Friday Racing Tips from Architect

The Charlie Longsdon-trained HECTOR JAVILEX (best price 6/1) has a decent chance in the opener. He looked in need of his hurdles/stable debut back in January but then showed significant improvement when he recorded back-to-back wins when benefitting from a positive ride. 

He made his return in the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle last month and ran a good race to finish fifth, only weakening out of the frame in the closing stages. That form looks solid and he drops down massively in grade here on his handicap debut. 

An opening mark of 123 is lenient and today’s stiffer test of stamina should suit, while Lilly Pinchin has been booked to ride who can claim three, so he must enter calculations here, as it would come as a surprise if he can’t develop into at least a 130+ horse in time. Five places widely available.

I also really like the claims of the Irish raider ALVARO (best price 9/1), who’s been largely consistent this year despite not being all that fluent at his hurdles in nearly each start. His short-head second to Finest Evermore back in August reads well, as the winner is now rated in the 140s, while the third and fourth went into that very race rated in the 130s. 

On that evidence, the six-year-old is thrown in here off 119 and his rider takes off a further three pounds to help matters too. If he can improve in the jumping department, which he will need to do around here, he could be extremely competitive at decent odds here. Four places widely available. 

The Glancing Queen has to be respected given her course form, especially with how well she has taken to fences but giving weight to AMARILLO SKY (best price 7/2) on her return might prove a tough ask at the weights. The latter bagged two chase wins last season and ran a decent race when fifth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. 

He was well held in a Grade 1 on his final start last term but returns in much calmer waters and his experience of this course is ideal. He remains well-handicapped off 140, especially as he beat a 136-rated horse by ten lengths at Newbury earlier this year and, from a reduced mark, with conditions fine, he looks set to run a big race. 

I was very tempted by Hasankey but looking deeper into the form of today’s runners, I cannot help but feel CAPTAIN TOM CAT (best price 11/1) has some unfinished business at this course. Dr Richard Newland’s talented charge has won four of his eight starts in this sphere, including a Grade Two around this time twelve months ago at Wincanton.

He was running a blinder at the meeting last year when he departed at the final fence behind Third Time Lucki and although he couldn’t go with the winner, he looked set to finish a solid second. He was only about five lengths down at the last fence when he crashed out and had two good horses in behind him beforehand. 

That is really smart form, alongside his Grade Two victory over Mick Pastor, and while he found things too tough in last month's Old Roan at Aintree, this is a lot easier and he will find this significant drop in grade off a five pounds lower mark reunited with Charlie Hammond much easier.

He is likely to be ridden positively back down to two-miles here given he’s won over further conditions are perfect for him too. Furthermore, he is well-treated off 140 and given his record here which is 331F (latest would have been second), he has lots in his favour and is one of my strongest selections on the card. 

Hereditary Rule and Pull Again Green have obvious claims, according to the markets, but Jane Williams’ HONNEUR D’AJONC (best price 16/1) cannot be ruled out at large odds and might be able to cause a mini surprise if he’s back to something near his best. The five-year-old enjoyed a stellar second half of the season over hurdles last term, winning four times, and was given a considerate introduction to this sphere when last of five at Chepstow on his reappearance. 

It was clear that connections were using that race to get some experience into him and he’s expected to adopt his usual front-running role, which sees him to best effect and was the catalyst to all his success over hurdles last season. He’s bred to be a chaser and looks well-handicapped off 127 given he beat a previous Grade 1 winner over hurdles off only three pounds lower last year. If he has taken a considerable step forward from his chase debut, he could be a serious challenger for potential top honours here. 

KAUTO RIKO (best price 5/1) looks an each-way steal in this race, who’s record fresh is great and his fourth at this meeting two years ago in the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a five pounds higher mark is a quality piece of form in the context of this race. His fourth in the Cotswold Chase here earlier this year is high-class form too, while his narrow second to Two For Gold on his return last season off a pound higher mark has been boosted since with the winner finishing second in a Grade One.

He clearly finds it difficult to get his head in front but he’s got loads of ability, and if the cheekpieces have a positive effect, he should go close back at a course that suits him well under the guidance of Brian Hughes over his optimum distance. 

An excellent renewal of this Grade Two event, where all of these runners can be given some sort of a chance, including the outsider, but I was impressed with the way HERMES ALLEN (best price 7/2) went about his business on stable/hurdles debut at Stratford and is open to further improvement. I know the race was pretty thin but he looked a smart prospect and this expensive purchase, who cost £350,000, achieved an RPR of 144, which is quite remarkable for a horse having their first start in the UK over hurdles.

Paul Nicholls clearly holds him in high regard as he could have been found an easier opportunity elsewhere and Paul is operating at an impressive 47% strike-rate (20-43) in the last two weeks, while Harry Cobden, is operating at an even higher strike-rate, 59% (19-32). This five-year-old is their only runner and ride on the card, so with more to come now entering the lion’s den on just his second start under rules, he can make a serious impact.

MASTER DANCER (best price 7/2) made a lovely introduction to his UK career on stable debut at Stratford, winning with plenty to spare, and he’s been given a mark of 118, which looks more than exploitable on the evidence of that latest success at the midlands venue. He was a French chase winner for previous connections, he travelled with plenty of purpose and did extremely well to handle the pace set by Parramount before picking that rival off on the turn for home and then finding another gear to see off the eventual second. 

The time-figure was really good and the form has already been advertised by the third Parramount, who absolutely bolted up at Hereford since. The former should therefore prove to be at least better than a mark of 118 on his handicap debut, especially as the third could easily develop into a 130s horse at some point this season and this course should play to his strengths. With much more to come, hopefully he can improve again to pose a serious threat in this warmer race. Five places widely available with firms.