Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

FOOLS RUSH IN (best price 12/1) was undone by a wide draw and fast ground when never able to land a blow at Chester last time but had previously won easily at the same venue on softer ground under Harry Davies and is only three-pounds higher in this race. The last time he ran over this trip, which was on soft ground, he comfortably defied top-weight. He’s not handicapped out of things in this race and gets his favoured conditions too. He’ll get a strong pace to aim at no doubt and, with this course sure to play to his strengths, Hugo Palmer’s charge should go well at generous odds here with firms paying four places. 

Jane Chapple-Hyam has had a great season and I am interested in her only runner of the day, BELLOSA (best price 16/1), who has just her second turf handicap start off a lenient mark of 96 here, which is two pounds lower than when seventh at York. She’s not been at her best in three starts so far this year, but she’ll find this easier than all of those, and Hollie Doyle has been booked to ride. This filly retains potential and is drawn well in stall 11, which could allow her to grab the rail, as she’s more than likely to go forward here. If Hollie Doyle can consume enough of her energy for the latter stages, she might have plenty in reserve to see off this field, which is evidently littered with exposed types. I will advise backing her each-way with four places available. 

I am really excited to see TRILLIUM (best price 15/8) here, who’s improving with each start and displayed a lovely turn of foot to beat a top-quality field in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes last time with lots to spare. That was her first try at five, but she coped with the test easily, as she cruised into contention and burst clear in the closing stages without being asked for complete maximum effort either. Of course, this won’t be straightforward, with Nunthorpe runner-up The Platinum Queen in the line-up but Richard Fahey’s filly should set this race up perfectly for Richard Hannon’s charge, who should have lots more to come and can therefore continue her rise through the ranks with more success here. 

Tim Easterby has two runners in this but it’s interesting to see stable jockey David Allan opt to ride last year's third COUNT D’ORSAY (best price 15/2) instead of Sunday Sovereign. He hasn’t won in two years but he’s three-pounds below his last winning mark and eight-pounds lower than when a close-up third in this race twelve months ago. He hasn’t really had his conditions since his head second at Chester off a mark of 94 and his mark has dipped below 90 for the first time in well over three years here. With conditions suitable, and being eligible to compete off bottom-weight, there is no reason why he cannot go close to winning this race this year with lots in his favour and given all of his placed efforts in the last two years have been off higher marks and he’s weighted to easily reverse previous form with Justanotherbottle. Six places are on offer with Bet365, WilliamHill, PaddyPower, SkyBet and 888Sport. 

David O’Meara’s NOMADIC EMPIRE (best price 12/1) has a really good chance off this mark. He ran well when fifth last week in a messy race and has signalled that he’s ready to strike sooner rather than later based on his fourth 22 at York last month. He’s been second over course-and-distance on both visits off marks of 94 and 98, and his last two wins have been off this mark of 93, so there’s no doubt he’s well-treated at the moment. He even made the frame a couple of times off marks in the 100’s last year too, including the last time he tackled conditions that had soft in the description, which was when fourth at York off a mark of 102. He has the ability to win this. However, he’s an appealing each-way bet with six places available with Bet365, WilliamHill, PaddyPower, SkyBet and 888Sport. 

An excellent field for the Flying Five and I like the chances of CASTLE STAR (best price 14/1) each-way here, who offers quite a bit of value at the odds with Jamie Spencer booked for the ride. He shaped very well on his return when fifth behind Ladies Church last-time-out at this course and while the initial plan was to run in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, connections see this race as more suitable with conditions better. 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. He will strip much fitter for that reappearance here last time and is likely to be given another patient-stalking ride before attempting to pounce late on. He will need a lot of luck-in running, so Jamie Spencer will need to at his best, but if he gets the splits when required, Fozzy Stack’s quality sprinter has the class to at least make the frame here with four places generally available. That said, Highfield Princess is the one to beat. 

Kinross won the City Of York Stakes in good style last time but even though AL SUHAIL (best price 5/1) was back in fifth that day, he should strip fitter for that run here and has the class to beat the favourite if back to his best. He hasn’t been on his A-game in both starts this year, but Charlie Appleby has clearly left plenty to work on with this race probably being his main aim. The five-year-old absolutely destroyed Garrus and Double Or Bubble under positive tactics at Newmarket on his final start last year at this level and a repeat of that form would give him solid claims here. William Buick is likely to ride him more prominently with fitness assured now and, if he can get into a nice rhythm, his turn of foot and pace might have these in trouble a fair way from the finish. He is a massive player and he will handle the ground better than most. 

New London is the red-hot favourite for the boys in blue in the feature race, the Group 1 St Leger, but from a value perspective, surely HOO YA MAL (best price 15/2) is the one to be with here. He’s yet to finish outside the top three in all career starts, with figures reading 31232231 and following an excellent second in the Epsom Derby, which is a strong piece of form, he proved that to be no fluke when third in the Gordon Stakes next time on stable debut for George Boughey. It’s possible he wasn’t fully fit that day given he’d had a break since his Derby effort and the way he moved through that race to lay down a challenge to New London was eye-catching. 

He was ultimately beaten fair and square on the day but he would definitely have finished a lot closer and been second if Ryan Moore hadn't dropped his whip at a crucial stage. Who knows what he would have found off the bridle? Either way, the three-year-old ran a blinder and he went one better two weeks ago in a Group Three when tackling this trip for the first time, winning with lots to spare, and that would have done his confidence the world of good heading into his biggest target of the campaign. With track, trip, conditions and high-class form in the book, this race looks tailor-made for him and he makes loads of each-way appeal against the favourite.

Most eyes will be on Kyprios in the Irish St Leger, who’s a warm favourite having taken the scalp of Stradivarius and Trueshan and is undoubtedly the one to beat but the Dermot Weld-trained SEARCH FOR A SONG (best price 12/1) has seemingly been forgotten about here and appeals most at the morning odds. Her campaign has been geared around this race and this former two-time winner of the race has her favoured conditions. I cannot understand why she’s such a big price given she’s proven to be at her best over course-and-distance on this ground. Yes, she was behind Raise You last time and has yet to win this year, but her brilliant trainer Dermot Weld will have got her filly prepared for this race again and, if the application of a first-time tongue tie has a positive outcome, there’s no reason why this mare cannot make a bold effort at ludicrous odds in order to regain her title. 

BULLACE (best price 12/1) might offer some each-way value here at the odds. Ralph Beckett’s charge has worked his way back to form this season and fared best of those held-up when third at Chester last time. The four-year-old will have perfect conditions here and remains well-treated on the pick of his form, including his second to Nizaaka at Newmarket off a pound higher mark, where Mums Tipple was back in third. His third on soft ground in a Listed event last year behind Mostahdaf is strong form and while he disappointed on his only previous visit to this course, the ground was too quick for him that day and this is the time where he finally gets his favoured ground. With five places generally available, he must have a solid each-way chance here. 

DANDY ALYS (best price 4/1) is improving with each start and having justified short-odds at Nottingham, she ran a stormer to finish a close-up second in the Group Three Sweet Solera at Newmarket last month. I think her form has marginally more substance than what the favourite Streets Of Gold has achieved to date and the fact that Rob Hornby travels over to Ireland to ride her (only ride on the card) tells me a bold showing is anticipated. This is a drop in grade and she’s drawn well in stall six. Also, her trainer Ralph Beckett has his team in good form at the moment and this filly, who drops in grade, is likely to go forward given her assured stamina over further and that will suit around this course which can often favour those who are up with the pace. With more to come, she could prove very tough to beat here and should be pushing for favouritism in my opinion.