Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

HARJO (best price 5/2) has a really smart pedigree and is related to former smart chaser Master Of The Hall. He made a really promising start to his career under rules when making the unbeaten Maximilian pull out all the stops on hurdles debut at Carlisle and that is the best form on offer in this race. The winner has won again since, so the form has been strongly advertised and, with plenty more to come, he can comfortably go one better.

I also like one in the opener from an each-way perspective, MIKHAILOVICH (best price 9/1), who could reward each-way supporters. He was well-supported into favouritism and shaped with loads of encouragement to finish third, sticking to the task once and has undergone wind surgery since. His stable are in good form and he’s bred to relish this step up in distance, so while Harjo should prove hard to beat, he makes lots of each-way appeal on hurdles debut for Bass and Bailey here. 

KATEIRA (best price 13/8) made a very impressive start to her career on debut at Huntingdon, winning by five langurs plus and then ran a good race when fifth of 20 in the Aintree Bumper next time. Dan Skelton trained the winner of this race last year, so this has clearly been a plan for this talented mare and she’s therefore strongly fancied to make a winning start over hurdles at the expense of Hidden Beauty. The latter probably would have won last time without being badly hampered but she needs improvement on the figures to beat the former, who could be one to follow for the rest of the season. 

BEAR GHYLLS (best price 2/1) ran a huge race when third on his return/chase debut in the Listed Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle, only giving way after the final fence. That was his first start in over twenty months so it was a good effort in defeat, especially given the winner Beauport and second Millers Bank are high-class horses too. His fourth in the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival is also good form, so with progression sure to come, this lightly-raced talented seven-year-old can outclass these. 

DUBROVNIK HARRY (best price 9/4) showed loads of ability over hurdles last season and concluded his campaign with a staying-on third of 17 in a Grade Three event. That race has already worked out nicely with the likes of Thunder Rock developing into a smart chaser himself and Harry Fry’s charge makes his chase/handicap debut off a lenient mark. 

He also returned an easy winner over hurdles here in January and connections have tweaked with his wind since last time too, which could be a beneficial factor. He didn’t really give the hurdles that much respect but he has always shaped like he’d be better over a fence and now that he’s given that opportunity, the six-year-old can open his account at the first time of asking in this sphere here. 

SEVEN NO TRUMPS (best price 12/1) made a good start over fences when winning on chase debut at Lingfield and wasn’t disgraced the next two times in a pair of small-field events. He travelled well for a long way on his return three weeks ago before a lack of a run and the longer trip found him out. However, returning to this trip will suit this strong-traveller and the cheekpieces are applied here too, which could turn out to be a positive. I think he has loads more to come in this sphere and, with this race likely to be run to suit, the Skelton’s could land this prize with this seven-year-old. Either way, he is appealing from an each-way point of view with four places widely available. 

With the Ben Pauling team firing on all cylinders, I can see BANGERS AND CASH (best price 8/1) going well here. He made a winning chase debut last December off a mark of 115 and is only a pound higher in today’s contest. He should strip fitter for his return at Wetherby and remains open to improvement on just his fifth start over fences. He ran well on his only previous visit here when second over hurdles and, given his mark is attractive and his jumping is a real asset, he looks poised to be there or thereabouts. I like his claims with four places widely available. 

The Plymouth Handicap Hurdle is a race full of unexposed potential improvers but this is a really nice opportunity for FOREVER BLESSED (NAP) (best price 5/2) to get back to winning ways. He returned an easy winner of juvenile hurdles at Ffos Las and Sandown on his first couple of starts and was then sent off favourite for the Grade One Finale at Chepstow.