Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

Ger Lyons has a good record in this race, winning it last year with Panama Red and having a couple of runners who made the frame in the previous two renewals and he’s represented with two runners this time round with preference going to the seemingly-second string SWEETEST ROSE (best price 12/1), who might be able to outrun her odds under the guidance of Gary Carroll. 

Stablemate Zarinsk has sound claims with Colin Keane sticking with that filly, but Sweetest Rose caught the eye when staying on strongly to take third on debut without being given a hard time of things and she is expected to improve a lot from that debut performance. She could have been found a much easier opportunity elsewhere, so the fact that she is turning up in this warmish race is interesting and, if she handles the softer ground, she could go well at large odds in the opener. 

John Quinn and Jason Hart have had a sublime season and it could get even better if the classy SAFE VOYAGE (best price 10/1) can resume winning ways in this valuable handicap. The nine-year-old had been shaping a lot better than the beaten margins have indicated this year and would have gone very close at Goodwood two weeks ago with a clear passage, as he was only beaten a length and a half at the finish. He’s not the force of old but that was evidently a return to form and the assessor has eased his mark another pound here. 

He’s a multiple Group Two winner running in a handicap and his only previous visit to this course, resulted with success in the Group Two Boomerang Mile on this card three years ago when rated as high as 116. Stall 19 should allow him to avoid any possible carnage and the arrival of rain will definitely benefit his chances too, while high drawn numbers have dominated this race in the last decade. With Jason Hart making the trip over for his only ride on the card for his boss, a bold effort is anticipated from this capable performer with five places generally available. 

LUSTOWN BABA (best price 25/1) is also drawn a little wide but she loves soft ground and connections have aimed her at this race for a while. She’s on a bit of a losing run at the moment and finished last when last spotted, but most of her best form has come over this seven-furlong distance on this sort of ground and her last two starts over this trip have resulted with a third and a second in Group Three/Listed events. 

Her actual overall form figures on soft ground reads an impressive 121122 and that includes a Listed success too. The cheek-pieces will be applied for the first time, her trainer is in good form and she’s proven herself at a higher level under these conditions, so unless I’m missing something, she’s massively overpriced and makes quite a bit of appeal here with five widely places generally on offer.

Ryan Moore has opted to ride Auguste Rodin and while most of the time he gets it right, I just feel as though stablemate TOWER OF LONDON (best price 11/4) could have the former’s measure here. He’s related to some proper high-class individuals, including Irish Derby and St Leger winners and despite wandering around inside the final furlong, he made a sparkling winning debut over course-and-distance. 

He had loads up his sleeve in the closing stages and his experience of this course will count for plenty. Wayne Lordon often does well for Ballydoyle, so at the odds, I want to take a chance on Tower Of London, who could just have a bit too much class for the favourite. I am sure this wouldn’t have been any easy choice for Ryan Moore, but hopefully he’s on the wrong one! 

DUKE DE SESSA (best price 7/1) has some very strong form within his inventory and while he’s mostly been campaigned on good ground, and acquitted himself very well, Dermot Weld is adamant he wants soft ground to be seen to best effect. He has won at this course before, in a Group Three, and he should be suited to the step up in distance based on the way he’s been hitting the line strongly over shorter. 

He kept on well to finish fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on his penultimate start and backed that up with a good second last-time-out. He was entered in the Irish Champion Stakes, so the fact that connections have pulled him out of that race in order to tackle this easier race should be noted. Given he’s often left the impression this trip will suit and Dermot Weld has started to hit form, he’s got a solid each-way chance here. 

JUST BEAUTIFUL (best price 6/1) hasn’t been seen since winning a Group Three at Doncaster, which was her final start for Ivan Furtado, and while she has a little bit to find on form, she’s hard as nails and is likely to have been aimed at this race for a while. Her trainer regularly does well with new recruits and this filly has an excellent strike-rate, winning five of her seven starts and could get a soft lead here. 

She’s likely to try and dictate matters and I don’t think a bit of rain will do her any harm either. She could only manage sixth of 13 on her sole previous attempt at a mile but that was in a red-hot renewal of the Group One Falmouth Stakes and this is a drop in grade. With lots of qualities and the fact that she goes well fresh (two-from-two), I can see this filly running a huge race on her return to action here. 

This is an extremely difficult handicap but JESSE EVANS (best price 12/1) has been in great form in both codes and came very close to winning the Galway Hurdle on his penultimate start when a close-up runner-up to Tudor City. The six-year-old is clearly a better horse on better ground but what he does have is a consistent profile and Noel Meade has interestingly booked Oisin Orr to ride. 

This large-field scenario and drop in distance should really suit given how well he travels in his races and he remains well-handicapped off 88 with more to come on the Flat, in which his figures read 242124. With various firms paying up to six places, such as 365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet, and BetFair, he should be competitive here.