Monday Racing Tips from Architect

A good-quality handicap hurdle event and I am going to play two against the field, who have a chance at decent odds. The first suggestion is Noel Meade’s LUNAR POWER (best price 15/2) who’s substance of form reads stronger than stablemate Sheishybrid. He was highly-tried in top-quality juveniles last term after winning at Punchestown, in which he acquitted himself very well when twice runner-up to Fil Dor in Grade Two/Three events. 

He then finished a respectable eighth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before returning to Ireland to finish a close-up fourth in another red-hot Grade Two. He resumed winning ways on this exact ground at Clonmel on the Flat last time, and the refitted cheek-pieces off a pound lower mark than at Galway, makes him well-treated here. I think he has a massive each-way chance at the very least against this field with Bet365, SkyBet, 888Sport and UniBet paying five places, while four places are widely available elsewhere. 

The Paul Fahey-trained MAN O WORK (best price 10/1) has been underestimated by most firms here. A two-time winner from five starts, he was ultimately outclassed in the Grade 1 Champion Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown behind Vauban but the fact that connections even pitched him into the deep water that day suggests he’s a good horse. Having shaped well when seventh of 18 on his rules/hurdles debut behind Icare Allen, in which he was in behind Brazil and Prairie Dancer, whom he would have been in front of without being hampered two out, he comfortably beat Global Expert next time.

He was then supplemented for a Grade Three at Fairyhouse and was travelling smoothly enough right on the quarters of Icare Allen and making relentless progress before falling at the second last. Whether he would have beaten the latter I’m not sure but he would have been a clear second and had Prairie Dancer in behind. 

However, he put that mishap aside when making it two from four over hurdles next time, easily giving a lot of weight and a beating to odds-on favourite Instit, who’s since ran well in a pair of Listed events. Like I said previously, he was well beaten in the Champion Four Year Old when last spotted but shaped better than the bare result and this is a lot easier, while he makes his handicap debut off an extremely lenient mark of 127 with his rider claiming a further seven-pounds. He’s a strong-traveller, who generally jumps well, so with more to come, he receives quite a confident each-way vote here with Bet365, SkyBet, 888Sport and UniBet paying five places, while four places are widely available elsewhere. 

SNUGSBOROUGH BENNY (best price 14/1) is undeniably vulnerable to a potential improver but what he does have is loads and loads of experience and he’s been extremely consistent in defeat this year as he arrives here on the back of the three placed efforts, including when a close-up second back in this sphere last-time-out and he probably would have won that race without badly jumping to the right when looking well in command. 

This classy twelve-year-old is evidently still enjoying his racing and he’s formerly made the frame in the likes of the Irish National and Galway Plate (twice). Both of those placed efforts were off marks of 144 and 146, so he’s ridiculously well-treated off 112 over hurdles nowadays, especially when you consider he’s one pound lower than when last successful in this sphere. He loves good ground, has the guidance of Dennis O’Regan and while this will be his first visit to this course, he can turn in another big display with five places widely on offer. 

I really like the filly CORALILLO (best price 13/8), who was seriously impressive over course-and-distance on debut and went extremely close to winning a Group Three last time. She travelled strongly as she does and was only headed in the closing stages. That is the best piece of form on offer and she’ll absolutely bounce on this ground here. With a good draw in stall five and more to come, it’ll take a good opponent to lower her colours on these terms. Alice Haynes’ Lady Bullet might be the one to give her most to think about but the former has the best form in the race and should win this if able to match her latest good performance against stronger opposition.