Wednesday Tote Placepot Tips for Southwell from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Dubai Hills, Commander Crouch 

This evening’s Racing League, the final round of the competition, could see the opener (Leg 1) go the way of Amy Murphy’s well-regarded DUBAI HILLS for team-Ireland, who has an excellent chance to gain a first career-success. 

This two-year-old has done little wrong in each of his five starts, and his second at Windsor can be upgraded, as the draw plus poor track-position, jeopardised his chances yet he still hit the line strongest of all. 

He was then equipped with first-time blinkers in a valuable 15-runner sales' race at Newmarket and he finished an excellent fourth, where he kept on well to insinuate that a step up in trip would likely suit. 

The blinkers that were worn last time are essentially retained here so, with more to come in this easier race, plus a favourable draw ahead his all-weather debut, he is strongly fancied to at least make his presence felt here. 

Richard Hannon’s COMMANDER CROUCH ran his best race to date when second last time despite a troubled passage and should have more to come turned out quickly on his all-weather debut. He can be added. 

Leg 2 Selections: Half Nutz, Shawaamekh

Next up (Leg 2) we have another wide-open race, which has an open feel about it. I am sticking with team-Ireland though, as HALF NUTZ who went close in a pair of handicaps at Leopardstown last month, could feature from a career-low mark under Daniel Muscutt. 

He shaped better than the result implied when seventh of 13 in a handicap at Newcastle two weeks ago, where he did too much too soon. Under a more conservative ride this time, an improved display could be imminent. 

Also representing team-Ireland is SHAWAAMEKH who is 2Ib lower than his last win and has placed multiple times since off higher marks than today’s mark. Given the form he is in at the moment, he can be included off a feasible mark. 

Leg 3 Selections: Cry Havoc, Dionysian

The Rae Guest-trained CRY HAVOC is the most appealing outsider on the card (Leg 3) who is a five-time winner on the all-weather and completed a double around this time last year, with the last of those wins coming off a 2Ib higher mark - making him a well-treated horse at present. 

He has been running well without success this year and was unlucky not to win at Kempton on his penultimate start. If he can keep himself in a maintainable position by not getting too far back in a strongly-run contest, he has the gears to execute a potential-winning manoeuvre under Luke Morris.

One of the market leaders, DIONYSIAN, was nearest the finish last time when fifth and would have gone close with a clear passage. He remains one to be interested in with his rider taking off 5Ib. 

Leg 4 Selections: Gulliver, Hierarchy

David O’Meara’s GULLIVER (Leg 4) isn’t the force he once was but this talented veteran is still capable of smart form. He ran his best race of the current year when fifth at Thirsk last-time-out and he is on a new career-low mark of 82. 

In his only two previous visits here, he was rated 105 and 104 and won over course-and-distance off that latterly-mentioned mark, albeit over three years ago. The last time he ran on the all-weather he was rated 102 in a class 2 event. 

In addition, this will be his first-ever start in a class 4 event at this lower level and after doing all of his winning/placed efforts off higher marks in stronger races, this nine-year-old must have an excellent chance for team-Ireland. 

The top-weight HIERARCHY, for Wales & The West, hasn’t won for nearly two years but has been highly tried in his career and is unbeaten in two starts at this lower or lower, so he is definite shortlist material for the Osborne combination. 

Leg 5 Selections: Dark Jedi, Cinnodin

This is a seriously competitive race (Leg 5) but it’s possible team-Yorkshire could spring a surprise with DARK JEDI who is 9Ib lower than when he last succeeded and has left the impression this year that he is worth another experiment over this distance. 

This will be his first start in this grade since being beaten a short-head off an 11Ib higher mark at Musselburgh last year. He is an interesting outsider indeed, as he’s low-mileage on the all-weather, too. I think he has excellent place possibilities at least if he stays. 

CINNODIN has won four of his seven starts this year, including over track and trip and is only 2Ib higher than when beaten a neck at Haydock last time. He has to compete from out of the handicap but must enter calculations from his low-weight form team-Ireland in first-time cheekpieces with Danny Sheehy offsetting 3Ib. 

Leg 6 Selections: Thunder Moor, Night On Earth, May Sonic

In the finale to the preview (Leg 6), I am confident we have a good chance amongst the trio of picks. THUNDER MOOR was contesting good-quality events last year and has run well the last two times he has competed at the racing league. 

He has a lot of speed and can hopefully utilise that good effect on all his all-weather debut over this shorter distance with Ben Curtis booked. He is more than capable of this respective mark. 

NIGHT ON EARTH has been below his best this year but his last win was off a 15Ib higher mark and the last time he ran on the all-weather, was over course-and-distance off a mark of 93 in a class 2 event, where he wasn’t beaten far. He must be considered off a low weight. 

MAY SONIC won over course-and-distance back in January off this mark and ran a big race off top-weight when second at Newbury last time. He is a very solid horse on the all-weather and should give another good account of himself.