazing tactics under Cam Hardie, he could be difficult to overhaul and, with this in mind, I cannot see him out of the frame with four places on offer on just his second start for Paul Midgley. 

I am surprised NO NAY NICKI (best price 13/2) isn’t favourite for this race. This filly has put together two solid runner-up effort the last two times and had a subsequent winner who’s defied a mark of 86 back in third. She was last seen at York, where she beat all bar Adaay In Asia who was defying a mark of 91. 

She lost nothing in defeat in bumping into that progressive rival, who was winning for the fourth consecutive time and she will face no opponent in the same calibre as that one here. Back down in grade off only a pound higher mark, Richard Fahey’s filly has to be considered a major player here.