Monday Racing Tips from Architect

OUR CHAMP (best price 11/2) could be worth an interest on his hurdles debut in the opener. He shaped with lots of ability and promise when a close-up fourth in an Irish bumper for his former handler on his only previous start and has since joined a shrewd yard ahead of his debut in this sphere. I don’t think this is a strong race for the grade and he is Paul Henderson’s only runner of the day too, while Tom O’Brien has his only ride on the card as well. If his jumping passes the test, which I’m optimistic it will, he could be a major force in this wide-open race. 

NOTNOW SEAMUS (best price 10/1) is the outsider of the field but he should be a lot shorter in the betting if the form-book is anything to go by in this wide-open, tricky race. He’s 0-12 in this sphere but he ran well from the front when last spotted and is now much lower in the handicap than he was twelve months ago. He’s also 34 pounds below his last winning mark, which I know came over hurdles, but if he can put it all together in this sphere, with Tom Bellamy booked to ride, he could be dangerous to discount in his bid for a first success over fences. His trainer also boasts an impressive 33% strike-rate at the course and this veteran, who’s lightly raced for his age, is his only runner on the card, which adds a bit more confidence towards his chances.

MARTIN SPIRIT (best price 15/2) displayed some good form when trained in France and ran his best race for his present stable when a close-up strong-travelling second in first-time cheekpieces/refitted tongue strap last time. It’s interesting to see connections leave all of that headgear off this time round though and Jamie Moore, who rode him last time, has also been retained for the ride. Despite still remaining winless over hurdles, alongside a four months plus absence to overcome, the five-year-old has a fair chance from what is an attractive mark here, especially if he can build on his latest good effort in defeat, which reads a solid piece of form in the context of this race.