Monday Racing Tips from Architect

Jane Williams has made a productive start to the campaign with her runners and she could take the opener here with JUPITER ALLEN (best price 2/1), who is expected to build on his promising hurdles debut second. He raced keenly and made a couple of sticky mistakes but the fact he was able to get within half-a-length of the winner was a testament to his raw ability and gutsiness. He is sure to know more this time and can go one better. 

REPUBLICAN (best price 5/1) hasn’t been for over 300 days but Oliver Sherwood’s seven-year-old is undoubtedly is undeniably well-handicapped back over hurdles and is worth an each-way interest here. 

He ran a creditable race when third of 15 in the Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle last April in a class two, which is the best form on offer and also the last time he ran over this trip in this sphere. He was set to score at Perth a few weeks later in a class three event, only to fall at the last hurdle when in front and going best at the time. I reckon he would have won that race by a few lengths but either way, that was off a six pounds higher mark and the form has loads of substance.

For instance, the fortunate second has defied a mark of 120 since, while the third Iwilldoit won the Welsh Grand National when last spotted off a mark of 130. His two chase starts since haven’t gone plain sailing but he ran well last time to finish fourth and reverts back to hurdles off a mark of 115, which is six pounds lower than his unlucky fall at Perth. Good News and Come On Gruff are feared most but the former has a touch of class and might be tuned up to make a bold bid here. 

SCENE NOT HERD (best price 5/1) only met with defeat once in four starts over fences last season, which came in a Listed event when last spotted. He clearly wasn’t suited to being ridden with restraint than usual that day though as his three previous chase wins came from being ridden a lot more prominently, including when beating the 145-rated Minella Trump at Ludlow. 

The runner-up has won eight of his last nine starts in this sphere and won his last two starts since being beaten by the former. This seven-year-old goes well fresh and should be suited to this course off a mark that is within range judged on his penultimate victory. Johnny Burke is riding with lots of confidence this season and I can see this progressive chaser running a big race on his return here. 

MOULINS CLERMONT (best price 6/1) has only had the four starts in the UK but he’s won two of them, including on heavy ground back in January by thirteen lengths. That form has worked out well given the second has won five times since, including a Listed event in this sphere before winning two Flat events the last two times. 

Gary Moore’s charge did very well to beat odds-on favourite Forever William last time and opening handicap debut mark of 125 looks lenient based on that latest victory (runner-up rated 122 and has twice made the frame in Graded events). He is open to more improvement, so this promising four-year-old has to be taken very seriously here with everything in his favour and Niall Houlihan takes off an additional three-pounds.