Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

Tahmuras and Snake Roll were very impressive on their hurdles debut but I think both priced up on potential rather than the substance of the form and, with this in mind, and the ground soft, SIZING POTTSIE (best price 9/4) can outclass these. He was a smart chaser when trained by Jessie Harrington, which included a Grade Two success over a Grade One winner on his final start for his former boss. 

The eight-year-old made the most of a good opportunity on stable debut for David Pipe when winning by eighteen lengths over hurdles at Ayr and while this is a much stiffer race, he sets a clear standard, will love conditions and his form looks far superior to what his two market rivals have achieved to date. He is open to improvement over hurdles and can come out on top on these favourable terms. 

ACHILLE (best price 13/2) was running a big race when in second place in the Midlands National on his final start only for his rider to be unseated when a stirrup leather snapped on the final circuit. The good news though, is that the assessor has reduced his mark two pounds since and he made the frame in both the fifth in the Becher Chase and fourth in the Welsh Grand National last season off a mark of 141, alongside a decent seventh in the Classic Chase at Warwick off 138. 

He has a good record fresh and ran well on his only previous visit here when pushing course specialist Lord Du Mesnil to half a length in the Grand National Trial over course and distance when rated ten pounds higher, so the course will suit. I am so surprised he’s not a clear favourite as Your Own Story looks poor value, whereas this twelve-year-old has lots going for him and therefore gets a vote of confidence to make a serious impact on his return in cheekpieces here. 

The Brian Ellison-trained SAM’S ADVENTURE (best price 20/1) ran two stinkers at this course on his final couple of starts last season but he drops in grade ahead of his return today off an eight pounds lower mark than when last spotted and that means he’ll compete in this race off an eight pounds lower mark than when successful which came in the Eider Chase last year under similar conditions. 

That was over 4m+, so he clearly stays forever and won at this course a couple of years ago in the Tommy Whittle on heavy ground off this exact mark. He has a bit to prove at the moment but he’ll have no issue at the course, on the ground or over the trip. He’s extremely well-handicapped on his peak form and has undergone wind surgery since last spotted, so the ten-year-old can run well under Henry Brooke here.  

CHEDDLETON (best price 25/1) looks too big a price to overlook in this race. He’s well-treated on last year’s consistent chase form and goes well fresh, while his versatility to handle all conditions has been proven too. The seven-year-old has won two of his four starts over hurdles and placed in the other two, including a Grade Two. 

He didn’t do much wrong in defeat over fences last term and is interestingly unbeaten at this course (two-from-two). While it would be asking a lot of him to go and win this off top-weight on deepish ground after eight months off, he is more than capable of making his presence felt here. 

This is a highly-competitive race but I do like the Paul Nicholls-trained COMPLETE UNKNOWN (best price 8/1), who should be a tad shorter in the betting in my opinion and has a great each-way chance. 

He beat a decent horse on debut in a bumper on heavy ground and since joining Paul Nicholls, he’s been rock-solid over hurdles, making the frame five times and winning a Grade Three easily on the other occasion from just six hurdle starts. He ran well when stepped up to three miles last time, finishing second in a Listed event, and returns with his stable in really good form. He will be suited to this bigger-field, loves soft ground, will like this galloping track and is open to further improvement, so he’s a leading contender here. Four places widely available.

David Pipe’s BRINKLEY (best price 8/1) also goes well on soft ground and makes his return off a nice mark with a good record fresh. He beat a couple of good horses on his chase debut last year following a nine month absence and completed a solid campaign with a third place effort at Chepstow back over hurdles in February. 

He’s two pounds lower than when beating some good yardsticks at Exeter last year and is ten pounds lower than when 12th of 22 in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. His performance can be markedly upgraded given he raced keenly but still held every chance two out before the petrol gauge emptied. This race is likely to have been a long-term project and he’s only seven, so there should be more to come this season. I think he’s got excellent claims. Four places widely available. 

FRODON (best price 22/1) is wildly overpriced for the Betfair Chase, who wouldn’t be running here unless Paul Nicholls’ feels as though he came out of his win in the Badger Beers two weeks ago in great form. He was only third in this race back in 2019 but he’s improved again since and he should be suited to conditions under a positive ride. I have a feeling he’ll take Bristol De Mai out of his comfort zone if Bryony decides to send him to the front and, considering he’s so high in the betting, he can’t be discounted for a trainer who’s got an awesome record in this prestigious race.

CLUAIN AODHA (best price 9/4) has yet to win in four starts over hurdles but this is the day this consistent mare surely gets her head in front. I am pretty sure she would have won on her penultimate start without a mistake at the last hurdle and she ran another another solid race last time when beaten just two lengths. 

She was giving the winner loads of weight that day and I don’t think the course saw her to best effect, so this course should suit her better. The step up in distance looks a great move by connections, as she’s been hitting the line strongly and the assessor has only put her up a pound from last time. She can finally go one better and be rewarded for her consistency over hurdles. 

Venetia Williams’ hasn’t had a winner for a while but for people to say she’s badly out of form is complete garbage and far from the truth as most of her horses have actually been running well and I reckon her FRERO BANBOU (best price 11/2) has a good chance under Charlie Deutsch here. 

He’s been a very consistent horse since joining this yard from France and was an excellent third in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival off only a pound lower mark. He ran a blinder on his rerun here last time when only finding Thyme White too good but he’s much better off at the weights here and he’ll strip fitter for that latest outing too. Off the same mark, with conditions spot on and fitness on his side, he’s a serious player. 

CROSSPARK (best price 20/1) the twelve-year-old, has been absent since April last year and makes his stable debut having left Caroline Bailey but he ran well when sixth of 16 in the bet365 Gold Cup last time and is four pounds lower than when going close in soft-to-heavy ground last January, so he’s undeniably nicely treated here. He also has a good record when fresh, so although he meets some unexposed rivals and some course specialists, it’s possible connections have him fit enough to run to his capabilities and, if they do, he could go well under Sean Bowen here. Four places widely available.