16:55 Windsor

Monday 17 April 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:2517:55

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 1m 49.32s

(1)

Lunarscape²¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: David Probert| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 75

12/1

Goodwood novice winner but only eleventh of 12 to Barefoot Angel in Firth of Clyde Stakes (66/1) at Ayr (6f, good). Off 7 months. Significantly up in trip. Makes handicap debut. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 710-

(2)

Strategia¹³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: M Botti| OR: 74

11/2

Thrice-raced maiden. 13/2, good third of 9 in minor event at Kempton (8f). Off 131 days/gelded. Makes handicap debut and can't be ruled out.

Form: 553-

(7)

Forest Demon²⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 74

5/1

15/8, career best when winning 7-runner nursery at Kempton (7f). Off 8 months (gelded) but weighted to go close despite taking a 4 lb rise, with this step up to 1m also a plus.

Form: 9851-

(6)

Optiva Star¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 73

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Last of 5 in nursery at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 9/1). Off 112 days/gelded. Not discounted if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 36465-

(3)

Bear Force¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch| T: J G Portman| OR: 72

5/1

Promising sort. 10/1, set a lot to do when running-on fifth of 9 in nursery at Wolverhampton (8.6f), not knocked about. Off 161 days. Open to improvement. Interesting.

Form: 7935-

(5)

Alpha Crucis¹⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Watson| T: G & J Moore| OR: 72

7/1

Best effort when third of 13 in minor event (300/1) at Newmarket (7f, good to soft). Off 171 days/gelded. Makes handicap debut. Considered.

Form: 883-

(4)

Macho Sun¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 70

4/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Very good second of 5 in minor event (9/1) at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) 12 days ago. Much respected on his handicap debut.

Form: 968-2

(10)

Apex^h1¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 70

13/2

Fair maiden. 10/3, sixth of 9 in maiden at Wolverhampton (7.2f), needing stronger gallop. Off 161 days/gelded. Hood on 1st time. More to offer now going into handicaps. In the mix.

Form: 446-

Non-Runners

(8)

Dancing In Paris²¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: D C Costello

(9)

Goodwood Vision¹⁹⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: D Menuisier J: P Cosgrave

Forecasts

Macho Sun (4/1), Forest Demon (5/1), Bear Force (5/1), Strategia (11/2), Optiva Star (6/1), Apex (13/2), Alpha Crucis (7/1), Goodwood Vision (7/1), Dancing In Paris (10/1), Lunarscape (12/1)

FOREST DEMON was strong at the finish when getting off the mark in a 7f Kempton nursery last August and can make a successful return off a still handy-looking mark with this longer trip another positive. Both Bear Force and Apex start 2023 with better days ahead of them too and appeal as the duo to chase home the selection in that order.