5.05pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 13/08/2017

A mile and a half handicap for amateur riders, ten runners chase just over £2,800 to the winner. Our expert tip and runner by runner preview for the contest is below.

IN SUMMARY: JERSEY JEWEL enjoys her racing round here, winning over this course and distance last year. She has a tongue strap fitted now which will allow her to extend her finishing effort and gets her the each way vote. Simon Walker always has to be respected in these races so despite Maroc still being a maiden, he needs to be considered. Grams And Ounces has bounced right back to form this season and is well deserving of an each way chance, though he is taking on a better quality of animal now.

1 MAROC – Yet to get his head in front in nineteen starts, but his consistency this season is deserving of a victory. Soft ground is no issue for him, runner up over this course and distance last time out from a pound lower so he boasts solid track form to boot. Simon Walker is often the place to turn as the best amateur so Nicki Evans will be delighted that she has secured Walker’s services for her charge.

2 JERSEY JEWEL – Has a win and a second to her credit over this course and distance in the past. She is competitively weighted on that victory which came this time last year. A tongue strap gets fitted for the first time here after weak finishing efforts the last twice, that should allow her to see the race out far better and given her liking for the track, she gets the vote.

3 THARAB IFRAJ – A thirteen race maiden, he has more than enough placed form in the book to suggest he is capable of scoring in a race of this nature. Cheekpieces go back on for the first time since only beaten a length at Chelmsford in December. His all weather form is arguably stronger that his turf form on the flat, however this isn’t the strongest field so he has an each way chance.

4 CITY GROUND – Veteran has failed to get seriously involved the five times he has raced beyond a mile and a quarter on the flat. He hasn’t been placed on ground worse than good either so there are serious concerns about the suitability of this test, easily opposed.

5 TAKE TWO – Placed the last twice on soft ground over ten and thirteen furlongs. He hasn’t won on the flat since July 2013 which is a significant drought, but he is certainly well treated on his old form these days. A winner on good to firm in the past, he won’t have any ground concerns this afternoon and looks an each way player.

6 GANNICUS – 0/3 over this sort of trip, failing to show anything of note in flat outings this year. He is well treated on his past form, with soft ground no problem to him. It’s hard to support him given what he has shown of late however, with stamina to prove and the Brendan Powell yard just 2/72 in 2017 with their flat runners.

7 GRAMS AND OUNCES – In sparkling form at a low level this summer, three times a winner over trips similar to this. He has no strong preference on the ground, but he is taking on a better class of animal than those he has beaten in his victories. Can’t be discounted in his current mood so has an each way chance, though there is at least one preferred to him from a win perspective.

8 STRICTLY ART – Not the easiest to win with but was coaxed to a win at Goodwood earlier this season by this amateur, runner up at Ripon subsequently when she was again in the saddle. No obvious excuse for a below par showing since so perhaps being reunited with a jockey he evidently responds well to will help him rediscover his form.

9 POWERED – Just 1/31 in his career, that victory coming over this course and distance in June. It was much quicker ground on that occasion, connections will be hoping that the turf continues to dry out to boost his chance. His mark has slipped back to that sole winning one which affords him respect but he is hard to be overly confident about.

10 ROYAL ETIQUETTE – A regular at the track, boasting a pair of wins over this trip. He has run just once on the flat in 2017, when well beaten in a lesser contest than this at Brighton. From four pounds out the handicap, he has his work cut out to get competitive again.