7.00pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 25/04/2016

IN SUMMARY: WEETLES (9/2), a course maiden winner in the autumn, ended her four-race 3yo season with a good second in a soft-ground Newmarket handicap. Her fitness needs to be taken on trust after a six-month break but she can make progress this season and has a very appealing profile. She gets the vote ahead of Sheila’s Buddy,  who has been in good form on the AW since the autumn and will be fine back on softish turf. Dutch Uncle has performed well in two good-quality Polytrack handicaps this spring and is also a player if he copes with the conditions here. Gaelic Silver needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at Kempton last month and the case for him is less obvious, but his current turf mark looks workable and he won over C&D back in 2014.

1 Starwatch – Has a C&D success to his name and will be suited by today’s ground but only one of his 13 career victories has come off a mark this high, and that was gained back in 2014; comfortably held over extended 1m3f here on seasonal debut and remains vulnerable to younger legs.

2 Plymouth Sound – Yet to add to his 2yo debut success on eight subsequent outings; didn’t get the best of runs when fifth over C&D on latest outing in October and has claims if in similar form after winter break, but is untested on genuine soft ground.

3 Dutch Uncle – Placed in two Class 2 Polytrack handicaps (1m3f/1m4f) since returning from absence this spring; down in class today and also has form over 1m2f on turf; needs to prove he can cope with underfoot ease but Silvestre De Sousa booked again; one to consider.

4 Sheila’s Buddy – Been in good form and collected two wins (9.4f/1m2f) on the AW since the autumn; returns to turf on career-high mark but seems quite versatile ground-wise and has run well over C&D a few times; expected to make his presence felt.

5 Alcatraz – 0-4 when trained in Ireland but won Chepstow maiden (1m, soft) on stable debut just under a year ago; not seen since finishing third in handicap here (8.3f, good) the following month but remains lightly raced and could easily have more to offer now upped in trip.

6 Nayel – Won small-field Bath maiden (1m, good to firm) in July, his third start, and gamely followed-up on handicap debut at Nottingham (8.3f, good to firm) a couple of weeks later; back from 283-day absence today but seemed to handle soft ground on debut and has scope to make further progress.

7 Weetles – Displayed improvement when 6l winner of course maiden (8.3f, good to soft) in October, her third start, and backed up that performance with creditable second on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m2f, soft) later that month; nudged up 2lb for that but still commands respect.

8 Buckland Beau – Completed AW hat-trick over the winter (9.4f-1m2f) but his two Polytrack runs last month, though respectable, suggested the handicapper has his measure now; faces tough assignment as he bids to gain first turf win at the tenth attempt.

9 Gaelic Silver – Failed to win in 2015 and comes here after finishing down the field at Kempton (1m3f, AW) last month; has more to prove than some of these but was in decent form on the AW beforehand, runs off a lower turf mark today and was a soft-ground C&D winner in 2014; not ruled out.

10 Top Diktat – Scored on soft ground at Nottingham (1m2f) in November and returned to turf with decent effort when fourth over C&D (soft) a fortnight ago; up in class today, though, and subsequent 1lb drop in the weights not enough to tempt.

11 Silver Mountain – Won off today’s mark at Lingfield (2m, AW) last March but has been absent since tailed off over that trip at Kempton last summer and also finished last on sole previous turf start; comes with too many risks attached.

myracing Forecast Prices: 11/4 Weetles, 6/1 Dutch Uncle, Alcatraz, Nayel, 7/1 Top Diktat, 8/1 Sheila’s Buddy, 10/1  Plymouth Sound, 16/1 Starwatch, 20/1 Gaelic Silver, 25/1 Buckland Beau, 33/1 Silver Mountain