Thursday York Placepot Tips From Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Clarendon House, Bedford Flyer, Illusionist 

CLARENDON HOUSE came close to winning on his reappearance last season at Goodwood, where he was beaten just a head by Raasel, who has done the form well since by winning various Listed/Group events. He was last seen chasing home the course-specialist and 103-rated Judicial and was giving the winner three pounds in that race. He has deliberately been kept fresh for this and has a good chance. 

BEDFORD FLYER has been a little disappointing the last two times but he is a course-and-distance winner, who has subsequently joined Mick Appleby, who had the runner-up in this twelve months ago. He has the ability to run well off this mark, while ILLUSIONIST won over track and trip at this meeting a year ago and is only a couple of pounds above his last win, so he should be thereabouts, though the formerly-two mentioned would be my main picks. 

Leg 2 Selections: Aristia

My only pick in the second race is Group 1 winner ARISTIA, who has a good record at the course and was second in the race last year when narrowly denied. She improved from that effort to chase home Nashwa in the Nassau Stakes before scoring at the top level in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet Stakes. She has conditions to suit, goes well fresh, and I would have her a lot closer to Free Wind in the betting here. Great chance. 

Leg 3 Selections: Astro King, Toshizou, The Turpinator, Brunch

ASTRO KING has made the frame in the last two renewals of the Royal Hunt Cup, with last year’s fourth coming off a three pounds higher mark. I know he was below form on his final two starts last year but the good news is that his record fresh reads two wins from two starts. He was an excellent third on his only previous visit here over course-and-distance, and will make his stable debut with lots in his favour. He’s an appealing project of the bigger-priced runners. 

TOSHIZOU put together a pair of solid efforts in defeat at Newmarket, finishing third of 13 before matching that form to finish fourth of 17. The handicapper has surprisingly reduced his mark by a pound and Jamie Spencer is retained to ride. The drop back in trip should see this strong-traveller cruise into contention and if he doesn’t leave it too late, this could be the day he gets his head in front. Lots to like. 

BRUNCH will be suited to the return to better ground, who is a course-and-distance winner, and is a pound lower than when second in this race last year. He isn’t drawn well but he never runs a bad race here and should be on the premises, while THE TURPINATOR is a pound below his last winning mark and is drawn well in stall 11. He isn’t out of this at massive odds. 

Leg 4 Selections: Canberra Legend, The Foxes

CANBERRA LEGEND took the rise in grade in his stride in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, where he didn’t look at all comfortable on the track but after travelling well, he picked up strongly inside the final half a furlong, showcasing a bright turn of foot to get on top close to home. 

This is another step up in class but he is potentially a Group 1 winner in waiting, so James Ferguson’s charge gets the vote to potentially remain unbeaten or in the worst case, make the frame and acquit himself well in defeat. 

THE FOXES won his final two starts last year and ran a really good race when second in the Group 3 Craven Stakes on his return. Andrew Balding has insisted this has been the plan for a long time. He should have plenty more to come tackling this longer distance and is a major player. 

Leg 5 Selections: Walbank, Looking For Lynda 

WALBANK won his sole visit to this course and then finished a good second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot equalling that form with a fine second on the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes. He has a lot more to offer this season and should be extremely competitive on his reappearance. 

LOOKING FOR LYNDA has run well twice at this course and her fourth in the Super Sprint is another smart piece of form. She is a tad more exposed than a few of these but she has plenty of speed and hopefully she can use that to her advantage back at this course. She makes the most appeal of the bigger priced runners and could make the frame. 

Leg 6 Selections: Cuban Thunder 

CUBAN THUNDER could be the answer to this race with experience under his belt. He had shaped with bundles of promise when second on debut at Newmarket last month and that form is really strong, as the third has won at Chester since. The step up in trip is a positive move and he should be hard to keep out of the frame. I rate his chances highly on his second start.