5.40pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 14/08/2017

A competitive field of 14 go to post for a six furlong sprint to kick off the Monday night card at Windsor. Read on for our runner by runner preview and expert tip.

IN SUMMARY: MONARCH MAID has slid down the handicap to a career low mark. She has run well here in the past and, despite not being in much form in 2017, she looks set for a much improved display now. Flowing Clarets is in decent heart at this sort of low level and may be the biggest threat. Tisa River is by far the least exposed and should be capable of better in time, while if keeping Cee Jay fresh is the answer he is another to consider.

1 CAPTAIN RYAN – Placed in four of his lasts five starts but he is yet to run anywhere close to his best in three starts here. Yet to win in 12 starts over this six furlong trip, there is more than enough to be opposing him with now.

2 MONARCH MAID – Ran a little better at Leicester last time but is yet to really hit top form in 2017. As such, she has slipped not only eight pounds below her last winning mark, but to her lowest ever rating. She has placed in one of two starts at the track and, despite not having shown much this season, her current perch makes her of significant interest in such a weak contest. She gets the vote.

3 FLOWING CLARETS – Boasting a win and three places from her last six starts, she has been in relatively good form considering the grade of contest. She would have won in another couple of strides last week over a furlong shorter here, so the step back up to six furlongs is in her favour. She won on good to firm earlier in the season, but the majority of her best form has come with cut in the ground which is a slight concern given her current perch.

4 CEE JAY – Finally broke his duck  at Brighton in July on his 18th attempt. He arrived there off the back of a 48 day break, given another 41 before his engagement here. If keeping him fresh is the answer, then he wouldn’t need to improve any more to play a leading hand here.

5 DOUBLE SPIN – Two runs on turf have been below what she has shown on the All Weather. Her best form has come over five furlongs, headed a furlong out on her best effort when runner-up at Newcastle. This extra furlong looks a concern on what she has shown so far and she would appeal more back on an artificial surface.

6 WILD FLOWER – Belatedly broke her duck at the 30th attempt in a Brighton seller. She backed that up with a solid smart placed effort on the All Weather, so perhaps at the age of five she is finally starting to get her act together. If that is the case, she has another each way squeak in a similar level of contest.

7 PARISIAN CHIC – Makes her turf debut now having shown limited ability on the All Weather. She was only beaten three lengths in a better contest than this two starts back before failing to face headgear last time. There should be a small race for her at some point over the winter, but it’s likely to be over further than this.

8 EVERKYLLACHY – Successful just the once in 14 starts, scoring from two pounds lower in May. She has been well beaten in three starts since which makes her tough to be confident over here.

9 KAABER – Horribly inconsistent, he popped up at 25/1 and 16/1 last season, slumping back to show nothing either side of those victories. He has joined the yard of Michael Blake since he was last seen which may inject a little more life into him. However, he is hard to support with any confidence given his Jekyll and Hyde profile.

10 LEITH BRIDGE – 11 race maiden, his two runs on turf have been below even the lowly level he has shown thus far on the All Weather. May find a weak contest on the sand this winter, but would be a surprise winner in this race.

11 ROYAL NORMANDY – Generally regressive since winning at Kempton in December 2015, the last time he got his head in front. His best turf runs have all been over seven furlongs, but he is perfectly fine at this trip, shaping well over a trip too short last time out at Ffos Las.

12 TISA RIVER – Has shown very little in four starts so far, including on her handicap debut last time. She is nicely bred and cost €92,000 as a yearling, so chances are there is ability there. She may just need a little more time and experience to fulfil her pedigree.

13 CELERITY – Yet to win in 22 starts, but she went close at the end of July when in front of Royal Normandy at Ffos Las. She is equally adaptable at this distance as she is at that five furlong trip. Nevertheless, she is going to have to put in a new career best if she is to be victorious here.

14 KATH’S BOY – Shaped well over seven furlongs the last twice, staying on to give the impression that a step up to a mile would suit. This step down to six furlongs, therefore, is a negative and, as a ten race maiden, he is hard to enthuse about now.