Friday Racing Tips from Architect

MAGICAL ZOE (best price 12/1) might have been underestimated here. She won very impressively on her sole bumper start on debut at Cork on good ground, winning by six lengths without coming out of second gear, and then did the job well on hurdles debut on her first start for Henry De Bromhead. The form is only ordinary but the way she cruised into contention and scored with any amount in hand was really impressive and it’s fascinating to see her raised in class so soon in her career in this sphere. Adrian Heskin also travels over from the UK for his only ride on the card and hopefully he can make the trip worthwhile with a bold display from this promising unbeaten mare. 

A case can be made for a number of these but Jeremy Scott’s LADY KK (best price 12/1) might be worth an each-way interest at double-figure odds. She wasn’t able to progress after a good second on her chase debut around this time last year but she wasn’t disgraced on her final three outings last term back in this sphere and she’s only four pounds higher than when bolting up by twelve lengths at Ffos Las last year. With a decent record fresh (runner-up both times, including here) and the drop in trip looking favourable, she could run a big race on her return to action under Lorcan Williams. Five places widely available. 

This is more competitive than last year’s renewal but last year's winner ST ERNEY (best price 8/1) has clearly been targeted at the race again and appeals most from an each-way perspective with four places widely available. The eleven-year-old is lightly raced for his age and is only five pounds higher than when winning this twelve months ago by over two lengths. Both of his career victories have come over this course-and-distance and he sneaks into this year’s field off bottom-weight with conditions ideal. Harry Kimber, who rode him to success last year, remains in the saddle and takes off five pounds, so while another personal best will be required to win this for a second time, he should make another bold bid. 

A lot of these have plenty to prove at the moment, including LOUD AS LIONS (best price 11/1), but he could be tough to pass if David Bass can get him into a decent rhythm from the front. The nine-year-old is three pounds lower than when last successful and goes well fresh given his last win came after a fairly long absence too. In fact, both his chase wins were in class four events and this is a class five, so he’s down in grade with conditions right up his street. He could go well at large odds here if he’s on a going day. 

The Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is where my first of three bets come this evening. The British raiders all have decent claims here but trainer Timothy Martin has an absolute beast horse in the shape of TYLER’S TRIBE (best price 16/1), who’s unbeaten in five and has crushed his opponents in each start to date in which he has won all his starts by a combined 59 ¾ lengths. 

All of his wins have come on the dirt but connections seem keen to tackle the turf here, which will be his first start in Grade 1 company, and he’s already had a spin on the surface in his preparations beforehand, where he was reported to have acted very well on it too. He’s a fast horse, especially from the gates, who won’t be inconvenienced by stall ten. This is, of course, a difficult race to make your turf debut but he’s held in the highest regard and might well be up to the task ahead with loads more to come. Either way, even though the bookmakers are overlooking him here, he offers some nice value and hopefully he can hand Kylee Jordan, who is making her Breeders’ Cup debut, a good spin or even perhaps a win in the race. Four places widely available. 

In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Meditate heads the market and obviously has a good chance. However, from a value point of view, I’ll take a chance on the promising XIGERA (best price 10/1) for trainer Phil Bauer. She won her penultimate start in good style and was unlucky not to finish a lot closer to Wonder Wheel over course-and-distance last month. 

I know she was fourth past the post and was promoted to third due to interference but she was still in the fight when she got squeezed out of things late into the race and the experience of this course will have done her plenty of good despite that incident. Stall thirteen isn’t ideal but she’s another one that has lots of speed and, with more to offer, she is difficult to dismiss here.

Silver Knott is the one to beat, according to most firms, but if there’s one horse in this field who can beat Charlie Appleby’s charge it’s PACKS A WAHLOP (best price 10/1), who’s a great each-way bet in my opinion. He’s gained all of his three wins under the legendary Mike Smith and interestingly, Hall Of Famer Mike is having his only ride on the card here. Jeff Mullins’ star performer could hardly have been more impressive in winning in Del Mar last time, where he was always travelling well and showcased a devastating turn of foot to win by four plus lengths. He’s drawn well in stall two here, in which he should get a nice early position, and with this course sure to suit (has some similarities to Del Mar) he could give the favourite plenty to think about here. Four places widely available.