Wednesday Racing Tips from Architect

None of these have won over this distance but STORM LORENZO (best price 5/2) has a good record here which reads 213F1 and he arrives on the back of a solid third in a class two event when trying a marathon distance for the first time. That was his first run beyond three miles and the way he kept on strongly over the 3m5f trip suggests he’ll be suited to this extra yardage of another two furlongs. He hasn’t always looked the easiest of rides but he’s unexposed in this sphere and remains on a nice mark, the same as last time in fact, so he could be set for further success at his favourite venue. 

There will be no hiding place in this four-furlong sprint contest with lots of pace bound to be on offer. A few of these like to go forward so it’ll be interesting who can get the lead early on but NIGHT ON EARTH (best price 12/1) has lots of early boot and if PJ McDonald can consume enough of his mounts energy for the latter stages, he might be able to take the spoils. He did very well for Mick Appleby, winning plenty of races, as well as running well in defeat on other occasions. 

The last time he was seen on the all-weather, he defied only a pound lower mark than today’s and was right in behind Fine Wine over track and trip the last time he was here. He’s miraculously twelve pounds better off this time round with that rival, so has every chance to reverse the form, and while he weakened to finish sixth on stable debut last time having led for most of the way, his mark has essentially eased a couple of pounds. If he can use his customary early gate speed to get a prominent pitch, Ian Williams’ charge should make a bold bid at decent odds. 

COUNT D’ORSAY (best price 11/1) hasn’t won for a while and is a frustrating individual but he’s posted lots of good efforts in defeat this year and he had previously shown a liking for this surface. The last time he competed on the all-weather, he finished a luckless sixth of 14 at Newcastle off a mark of 95. 

He’s down to 87 here and he’ll relish the fast and furious gallop that’s likely to happen here. Off a low weight and lots in his favour, this could be the day the six-year-old motors past all of his rivals to take top honours. He has the class to do just that provided he’s on a going day and gets a clear passage, which hasn’t been the case on multiple occasions.

A quality line-up for this veterans’ chase and with fitness on his side, it would pay to side with DE RASHER COUNTER (best price 7/1). He clearly hasn’t been the easiest to get fit in recent years, ever since winning the Ladbrokes Trophy, but that was off a two pounds higher mark and, in his latest return at Kelso, he showed signs of encouragement for Emma Lavelle. 

He has been highly-tried throughout his career and this lightly-raced ten-year-old is only of two runners in the field with a run under the bonnet, which could count for plenty. A strongly-run three-mile event should prove right up his street, so at double-figure odds, he merits each-way consideration here and is one of two bets in the race. Four places available with 365, PP, SkyBet, Betfair, UniBet and Coral. 

CEPAGE (best price 9/1) is another smart chaser when at his best and while his last two reappearances have been underwhelming, he has been dropped 7lb by the handicapper due to a 340-day absence and Venetia Williams’ runners are mostly running well, so this could be the the time to catch him. 

This ten-year-old is now eight pounds lower than when fourth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last year which came off top-weight and is four pounds lower than when winning a Grade Three nearly two years ago plus four pounds below his last winning mark. The only concern is that he’s yet to win over this trip but now that he’s older, he might be better suited to it and therefore this bold-jumper is worth a chance at large odds. Four places available with 365, PP, SkyBet, Betfair, UniBet and Coral.