Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

Givega is a sister to the high-class Quevega and has to be respected on hurdles debut but I much prefer the chances of HOT ROD LINCOLN (NAP) (best price 15/8) who ran a really good race on hurdles debut at Chepstow and is expected to build on that here and prove hard to beat. 

He was well-supported into second favourite behind Paul Nicholls’ Knowsley Road and given the winner had the benefit of experience courtesy of two bumper starts, his performance in defeat can be marked up for more reasons than one. He raced keenly throughout and the winner, who’s held in high regard, was granted a soft lead but Harry Fry’s charge was the only horse able to go with the eventual winner a long way from the finish and still managed to keep tabs on Nicholls’ charge after the second last as the pair pulled clear of the remainder. 

The last hurdle was omitted but to his credit he kept on well to finish fourth having briefly looked like he would drop out the back of the television once the second and third eventually got past him but that was a testament to his natural ability to keep going despite doing plenty wrong in the interim. He will have learnt a lot that day and Johnny Burke takes over in the saddle here which is great news. This drop in trip should suit and that Chepstow form is the best form on the table, so he’s confidently selected to take the spoils. 

A few of these have chances but Paul Nicholls’ HUELGOAT (best price 7/4) is unbeaten in four starts over fences and a two pound rise for his latest success despite it only being a match-race might not be enough to stop him completing the five-timer here. He is very assured in the jumping department, which is always a bonus and that will stand him in good stead here, while the extra furlong should be right up his street. This race will obviously test his metal further but he remains well-handicapped off 120 (beat 120-rated horse three starts back) and should be tough to overhaul under Harry Cobden here. 

The Chris Gordon-trained PASVOLSKY (best price 16/1) won over fences in good style last month on his reappearance and is now reverted to hurdles off a mark that is clearly too good to turn away here. This is his lowest mark over hurdles in a while and Chris Gordon has booked his son Freddie to ride, who did a decent job on this horse when the pair teamed up to finish third at Cheltenham last May which came off a four pounds higher mark and he takes off seven-pounds here. His mount may get taken on for the lead but this course often favours those who are up with the pace and his trainer has his team in great form too, so there’s every chance this seven-year-old will run a big race off a mark that’s well within his compass in this sphere. Four places available with 365, SkyBet, BetFair, PaddyPower and 888Sport.