Friday Racing Tips from Architect

Lajooje made a highly-promising start to his career when narrowly denied at Ffos Las but I think the form of VERDANSK (best price 4/1), who was third on debut, is stronger. He ran a good race over course-and-distance, first time out, and that form has substance, as the horse who was fifth, Chaldean, has won three times since, including a Group Two last time. This son of No Nay Never holds a Group One Entry, so Clive Cox must feel as though he’s pretty useful and he appeals as one of those each-way steals in the opener with a fair chance of turning over the favourite under Adam Kirby if that debut effort proves to be no fluke. 

MISTY BLUES (best price 5/1) has shaped as if she will stay seven furlongs and she brings some of the strongest form-lines into this race, so I’m a little surprised she’s not a clear favourite. Since opening her account at Pontefract, she’s made the frame on all three starts and her latest third at Doncaster is a solid piece of form, likewise to her second at York behind Streets Of Gold, who has won a good race in Ireland since. With more to come dropped down significantly in grade, she makes a lot of each-way appeal with Bet365, SkyBet, 888Sport, Coral, BetFred and a few others paying a generous four places. 

Bolt Action will probably win this if he runs to his best but he makes little appeal at the short-odds and at an even bigger price, I like the look of SEANTRABH (best price 11/1). This son of the high-class Tasleet showed plenty of speed when third on debut at York and it’s interesting to see him stepped up markedly in grade here on just his second career start. 

He’s clearly thought highly of by his trainer and, with more to come, he could make a bold bid from the front here with lots of pace and speed in his pedigree to suggest he could be pretty useful. His connections could have found him a much easier opportunity to get a win under his belt, so he’s an interesting proposition at double-figure odds here. 

STRAWBERRY BELLE (best price 10/3) has put together a string of fine efforts in defeat in her four starts to date and Patrick Owen’s filly is fancied to get her head in front here. She was runner-up to Mischief Magic at Newmarket and that form is beginning to work out strongly, as the winner has won a Group Three since. She ran well over course-and-distance on debut when third from a poor draw and she exceeded market expectations when a strong-finishing fourth of 18 in a valuable sales contest at Newmarket when last spotted. With this longer trip looking as though it will suit her even better, she can build on her solid form to date and take the spoils. 

A chance is taken on TENAYA CANYON (best price 16/1) at large odds here, who’s twice gone close at this level this season, including here in June behind old rival Guilded. Essentially, she’s seven-pounds better off with the winner this time round, who only won by a head that day, and is expected to reverse the form. I like the way she saw out her race in the Beverley Bullet last time, where she made some good-late progress from an unpromising position to finish a close-up sixth despite not looking at all comfortable on the course. 

This venue will suit this filly better, however, who’s ran well on both previous visits here and the experienced PJ McDonald has been booked to ride. With a good pace to aim at, and in the hope she gets a clear sight of things, I can envisage her potentially throwing down a stern challenge to the favourite Gale Force Maya in the closing stages. Bet365, SkyBet, Unibet, BetFred and a few other firms are paying four places.

BLACK FRIDAY (best price 25/1) hasn’t been at his best since an eye-catching reappearance here in the spring, but he has lots of course form, which includes three wins over course-and-distance and he’s lurking on a dangerous mark of 80 at insulting odds. He is five-pounds lower than when last successful and his trainer has likely aimed him at this race all season, given he contested the Silver Cup (higher graded race) last year off a ten-pounds higher mark. He’s drawn high in 18 but is expected to be ridden very prominently and, if he’s back to anything near his best, there’s every chance he will be extremely competitive here in a race he is capable of winning on his day. Six places generally available.

ADMIRALITY (best price 9/1) is one of the oldest in the line-up but he’s been in good form this year and is sixteen-pounds lower than when second in the 2020 Silver Cup over course-and-distance. He does find it difficult to win but he’s a good horse on his day and is drawn nicely in stall four. The eight-year-old has made the frame multiple times off higher marks throughout his career and Ben Curtis, who knows him very well, has been booked to ride. Back over his best trip with conditions in his favour and loads of pace likely to be on offer, which will suit, he has sound claims of at least hitting the frame here. Six places widely available. 

ECLIPSE DE LUNAR (best price 13/2) found a lot of trouble in-running at Wolverhampton when last spotted in a small-runner affair and would have won with a clear passage. Even though the carnage happened that day, that race should have set him up perfectly for this one, in which he took the spoils twelve months ago. He’s unbeaten in two starts at this venue and when he won this last year, he defied a mark of 70, quite comfortably in the end. He is ten-pounds lower this time round, so he’s undeniably well-handicapped and with the first-time blinkers applied, it would come as a huge surprise if he couldn’t go close to defending his title. Four places are generally available.