Monday Racing Tips from Architect

With a record of just 1-22 in this sphere, it’s clear BESTARIUS (best price 10/1) finds it difficult to get his head in front but he’s made the frame eight times off this mark of higher and has twice made the frame at this course in the past. He took advantage of a reduced mark at Newcastle and has held his form well since. He looked in need of the run when sixth here last time, which came after a near fourth-month break, and he went close here back in January off a five pounds higher mark. He’s built up a good relationship with rider Tom Midgley, who can claim his five, and this ten-year-old has a good each-way chance in what is a moderate race for his usual standards as he’s often taken on higher-rated opponents in his career thus far. 

TOUCAN SAM (best price 8/1) has shown promise in each of his six starts to date and it’s interesting to see Andrew Hamilton send him straight over fences in handicap debut having been restricted to just three hurdle starts. The form of his third at Perth on his penultimate start reads good form, as the second and fifth have won since, while the fourth has finished runner-up three times since. This four-year-old also drops in grade here too, and William Shanahan takes off seven pounds, which in turn sees him get into this race off a low-weight and a good mark of 93 with the claim taken into account. If he takes to the larger obstacles, which connections must feel as though he will, he could easily outrun his double-figure odds.