Good ground forecast for today’s card at Windsor and there is a terrific 12f handicap for three-year-olds. I am convinced there are races to be won with Zoran (6.00) who is visored for the first time this afternoon by Hugo Palmer returning from an 81-day lay-off. The selection – 11/4 with William Hill – is drawn out wide but with the defection of Spanish Kiss – declared for Newcastle on Tuesday – on Monday morning I would be disappointed if he didn’t run a big race.
Historical (7.00) is bred to be much better than her current mark of 65 and Andrea Atzeni must have advised connections that she was not devoid of pace as she drops back in trip from 12 to 10f despite doing her best work late on at Beverley last time. The filly – 5/2 with Boylesports – faces largely exposed rivals this evening and Kevin Ryan fits his daughter of New Approach with first-time cheek-pieces tonight.
In the fillies Novice Stakes Dhabayah (5.30) looked smart when winning at Haydock on debut and she can maintain her unbeaten record for William Haggas. The filly – 15/8 at bet365 – was slowly away and green on debut, but she was well on top at the end of her race and the runner up has subsequently gone one better.
There are showers forecast for Perth where Walkin In The Rain (2.40) would be an appropriate winner if the meteorologists are to be believed. Jim Goldie’s seven-year-old finished runner up here over an extended 2m 4f off this mark last time and the return to three miles on decent ground should see him break his maiden tag. The recommendation is 10/3 with Unibet.
The Boola Bee is chasing her hat-trick in the 3m handicap chase and she could still be ahead of the handicapper given she has only been raised 10lbs for those successes and gets on well with 7lb claimer Tom Buckley.
Monbeg River (4.50) is a personal favourite of mine and looks well handicapped off his current mark. He has never won over today’s three-mile trip, but he was in the process of running a big race when coming down four out at Stratford over an extended 2m 6f on his reappearance. The ew selection is 6/1 with William Hill. Coup De Pinceau would not want too much rain but is another to consider in a cracking race.
I thought Edinburgh Castle was unlucky not to finish closer at Chester last time and looks sure to run another big race with Andrew Balding taking off 5lbs from his top-weight with leading apprentice William Carver. The vote, however, in Leicester’s finale goes to bottom-weight Prince Alex (4.55) who is chasing a hat-trick having scored at Windsor and Beverley in recent weeks. The 3-year-old – 5/2 with Unibet – won despite the ground – soft – last time and a 4lbs rise looks fair.
