Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

Iain Jardine’s NEVER DARK (best price 9/2) went close off a two-pounds higher mark at Doncaster last time when dropped into this grade for the first time in a while in the refitted cheek-pieces and is worth sticking with here in the hope he can finally get his head back in front back over the minimum distance. He is essentially eight-pounds below his last winning mark, which in turn came in a class four event, and his overall record in class five company reads 323112, which bodes well for his chances here. 

While that latest showing was over six, he’s just as effective over this shorter trip, as he was unlucky to be mugged right on the line at Carlisle by the 78-rated Ginger Jam. That again was a class four event, while his fourth in the Bronze Cup here last year off a three-pounds higher mark is also useful form. If the retained cheekpieces work second time round, with Danny Tudhope in the saddle, there’s no reason why he can’t go close to winning this race. 

PROSPECT (best price 15/2) is generally consistent and ran another solid race when third at Beverley last time behind two higher-rated opponents. The handicapper has reduced his mark by a pound, in which he can now compete in this race off his last winning mark and he gets on well with Graham Lee. 

He went mightily close over track and trip on his last visit here in a class four event off a six-pounds higher mark, where he only failed to score by the smallest of margins. That effort was also behind horses rated 82 and 86, so this is by far easier and the last time he won, he easily defied this mark. I would have had him nearly favourite for this race and he should be extremely competitive for the Midgley team, who’s won this three times in the last seven years. Five places widely available. 

WHAT’S THE STORY (best price 12/1) seemed to really enjoy himself over course-and-distance last month, where he was ridden from the front and never saw another rival en route to winning very comfortably by over two lengths. 

The assessor has applied pressure by upping his mark five-pounds, but he’s won and hit the frame off higher marks on multiple occasions in the past and has proven himself in Listed events too, which includes two runner-up efforts, one of those over course-and-distance. 

He likes this venue, has his favourite conditions and is drawn well in stall 1, so I am confused as to why he is available at such massive odds here. He is a class horse on his day and despite Callum Rodriguez opting for Chichester, the top-weight appeals most with most firms paying four places. 

Ewan Whillans’ FAYLAQ (best price 12/1) hasn’t won for a long time but he’s really caught my eye the last two times, firstly when fourth of 15 at Hamilton in a highly-competitive event before filling the same spot behind Mujtaba at Doncaster off the exact same mark last-time-out. 

He would have probably been second with a clear passage that day, he was making giant strides through the field, only to have his run denied before surging home again when in the clear when the race was practically over. He will be very well-suited to a strongly run race at this course and remains on the same mark as last time, so he shouldn’t be taken lightly here with four places widely available. 

ANADORA (best price 12/1) has been below her best the last three times but it’s possible the first-time headgear will see her produce a positive display and, if it does, Kevin Ryan’s charge has an excellent each-way chance in this wide-open event. 

She’s back on the same mark as when winning at Newmarket on her reappearance and is four-pounds lower than when third at the same course next time. This filly hasn’t got involved in all her starts since but she’s better than what she’s shown of late and conditions are in her favour. In the hope she can bounce back in this smaller-field scenario, she could go well off this attractive mark at decent odds. 

The Richard Fahey-trained CISCO DISCO (best price 7/2) has yet to reproduce the form he showed when trained in Ireland in four starts for this yard but he did some nice late progress over seven-furlongs here last time when nearest the finish under hands-and-heels riding and the return to this trip can only be recognised as a positive. 

He made the frame multiple times off higher marks in Ireland last year, including when beaten just half-a-length off a mark of 77, and connections have put the visor on him, which is the first time since defying this exact mark last year. There’s no doubt he has the ability to win this race off this mark, so dropped into this grade for the first time with other positives to draw upon, he can put it all together and open his account for connections under the guidance of Oisin Orr. 

Shimmering Sands is in very good form at the moment but he might find it difficult to overhaul grade-dropped A BOY NAMED IVY (best price 7/2) who’s got a great chance for the in-form Michael Dods team. This four-year-old has already tasted success at this venue and drops into this low grade for the first time in his career off a career-low mark. If you look through his form in general, his form is miles above what most of these have achieved to date. 

He was runner-up twice earlier this year in class two/three events off a mark of 83, chasing home 87 and 91-rated rivals over this distance. His fourth at Hamilton behind Eilean Dubh off a mark of 84 is also useful form in the context of this grade and that was the last time he competed over this distance. He ran quite well when fourth in a better race last time over an inadequate trip and the assessor has kindly reduced his easing mark another three-pounds. It’s hard to see him not going well here, so he could be a decent shout in a race that is littered with quirky individuals. 

This is a good race for the grade and I’ll give one more chance to APOLLO ONE (best price 5/1), who ran a great race when third over course-and-distance in May and returns here off a three-pounds lower mark. William Buick is a positive jockey booking and his mount has an ideal slot in stall one. This four-year-old has mostly been involved in better races than this during his career so far off higher marks and his overall all-weather record is solid too. He beat some very good horses in an all-weather championship qualifier last year, so in the hope he can attack from the front like the last time he was here, he will definitely go close against this field off a mark that’s well within his capabilities.