Architect has three tips for Friday at Sandown's Tingle Creek Festival including the Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle.
13:23 Sandown
INVINCIBLE NAO hasn’t been seen since taking an early unseat at Ascot on his final start last season, but there’s a good chance of him making a successful return in today’s contest.
His half-length second to Scarface over further here on his penultimate outing reads the best form on offer, as that was a Listed contest, and both the first and third have advertised the form since.
The six-year-old remains only 2lb higher returning in this much easier contest, and conditions are ideal for him. Under a positive ride, I can see him making a bold bid on his return to action.
13:58 Sandown
In the Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle, I’m really liking the claims of the Paul Nicholls-trained QUEBECOIS, who made an impressive introduction to this sphere when winning by eight lengths at Chepstow and can progress again to land this Grade 2 contest.
Having won his bumper debut at Exeter with lots in hand, he found the Champion Bumper all too much for him but was foot perfect on his hurdle debut in October over this trip. He can provide his trainer and jockey with a third win in the last five years of this race.
Quebecois has also been put forward by Racing Lee, whose tips are exclusively available on the oddschecker app. Click here to read them now!
14:33 Sandown
The best bet on the card is Olly Murphy’s RESPLENDENT GREY, who is continuing to improve with each start and came close to making it a hat trick of wins when staying on strongly to finish a half-length second at Cheltenham last time out.
That was his first foray of three miles, and the way he charged up the hill suggested the distance is the making of him. He may have won that race without taking the second fence with him. It was remarkable that he managed to not let the mistake affect his momentum.
His official rating puts him firmly clear of these, and there’s plenty of room for improvement. His only previous start in graded company saw him finish second in last season’s Persian War at Chepstow, and with plenty of boxes ticked regarding his chance, I think he wins.
