Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

There is an exciting field for the Group 1 Cheveley Park and while a case can be made for most of these, I just cannot overlook the brilliant TRILLIUM (best price 9/4) who gets the vote to land her third consecutive Group event. She was quality in landing a Group Three on her penultimate start, showcasing a good turn of foot, and then showcased a tough attitude to run down the gutsy The Platinum Queen, who had previously ran well to finish second in the Nunthorpe. She is proven over six, should handle this course, has a good draw and has lots of speed, so again with plenty in her favour, she is fancied to make her class count and take the spoils. 

MAWJ (best price 12/1) couldn’t get to grips with Meditate when runner-up in the Albany at Royal Ascot but this filly absolutely bolted up over course-and-distance on debut (beat subsequent Group Three second) and also beat Lezoo in the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge at the Newmarket July meeting here. That is really good form in the context of this race and while she could only finish fourth at York last time in the Lowther, I don’t think she was seen to best effect at the course and this course will definitely play more to her strengths. Others are probably open to more improvement but the fact that she’s the only course winner in the field will stand her in good stead and she has the ability to go toe-to-toe with a few of these. I think she’s a fantastic each-way price. 

COUNT D’ORSAY (best price 9/2) finds it difficult to get his head in front but he ran a belter when third of 19 off this mark in the Portland at Doncaster last time and was second in this race two years ago off an eight pounds higher mark. He’s ran three times over course-and-distance, winning once off a mark of 91, finishing second in this in 2020 off 96 and was an unlucky third in a Listed on the only other run here. He’s fallen to a mark of 88 and has loads going for him here, including the arrival of some rain. If anything, I can’t find any negatives within his credentials besides the fact that he hasn’t won for a long time but he’s been unlucky on numerous occasions, so with the rail to help him from stall 1, he’s surely got a massive chance here. Four places widely available. 

This could be the day that PERSIAN FORCE (best price 13/2) finally gets his first Group 1 win that he rightfully deserves though, who’s a little overpriced in my view. He has been absolutely rock solid so far in his career, never finishing outside the first two, and was only beaten half a length by Blackbeard last time in the Morny, who had the benefit of track position in that race. This classy two-year-old won the July Stakes on the other course here, so I can’t see why he can’t prove to be just as effective on this one and he is reunited with Rossa Ryan too. He is going to be ridden more positively here, which I think will bring about improvement and he has the right overall profile to be considered here. He makes plenty of appeal from an each-way perspective. 

OVIEDO (best price 4/1) rates a confident choice to at least get into the frame here. He won in the manner of a serious prospect on debut at Doncaster and then performed with great credit when third in a Group Three at York. He would have gone close with a clear passage IMO, as he was short of room when going well over a furlong out before being switched wide and staying on strongly inside the final furlong. The winner has since won another Group race, so the form has lots of substance, and now that he drops in grade with more to come and drawn well in stall 2, he is a major player. Four places generally available. 

MORANDO (best price 20/1) wasn’t suited to the small-field tactical affair at Goodwood last time so that showing can easily be excused. However, his previous sixth in the Old Newton Cup off a three-pounds higher mark is really decent form and the nine-year-old boasts exceptional course form, with figures reading 11243. His last four starts here, which have all been solid, including a win, have been in either Listed or Group events, so he’ll find this race much easier and the trip looks perfectly ideal. He has to overcome a wide berth but he’s surely better than most of these on his day, even despite his advancing years, so at such large odds, he has to be worth an investment with four places widely available. 

I am drawn to the claims of the William Jarvis-trained ARQOOB (best price 18/1) for the Cambridgeshire, who ticks quite a number of boxes to merit consideration at juice odds. He came from off the pace to beat a good field at Sandown back in July with lots to spare, including a few of today’s rivals. He has made the frame the last two times off today’s mark, doing his best work in the closing stages, and connections have clearly had him laid out for this race all season. He will need another personal best to come out on top but he’s going the right way, is well-suited to a large field with a strong pace, loves fast ground and has no weight on his back with Connor Planas taking off a valuable seven-pounds. He will be finishing stronger than most, so with a lot of positives, he could be extremely competitive here. Seven places are available with 365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet and Boylesports. 

ELECTRICAL STORM (best price 14/1) doesn’t have many miles on the clock for his age and has remarkably only been out of the frame once in his career on the turf thus far, which bodes well for his chances. He has looked as good as ever since returning from his eighteen month absence, winning easily at York before two placed efforts under big weights. He is another with a low weight and a fairly good draw, while Cieren Fallon has interestingly been booked to ride. His trainer won this race twelve months ago, so this is likely to have been a long-term project and given his form ties in closely with one of the leading fancies Protagonist, he can continue his progression and run a big race with six places widely available 365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet and Boylesports. 

My third and final stab at this race is the stablemate of Electrical Storm, NIGHT OF LUXURY (best price 28/1) who’s won three of his five starts on the turf and while he could only finish seventh and Ascot last time, he will be better suited to this course. This will only be his sixth start on the turf in the UK, so improvement can be expected, while the booking of Josephine Gordon is appealing to say the least. I don’t think we have seen the best of this son of Postponed, who appeals as the type to go really well in a race of this calibre and he’s expected to be up with the pace throughout. Dropped back in distance, with conditions suitable, he cannot be ruled out with six places widely on offer with 365, Hills, PaddyPower, SkyBet and Boylesports. 

The Iain Jardine-trained ABOLISH (best price 7/2) hasn’t done much wrong since joining this stable and ran a good race when eighth of 25 in the Ayr Silver Cup last week. This six-year-old started his time with this yard rated 100, in which he made the frame on stable debut at Newcastle, and has since run a good race to finish second on his penultimate start off a pound lower mark. He was faced with the task of a big weight to carry at Ayr last week, where he held every chance until only weakening in the closing stages, and this race is much easier. The assessor has reduced his mark by another pound and Paul Hanagan maintains the partnership, so if he can get plenty of cover and endure a clear passage, he should go close here. 

PRYDWEN (best price 9/2) has been unlucky not to win his last two races on the all-weather and is taken to make it third time lucky now switched to the turf. George Scott’s four-year-old has been progressive this year and there’s no doubt he would have won last time on his first go at this trip without being given a lot to do and asked for his effort later than anticipated. He returns to the turf off the same mark as last time though, and this is a drop in grade from his four races. Despite carrying a hefty weight, he’ll get a good pace to aim at and his finishing kick could be too much for the remainder to handle. I cannot see him out of the frame as he’s undeniably the best horse in the race, who just needs a bit of luck to be seen to best effect. Four places generally available.