Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

In Scotland, I like the chances of IDILICO (best price 14/1), who ran a good race in refitted cheekpieces when fourth of 12 to Coral Blue at Musselburgh and is favoured by the weights in his quest to turn the form around here. 

This eight-year-old has been limited to just the one start at this course but that was over this course-and-distance in this grade and he ran a creditable race to finish third last year, which came off a mark of 100, which reads well. 

His performance can be significantly upgraded, as he was badly hampered at the second hurdle but kept on well in the closing stages to make the frame and is a pound lower in this weaker-looking contest with conditions very much ideal. 

He is only two pounds higher than when last successful and gets on very well with jockey Conor O’Farrell. With most bookmakers paying four places, he is a standout each-way proposition in the opener. 

At a wild price, I think the odds about OKAVANGO DELTA (best price 33/1) is too big here and is also worth an interest from an each-way perspective with four places widely on offer. 

Craig Nichol sticks with Limerick Leader but his deflection doesn’t diminish the interest I have for this seven-year-old, who has shaped better than the best in margins have suggested in all three starts this year. 

He carried top-weight to success at Doncaster off only a pound lower mark and travelled well the last twice. He is up in class but he’s clearly well-treated off this mark and Dylan Johnston takes off seven-pounds. He could figure at double-figure odds.

I am surprised to see THE BIG BITE (best price 8/1) trading at quite large odds, who was back to near his best in first-time headgear when a narrow winner of the Greatwood Gold Cup over course-and-distance and drops in class off only a four pounds higher mark. 

He travelled really well last time and had more in hand than bare margin suggested. He defied this exact mark comfortably at Aintree a few years ago and has placed numerous times off marks in the 140’s, including in the Greatwood Gold Cup in 2021 off a seven pounds higher mark. 

He would be more effective on better ground but the fact he’s double the odds of Espoir De Guye last time, who I know will strip fitter for his latest run and is better on a softer surface, makes him an attractive price. Henry Oliver’s ten-year-old should go well. 

Nick Alexander has his team in flying form of late and there’s every chance the hat-trick seeking THEME TUNE (best price 4/1) will play a leading role in the outcome of the Schloss Roxburghe Hotel Handicap Hurdle. 

The eight-year-old is enjoying his time in his new yard, who has won his last two starts, and has only been raised four pounds for winning a shade comfortably last time. He would have won by more than the one-length-and-a-half margin but for a mistake at the third last hurdle and is fancied to take the spoils for his in-form stable. 

I quite like the chances of handicap debutant Lacila Blue but Ruth Jefferson has an excellent strike-rate at this course (23%, 7-31) and therefore AUTUMN RETURN (best price 15/2) has to come under strong consideration with some of the best form on offer heading into this race. 

This six-year-old won her first two starts, including when beating the 126-rated Mullenbeg on hurdles debut, who has subsequently finished second in a Grade 2, and was highly tried behind Luccia in a Listed event at Newbury on her third hurdles start. 

She then capitalised on an ease in grade next time when scoring at Catterick and while she could sustain a late challenge of a lower-rated opponent last time, she lost nothing in defeat giving over a stone and a half to the winner. A five-pounds claimer is booked for the job this time and she is a solid each-way contender. 

The feature race at Kelso offers plenty of value and I am playing two against the field. The first one is HILL SIXTEEN (best price 6/1) who is a very smart horse and has put together a pair of solid efforts in defeat this season. 

He was second in a Becher Chase at Aintree and ran well to finish fourth in the Sky Bet Chase last January. He then competed in the Premier Chase here, finishing second to Nuts Well, and was in the process of running well in the Scottish Grand National before unseating his rider. 

He unseated through no fault of his own as he was badly hampered by a taller and left his rider with no alternative but to hit the deck. However, his third to Sounds Russian over course-and-distance in the Edinburgh Gin Chase is quality form and his seventh in the Becher Chase off top-weight reads well too. 

Additionally, he’s undergone wind surgery since, which could bring about further improvement, and he has the course form in the book. From a two pounds lower mark than when third here two starts ago, Sandy Thomson’s charge makes plenty of each-way appeal at the odds. 

ELVIS MAIL (best price 14/1) unseated his rider early on at the Cheltenham Festival last time but the nine-year-old has a good record here and could reward each-way supporters with five places generally on offer.

He is only a pound higher than when he was last successful and this two-time course winner and was second off a five-pounds higher mark here two years ago. I know he was last of three here on his penultimate start but he’s better than that and the step up in trip is worth an experiment. 

This will be the furthest he’s gone in his life but his only previous try over a trip close to this was when third over three miles at Doncaster behind Cooper’s Cross and Cap Du Nord and given his tendency to produce some of his best form at this course, he looks the other one to side with to potentially add another victory at a course he clearly thrives at.