Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

WILLASTON (best price 7/1) went very close to making a successful stable debut at Cartmel when touched off by a course specialist and built upon that effort when beating a good horse in the shape of Captain Tom Cat at Hexham. I know he was getting quite a lot of weight from the eventual runner-up but he won with quite a bit in hand and his performance can be marked up further too, as the second, who’s rated 130 in this sphere and 144 over fences, had the run of the race from the front throughout the race. 

The time wasn’t fast but Captain Tom Cat set some slow fractions and ran the race at a sedate pace. The fact that Mark Walford’s newish recruit was able to go with the pacesetter when the pace quickened and then get past him without being asked for maximum efforts on the run-in was impressive. The assessor hasn’t taken a harsh view of his victory at all, only putting him three pounds, and the return to this longer trip should suit. With loads more to come on just his third start for this stable, he must hold each-way claims in the opener with five places generally available. 

This is a tough race to solve but the inconsistent FORZA MILAN (best price 20/1) has been given a good chance by the handicapper here. He was last of four when last spotted and has showed some signs of decline but the ten-year-old has previously run well at this course and his last two visits to the UK have seen him run well at Cheltenham twice. Any arrival of rain will be beneficial towards his chances and it’s possible this race has been his early-season target as he could have been found an opportunity elsewhere on home soil. He gets into this race off a low-weight and is well-treated on his best form, so despite being the outsider of the field, he could exceed market expectations.

Millers Bank and Do Your Job both had a brilliant previous campaign and have done well on the column but the vote goes to HITMAN (best price 9/4) who could prove an even stronger horse this year being only six and is fancied to concede weight to his rivals. He didn’t manage to get his head in front last season but ran some really solid races in defeat, including on his last start, where he finished second to Fakir D'oudairies in a Grade One over this course-and-distance. 

He hasn’t always looked the strongest when push comes to shove at the business end but he’s a smooth traveller and is sure to get a good pace to aim here with the likes of Ga Law, Captain Tom Cat and Soldier Of Destiny all expected to go forward early doors. Paul Nicholls has expressed that he will improve for the run but there’s no doubt he’s the class act in the field being a three-time Grade One runner-up and if ratings are anything to go by, as he’s rated six pounds plus higher from his rivals.

Moreover, he has a good record fresh (went close in last year’s Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance) and has twice made the frame in red-hot Grade One events at this course. He’s mostly a sound jumper too, who travels well in his race, and his chances are boosted with his trainer Paul Nicholls in cracking form, who’s impressively saddled four winners from his last six runners. I think he’s got a great chance of handing the champion trainer a fourth win in this race. 

GENTLEMAN AT ARMS (best price 5/1) should be pushing for favouritism here so the fact we can get an each-way price about him makes him a solid each-way bet here. He enjoyed an excellent first season over hurdles, winning twice  and finishing runner-up in Listed, Grade Two and Grade One events. 

It was a career-best performance when second in a Grade One at this course in April and he makes his handicap debut off 143 today, which should be manageable, given he’s proven at the highest level. He shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop in trip either, as he has loads of pace and his trainer Stuart Edmunds is in good form too, so he’s a major player on handicap debut off top-weight. 

GINNY’S DESTINY (best price 5/1) has the pedigree and potential to become a really classy sort for the Tom Lacey team. He ran well when second on debut to what could also turn out to be a smart prospect before going one better in great style at Chepstow next time, looking better the further he went. 

He should prove an even stronger proposition now faced with a set of hurdles and the step up in distance should suit too, so he looks sure to go on to bigger things this season and, at the morning odds, he makes plenty of each-way appeal here with the potential to be better than most of these.