Soft ground is the order of the day at Windsor and in the mile maiden Scrutinise looks sure to improve on his promising Leicester debut but Magic Dancer (1.30) was only beaten a nose on his first start over C&D earlier in the month and is taken to go one better for Ralph Beckett. The colt is quite speedily bred and it was something of a surprise to see him start off over a mile, but he was only just run down by an odds-on shot of Andrew Balding who had previous racecourse experience.
It wasn’t the greatest maiden that likely favourite Geordan Murphy won over C&D at the last meeting and he may be worth taking on in the mile handicap. A market move for Northern raider Picadilly Jim would be worth noting but at a bigger price perhaps Falcon’s Reign (2.00) is worth taking a chance on for Michael Appleby.
The selection won off a 4lb higher mark last autumn and returned from a break at Wolverhampton last time on polytrack. That will have blown the cobwebs away, Silvestre De Souza takes over in the plate and he might reward each way support back on his favoured soft ground.
So Noble (2.30) can defy a 6lb penalty in the Mile Handicap for William Muir having looked as if he had plenty in hand when scoring over C&D last week. This looks a better race but this son of Pivotal clearly relishes soft ground and, after only three career starts, is open to considerable improvement.
Art Scholar hasn’t won since the November Handicap at Doncaster two years ago but he looked to be coming to hand when a running on fourth at Nottingham last time off a 1lb higher mark. He is very well handicapped on his best form and this is another Appleby-trained runner that De Souza rides for the first time.
Jumping at Ffos Las and Padge (1.10) can make a winning start over hurdles for Evan Williams having finished third on his British debut at Uttoxeter last December. He has been given plenty of time to get over that effort and he beat Very Wood (this year’s Albert Bartlett winner) in a point-to-point in his native Ireland; he was subsequently sold for £160,000.
Joffrey cost connections 85k after showing promise in a Carlisle Bumper back in the spring and he has gone to the yard of Jonjo O’Neill. He is likely to win his fair share of races as is the unbeaten Shantou Bob representing Warren Greatrex. The biggest danger is likely to come from Fletchers Flyer of Harry Fry who won a Bumper at Punchestown back in the spring. Make no mistake this is an informative and very hot contest.
Azure Aware (2.40) reverts to timber having travelled well until coming down at Worcester on his chase debut when last seen twelve months ago. The horse has gone well fresh in the past and he can land each way support in another very good, competitive heat.
Definitley Lovely (3.10) runs in the colours of trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies returning from no less than a 1282 day lay-off. The yard can certainly get them fit at home and the mare certainly has the scope to make her mark over fences in this modest grade. It would be some training feat to get her back after such an absence but she is potentially well-handicapped and rates a sporting selection with High Aspiration suggested as the danger.
No Through Road (3.40) can defy a 7lb penalty in the amateur riders chase for Michael Scudamore having scored with plenty in hand at Worcester last week. That was his first career success but his trainer has history for building up a sequence with horses once they have got their head in front and he is taken to follow up.
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