Tuesday Racing Tips from Architect

The Andrew Balding-trained MORANDO (best price 10/3) would ideally prefer softer ground and hasn’t won for a while, but he is a former three-time Group 3 winner and this will be only his third handicap start in over six years. The nine-year-old is predominantly seen over shorter but he will have no problem over this trip and he stepped up on his return to action with a creditable sixth of 17 at Haydock in the Old Newton Cup, where he got outpaced before doing his best work in the closing stages.

He would have finished a bit closer to with a clear passage and the assessor has kindly dropped him a pound. The last time he ran over two-miles, he was fourth in a Listed event at Newmarket, while other pieces of form over this trip or further reads extremely well in this race. Moreover, Callum Hutchinson has been booked to ride, who takes off five-pounds. I know his mount finds it difficult to win but he’s the definition of class is permanent despite his advancing years and, with his two encouraging runs under his belt, he has excellent claims. 

NIBRAS GOLD (best price 4/1) was decent on the Flat, winning twice and making the frame three times, and has made a good start to his hurdles career. He was beaten a length on his debut before going one better at Worcester next time. He was no match for Light And Strike at the same course last time when second, but the winner is rated 130 and was getting four-pounds from the former, so it was a good effort in defeat. 

On that evidence, he’s extremely well-treated off 111 on handicap debut, while David Pipe sends him nearly three-quarters of the country to contest this race, which is roughly a 720 miles-plus round trip. The stiff two-miles around here should suit under an expected positive ride and. With more to come, he gets the vote to make the long trip to Northumberland worthwhile with victory under David Noonan.

The Sue Smith-trained KAUTO D’AMOUR (best price 13/2) was successful twice over hurdles off much-higher marks and while consistency isn’t his strongest point, he ran his best race in this sphere last time when second at Market Rasen behind a progressive sort, who was completing a double. He finds himself only three-pounds higher in this race, which is a drop in grade, and Thomas Willmott takes off an additional five-pounds. 

He ran a disappointing race on his only previous visit here but, this is easier, and he should have more to come over three-miles. He is Sue Smith’s only runner on the card and, a reproduction of that latest display, should be more than enough to see him get heavily involved in this race. Mah Mate Bob is feared most but I’m happy to take an each-way chance on this unexposed seven-year-old, who appeals most at the odds.  

Plenty of these have something to prove and while Going Mobile ran a good race to finish third last time, FOLLOW YOUR FIRE (best price 5/1) is the one I want to side with here. He bolted up by nine lengths on his last start over course-and-distance off only a two pounds lower mark and shaped a lot better than the beaten margin indicated last time. 

He is well-suited to this course, and his shrewd trainer Jennie Candlish, has an impressive strike-rate at this course (23% over the past five seasons, 11-48). If he can settle just that bit better than last time, he could easily outclass these under his regular rider Sean Quinlan, so is therefore fancied to make the most of this great opportunity with conditions ideal.