Monday means flat racing at Windsor and Shifting Power (7.20) can bring further success to the team of Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes in the feature Listed Royal Windsor Stakes over the extended mile. The colt held his form well last term in the highest grade, finishing 4th in a stellar renewal of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, before chasing home Champion Miler Kingman in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. He ran a creditable third on ground less than ideal last month at Sandown and that should have blown the cobwebs accordingly for him to get his head in front for the first time in over a year.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Voice Control (8.20) similarly finished an excellent third on his seasonal debut last month, which will have him spot on for the competitive mile and a half handicap. The selection boasts an impressive middle-distance pedigree, should relish the step in trip and can shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking under Ryan Moore.
Stoute should taste success in the afternoon at Doncaster with Paul Hanagan riding Mustaaqem (3.50) for boss Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. The colt finished an excellent second in a notoriously warm renewal of the Wood Ditton at Newmarket and with the form of that race already working out well, he looks a sure-fire winner in waiting for connections.
Geoff Oldroyd’s Jamaican Bolt (4.25) is a regular on Town Moor and can give weight and a beating to his 15 rivals in the 7f Handicap. The 7-y-o has finished a creditable sixth in a brace of handicaps since returning from an absence of five months and should be stripped fitter ahead of his 9th career start at the South Yorkshire track.
Simple Assignment (6.00) can continue the excellent form of the Warren Greatrex yard making his debut handicapping in the opener at Towcester. The 6-y-o son of Westerner made a winning debut under rules when landing a Sedgefield bumper however has disappointed over timber and is yet to place in his three starts over hurdles at Doncaster, Huntingdon and Kempton. A return to the minimum trip combined with Gavin Sheehan back in the plate can see him potentially well-treated to out-run his lenient looking opening mark of 104.
Kim Bailey’s By The Boardwalk (7.00) was unfortunate to bump into one last week when chasing home Dan Skelton’s well-backed Thinger Licht at Worcester and the gelding can go one better in the Handicap Chase over three miles. The son of Presenting has yet to get his head in front from six starts over the larger obstacles however put his best foot forward last time out, and the winner has franked the form subsequently. He jumped like a stag on ground less than ideal last week however should be able to make amends under excellent 3lb Conditional Tom Bellamy.
Divine Spear (8.30) is related to plenty of winners and is a fascinating runner for Nicky Henderson in the concluding bumper. The selection’s price rose to 40,000 (from 26,000) guineas when sent through Tattersalls last summer and this well-bred son of Oscar looks the ideal type to make a winning debut under rules and Nico De Boinville doing the steering.
Tony Martin was unlucky with Quick Jack’s second in the Chester Cup midweek however Ted Veale (5.40) should be able to make amends for connections at Killarney. The selection plies his trade on the flat, over hurdles and over fences however he thrives over timber and rated 144, has upwards of a stone in hand against his six rivals and can claim a nice pot under Irish Champion Jockey Ruby Walsh.
Your Busy (7.40) won last year’s Munster National and at his forecast price of 5/1 with BetVictor should reward each-way support and go close once more. The apple of trainer James Nash’s eye warmed up with an excellent second at last month’s Aintree Festival and, despite an 11lb rise since last term’s success, should remain competitive under last year’s winning rider David Casey.
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