St Leger Festival Tips: Thursday Racing Tips from Architect

In the opener to the Festival, one more chance is taken on ALPHA CAPTURE (best price 15/2) who is down to a ridiculously low mark of 77 and that’s without Jack Enright claiming an additional seven pounds, meaning he is on a 30Ib lower mark than this time last year. 

He has largely underperformed this year but this is a drop in class from the races he has competed in for a while and this former Listed winner will have no headgear on, which could make a significant difference in the outcome of his performance here. 

One of his career best performances came on this card last year when marginally denied by Cold Case, so the return to this course will suit and he could be set to get his career back on track. There will be no excuses this time, even with his jockey’s inexperience with four places widely available.

A classy renewal of the Weatherbys Scientific 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes and although it is going to be no easy feat conceding 10Ib to the unbeaten Dragon Leader, I am optimistic about the credentials of the Aidan O’Brien-trained JOHANNES BRAHMS (best price 5/2). 

Having won on debut at Naas, this well-built Colt has shown very good form in two subsequent starts. Firstly when second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, form that has been well-advertised since with the third, Inquisitively, landing a Listed event at York since. 

He improved again to finish a one-length second in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York next time and although that form has yet to be tested, I think the horse who finished third, King’s Gamble, is a very talented horse and could be a Group 1 horse at some stage. With a favourable high draw in 18, the Irish raider appeals most. 

I also want to back KOMAT (best price 12/1) each-way, who merits consideration at the foot of the weights. In what has been a controversial week in terms of AMO Racing, I think this filly has plenty more to come and should be competitive with four places widely on offer against these under John Egan, who gets down to do the bare minimum weight. 

Having made a winning debut at Redcar, she has acquitted herself well in Listed/Group events since, including when a staying-on sixth of 17 in the Albany at Royal Ascot from a bad draw before hitting the line strongly again in a Listed race last time back at the same venue, where again she wasn’t seen to best effect from a poor track position. 

She is only rated 3Ib inferior to the favourite Dragon Leader but will be in receipt of 2Ib in weight from her plus more weight from the rest of the field. A high draw is beneficial over this trip at this course and she is drawn in 15. If she does get the required strong pace needed to showcase her qualities, she could easily put herself right in contention at the business end. 

Karl Burke won the May Hill Stakes back in 2017 and came close in it last year when he had the second. He has another leading chance in the form of the rapidly-improving DARNATION (best price 5/4) who sets a high standard based on her recent Group 3 success and should be difficult to beat with lots in her favour and the step up in trip to suit. 

She will be in her element under the soft conditions as both her wins have been gained on soft and the form of her latest win in the Prestige Stakes is strong as she had Albany Stakes fifth and eighth well held in behind and was actually eased down towards the finish. Her price is short but she is the best bet of the day given she ticks a lot of boxes. 

LMAY (best price 28/1) has buckets to find with these on ratings and might be on pacemaker duties for stablemate One Evening but even if she is, she is no back number.

I actually think this trip will bring about improvement, as the evidence of her form suggests she has been crying out for a step up in distance. A new personal best could well be on the cards. 

She only has a maiden win to her name but has generally been competing in some strong assignments to date and the soft ground, which is an unknown, could suit. 

The fact of the matter is, she could have run in a handicap but instead, has her sights set on this deeper race. That makes her of interest, so despite her odds being on the drift, she is worth an each-way dabble. 

IF NOT NOW (best price 4/1) is fancied to defy top-weight by making it three wins from five starts in the Hippo Bamboo Wipes Handicap for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan with this course likely to play to his strengths. 

A winner of two of his three starts on home-soil, including by seven lengths at Salisbury in May, he ran well when fifth in the German Derby when last seen despite not seeing out the extra yardage having challenged earlier than ideal. 

The return to this trip is necessary and I just cannot see any other angle into this race other than the top-weight who is probably better than these. He should make a brave bid to boost his established good record. 

MATCHLESS (best price 14/1) has been disappointing in his three recent starts but the return to this course on soft ground with the cheekpieces refitted could see a rejuvenated performance from this five-year-old. 

His last win came over course-and-distance off this mark on similar ground, where he did it the hard way from the front, winning by over two lengths. This race should reveal a lot more and, if he is back to something near his best, he should run well. 

EL JASOR (best price 9/2) ran a stinker the last and only time he encountered soft ground but I am happy draw a line through that performance as he didn’t handle Chester’s tight venue and has improved since in which he has won two of his last three starts and remains well-treated off a mark of 86.  

His latest win at Newbury, where he did a lot wrong but won with a bit to spare, was boosted last night when Valsad defied a mark of 87 at the racing league at Southwell. The application of cheekpieces should sort a few of his quirks out and Jamie Spencer, who rode him to success last time, maintains the ride.