
Architect has six racing tips for Saturday's ITV action.
14:15 Ascot
Having finished runner-up to Shishkin in last year’s Denman Chase, along with a third-place finish in the 2023 Ryanair Chase, there’s plenty of good reason to think Paul Nicholls’ quirky but talented chaser HITMAN will run a big race here.
His only start this season saw him finish a good second in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, and despite missing a couple of engagements since, a mark of 156 has underestimated his chances, even with his big weight.
Paul Nicholls’ record in valuable handicaps with high-rated chasers needs no introduction, and this nine-year-old could be ready to stamp his class.
LATENIGHTPASS hasn’t stood much racing for a 12-year-old, and I think he may have slipped under the radar for this race, having run well to finish third behind Stumptown in a Cross Country race.
He’s dropping significantly down in trip today, but he is a Foxhunters winner over it, and the handicapper has kept him on the same mark as last time. That latest run was his first run after a wind op, so he may actually improve again, despite approaching his teenage years. I think he’s wildly overpriced.
14:50 Ascot
The most appealing candidate to me in the BetMGM Holloway's Handicap Hurdle is KAMSINAS. The eight-year-old is a Grade 2 winner in this sphere and has won two of his last four starts.
He gave weight and a beating to Be Aware at Kempton last March (his only start going right-handed in this sphere), and the runner-up has since made the frame in both the Greatwood and Lanzarote Hurdle.
On that evidence alone, Fergal O’Brien’s smart hurdler is well handicapped off 137, even after going up 2lb for his eye-catching, staying-on fourth at Haydock last time out under a big weight. He’s a serious each-way contender.
14:30 Haydock
With conditions set to be soft at least and his amazing record around the track, ROYALE PAGAILLE can complete a hat trick of wins in the Peter Marsh Chase. The 11-year-old has two Grade 1 Betfair Chase wins over C&D and finished second in another.
In the latest of those, he beat much superior rivals to those he is facing today, and his record here now reads five wins and a second from six starts.
He’s often carried a lot of weight to success here, and although Greg Dawning had let the latest form down since, he is miles clear of today’s opponents on the figures, form, and also ratings by 14lb and upwards.
He is impossible to oppose the more I look at the contest.
15:05 Haydock
There’s no shying away from the fact that BOLD ENDEAVOUR has run poorly on his last four starts, and he’s in desperate need of a revival, but a couple of seasons ago he placed in numerous top-class handicaps and can compete off a career-low handicap hurdle mark.
He finished runner-up over C&D in the Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle here in 2023 off 140 and placed in other competitive events over today’s distance, including when fourth in last year’s Pertemps Final off 143.
If you excuse his latest run, his record on soft ground reads 13524, with the last three of those coming in fields of 10 runners or more.
Brian Hughes is an interesting jockey booking as well, so while his recent form tempers enthusiasm, he’s very well handicapped off 136 and could easily make the frame if he can rekindle his best form with the cheekpieces refitted.
Tom Lacey’s TUNE IN A BOX boasts a strong record over three miles, which reads 1122 from four starts, and he’s fancied to build on his latest seasonal debut second and play a big part in the finish.
The form of his latest effort has worked out well with the fourth, Phantomofthepoints, subsequently winning off a mark of 129. With this in mind, the selection must be well handicapped off a mark of 127, and with conditions in his favour, a bold showing looks firmly on the cards.