Friday Racing Tips from Architect

Crambo should take some stopping here but I quite like the Jonjo O’Neill-trained BROUGHSHANE (best price 9/2), who easily won his only point in February and changed hands for quite a large price afterwards. He could have been found an easier opportunity elsewhere, so he’s clearly held in high regard by connections and could therefore be a big player on hurdles debut with a bright future ahead of him. 

GARRY CLERMONT (NAP) best price 11/4) was quite unlucky in both his previous chase starts but signed off last season with a good fourth in a Grade 3 at Aintree and is effectively seven pounds lower back over fences here. He can handle most ground and made the frame in all three starts at this course last term, which reads strong form in the context of this race. He should get a lovely pace to aim here with Solo likely to go forward, so with more to come over fences, he’s a major player getting eight pounds from his two market rivals. 

DO YOUR JOB (best price 9/2) made giant strides over fences last season and his win in the Grade 2 Future Champions' at Ayr in April reads well now dropped significantly in grade for this race. He had subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Il Ridoto well-held in third and he shaped very well when sixth in the Old Roan at Aintree on his return. He would have finished closer without walking through the fourth last fence but he’ll be fitter this time round and  he’s undergone wind surgery since, while the handicapper has essentially dropped him a pound too. I think he’s got an excellent chance.

ELIXIR DE NUTZ (best price 16/1) could never land a blow at the Cheltenham/Aintree Festivals but he might be able to get a prominent position here as this course should suit his style of running. He’s a former Grade 1 winner, who’s back down to an attractive mark, and his win at Plumpton last January is strong form given what the second and third have achieved since. He has needed his return in the past but connections might have got him fit-enough to try and make a bold here now he tackles this trip for the first time, so he’s worth a chance, each-way, at huge odds with four places widely available. 

Kim Bailey runs two here and while David Bass seemingly prefers the top-weight, surely EL PRESENTE (best price 12/1) shouldn’t be overlooked here. He would prefer better ground but he’s four pounds lower than when winning the 2020 Badger Beers and I thought he ran a good race to finish fourth in it two weeks ago despite a pretty rubbish round of jumping. He can jump better than that and he’s only one of two who arrive here on the back of a run so far this term. If he can get into a nice rhythm under a positive ride, he could be tough to keep out of the frame here. 

A lot of these have something to prove at the moment, including COPPERHEAD (best price 8/1) but he won a Grade Two over track and trip as a novice, so the course will be of no concern and he will find this a lot easier than the Ladbrokes Trophy he contested last time. He’s nine pounds lower in this much easier race, snd conditions will be perfect for him, so while he needs to prove he retains most of his ability, he could bounce back to something near his best returned to this venue. 

POTTERS LEGEND (best price 5/1) isn’t the force of old but he’s mostly competed in better races than this during his career and shaped very well when fourth at Aintree last time. Off a two pounds lower mark in this much easier assignment, with Brian Hughes booked to ride, this could be the day he rolls back the years and gets his head in front in which he is capable of doing. Despite his age, he is still the class act in the field based upon the form-book and can return to the winners enclosure under the champion jockey here. 

GIPSY DE CHOISEL (best price 11/2) ran a nice race when third at this meeting two years ago on his stable debut and having shaped well for a long way after a long absence at Aintree, he bolted up at Warwick when last spotted. He’s gone up six pounds since but he’s unexposed and trainer Nicky Henderson has won three of the last five editions of this race. With more to offer, this six-year-old is a massive danger to all in this field.

LIVELY CITIZEN (best price 12/1) looked in need of the run when down the field on his return at Cheltenham and is better judged on his second in the Imperial Cup in which he had today’s favourite Onemorefortheroad well-held back in fourth place. He’s a pound lower here and he should be well-suited to this venue. His latest effort was a first rare below-par effort in a long time, so with that run under his belt, and his mark within reach, he should be thereabouts from an each-way perspective here.