St Leger Festival Tips: Sunday Racing Tips from Architect

At an each-way price, Clive Cox’s ANCESTRAL LAND (best price 12/1) looks overpriced. His third in last year’s Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes, as well as when fourth in the Group 3 Craven Stakes, are strong pieces of form. 

Last seen running a solid race when third in a handicap in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown last time, he is now equipped with first-time blinkers from a 1Ib lower mark and soft, good to soft conditions will suit him well. I am surprised he isn’t a single-figure price. 

He returned a comfortable winner this time last year at Chepstow and is open to further improvement in the handicapping scenario, so he should give another good account of himself with more to come under the in-form Rossa Ryan, who is having a great week. 

If the race is run at a decent tempo, it is hard to resist the allure of winning machine, ZOUKY (best price 4/1), who clocked a smart figure when benefitting from a good pace at Newbury last time to score by an easy couple of lengths and has the services of William Buck in the saddle this time. 

With a record of three wins from four starts on the turf, she won both her starts as a two-year-old in which she gave 7Ib and a beating to the now 92-rated Kitai, while her debut win when beating the likes of Mystic Pearl, who’s since finished third in a Group 3, makes this mark of 87 look well within her capabilities. 

With proven stamina after winning easily last time and conditions looking about perfect for her coupled with another top jockey booked to ride, she should, in theory, be favourite for this contest. Nine Tenths has looked good the last twice but the former has achieved more and is fancied to continue her excellent work ethic. 

The Ian Williams-trained DEVASBOY (best price 12/1) makes the most appeal in the Leger Legends race under Will Kennedy. 

His last win was off an 8Ib higher rating and he’s already placed twice this year off higher marks (in handicaps) on soft ground, meaning conditions will hold no fears. 

He was heavily beaten at Goodwood last time but this is a significant ease in class, plus his only previous start here was when a creditable midfield in the class 2 Spring Mile back in April.

He is going to find this a lot easier and, with the form in the book to run well, he’s one for the shortlist, each-way, with four places widely available.

Cachet will be hard to beat in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes if she is anywhere near her best. However, she doesn’t represent much value after a long time away from a racecourse and preference instead goes to MATILDA PICOTTE (best price 8/1). 

This front-running filly is very useful on her day and came within half-a-length in a Group 3 a fortnight ago when runner-up. Her earlier third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket behind Tahiyra is quality form, likewise is her Listed win last October, where she beat subsequent Sprint Cup Third Believing with plenty to spare. 

All of her form is working out well and connections have appointed Oisin Murphy to take the ride here. It is possible she could get an uncontested lead and, if she can set her own fractions and consume enough energy for the closing stages, she could be tough to pass and is a solid each-way option against the favourite. 

Four places available with PaddyPower, Betfair, Coral, Unibet and SkyBet. 

I also want an each-way dart at Charlie Appleby’s DREAM OF LOVE (best price 7/1) who ran well behind Magical Sunset in a Group 3 at Goodwood last-time-out when third and is 3Ib better off here plus this course will suit her better. 

She is a very classy filly, as she even came close to beating 1,000 Guineas winner Mawj back in January in Meydan and was third in a German 1,000 Guineas, as well as an excellent seventh of 29 in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot when carrying top-weight. 

This has been her target for a while and conditions will be up her street. For a filly whose lightly raced, she has some good form to her name and, with the probability of much more to come, she’s an each-way contender in a race that will be run to suit. 

Four places available with PaddyPower, Betfair, Coral, Unibet and SkyBet. 

Kevin Ryan has had a decent Festival this week with a winner and a second and his only representative on today’s card is top-weight CATCH CUNNINGHAM (best price 5/1) in the finale, who must have an excellent each-way chance venturing into a class 5 for the first time. 

The four-year-old can find himself 8Ib lower than when scoring in a better race (class 3) at York in this month last year and goes particularly well with soft in the description. He didn’t really show much in his previous starts this year but his latest fourth at Ripon from his reduced mark was a step in the right direction. 

He is now confined to a career-low mark of 71 in this lower grade for the first time in his career with conditions to suit and his connections in excellent form as well. He is effectively drawn high in stall 9 and although a few others are in decent nick, he must be respected in this easier race than he’s use to. Four places widely on offer.