16:50 Windsor

Monday 23 April 2018

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Royal Windsor Horse Show Handicap

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 1m 11.59s

(12)

Incentive^p²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: W S Kittow| OR: 65| D

15/2

Tends to need a few runs to reach his peak and ideally served by easier underfoot conditions. 4lb higher than only win, on heavy ground at Ffos Las last August but jockey booking is a positive sign.

Form: 529510-

(4)

Run With Pride¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 65| D

12/1

Ran 10 times this winter on the AW without success although ran well on a number of occasions. Hasn't won on turf since racecourse debut nearly four years ago so appears to have something to find to score here.

Form: 335442

(3)

Nutini¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Keniry| T: M S Saunders| OR: 63| BF| CD

6/1

Won amateurs event over C&D last October off 3lb lower mark and ran well following that on AW on both occasions last autumn although was a beaten favourite each time. Certainly has claims and jockey has healthy 20% strike rate for this trainer.

Form: 972133-

(1)

Air Of York^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 63| D

16/1

Nine wins from 81 starts so far and beat Nutini on turf at Bath last autumn. 7lb worse off with that rival now. Won 7f AW handicap on penultimate start and decent apprentice's 5lb claim doesn't do any harm.

Form: 6-46510

(9)

Mister Freeze^t,v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: P R Chamings| OR: 62| D

25/1

2-13 on AW but raced only once on turf so is arguably unexposed. Landed 7f Southwell handicap in March but ran poorly at LIngfield last time out. Drop back in trip not a problem and any market interest would be a plus.

Form: 7-05318

(15)

Merdon Castle²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: M Harley| T: I Furtado| OR: 62| D

9/1

Just 1-21 on turf. Not disgraced on first start for new handler at Chelmsford in March and is favourably handicapped on best of old form. Needs to get back on track though and on balance ohers are preferred.

Form: 3058-76

(13)

Langley Vale¹⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: R A Teal| OR: 62| D

25/1

Has six month absence to overcome but is only 2lb higher than when scoring at Bath on penultimate start last September. Usually needs a run or two to reach concert pitch though.

Form: 273718-

(16)

Atlanta Belle¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S W Kelly| T: C F Wall| OR: 60| BF| D

33/1

Campaigned mainly on AW and never raced beyond 5f on turf. Six months since last outing at Kempton in October and was beaten favourite one ach of last two starts. Likely to be better for the outing.

Form: 073126-

(14)

Toni's A Star¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 58| D

25/1

Yard in tremendous form winning 5-11 over the last fortnight. Finished third to Nutini on last start in October last year over C&D and is 6lb worse off with rival so appears to have something to find on that basis.

Form: 310923-

(6)

Porto Ferro¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: J J Bridger| OR: 58| D

12/1

Only win came for John Bridger when partnered by today's rider in 6f AW maiden at LIngfield 14 months ago. Beaten just a nose under this rider at Kempton in March and rates a contender switching back to turf.

Form: 632553

(7)

Perfect Pastime¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J R Boyle| OR: 58| CD

20/1

Veteran previous C&D winner who holds his form well and ran a fine race over 7f on seasonal reappearance at Lingfield recently. Sure to be thereabouts, goes on any surface, and has good rider booked this time.

Form: 57001-2

(11)

Ubla^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 56

5/1

Never raced over less than 7f but has been very keen in recent starts and drop back in trip here may help. Runner-up last two outings on AW and interesting to see how he fares trying sprinting for first time.

Form: 51-6022

(8)

Mooroverthebridge¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cameron Noble⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 56

50/1

Avonbridge filly makes her handicap bow after an absence of 196 days. Showed some ability at modest level last term and with 5lb claim of young rider wouldn't be out of it if ready to go first time.

Form: 5436-

(10)

Fairway To Heaven³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: J Mitchell| T: L Carter| OR: 55| CD

6/1

2-3 career wins came over C&D for previous handler but didn't fare well last term and hs plummeted down the ratings. Ran OK on AW last month and undoubtedly well handicapped on best of old form so worth a market check.

Form: 329-865

(2)

Major Assault³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: Mat Salaman| OR: 55| BF| D

12/1

Won at Lingfield AW over this trip in February and only beaten a length at Kempton last month. In good heart and not without a chance if converting that form to turf.

Form: 8080-14

(5)

New Identity^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: K Shoemark| T: W J Martin| OR: 54

14/1

Irish raider who was outpaced over 5f at Southwell recently after winter break. Should strip fitter now and connections may feel they have a chance coming all this way, so any market interest would be significant.

Form: 07176-0

Forecasts

Ubla (5/1), Nutini (6/1), Fairway To Heaven (6/1), Incentive (15/2), Merdon Castle (9/1), Porto Ferro (12/1), Major Assault (12/1), Run With Pride (12/1), New Identity (14/1), Air Of York (16/1), Perfect Pastime (20/1), Toni's A Star (25/1), Langley Vale (25/1), Mister Freeze (25/1), Atlanta Belle (33/1), Mooroverthebridge (50/1)

With the fitness of a number of the contenders and unknown at this stage of the season a chance is taken on PORTO FERRO who went close on AW last month and for whom the booking of Luke Morris is a positive sign. C&D winner Nutini holds a number of these on his win last October and should be thereabouts, along with Mister Freeze. With his yard in cracking from Toni's A Star is another to consider, along with Irish raider New Identity and the unexposed Mooreoverthebridge.