5.50pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 21/08/2017

A field of ten go to post in this Class 4 handicap raced over 1m 2f. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Alan King’s LEXINGTON LAW deserves another chance off this rating now switched to better ground with a first-time visor. He’s on a fair mark but things haven’t quite fallen right for him. That said, he can improve past these today in conditions that should suit. Michael’s Mount arrives here on the back of a success and he can run well again having been raised a reasonable 5lbs for that victory.

1 CAPTAIN PEACOCK – Steps significantly down in trip today to the shortest distance he’s faced since early last year. He won off a mark of 82 earlier this season so he remains fairly treated, but he’s been comfortably held of late and he’s not exactly progressed since completing a double earlier in the year. The blinkers are replaced by a visor today which is positive and Andrea Atzeni is an interesting booking, so he can’t be discounted.

2 CARNIVAL KING – Amy Murphy’s runner takes a big step up in trip today, having predominantly raced over 7f. He’s 4lbs below his last winning mark which makes him of interest, although his recent efforts have been less than impressive and he may just bump into a couple of better weighted rivals in this. David Egan remains in the saddle today.

3 LEXINGTON LAW – Alan King’s runner is a frustrating sort somewhat and he remains a maiden from 11 starts. He’s been dropped 1lb for his latest run at Nottingham on Heavy ground and the switch to a better surface should suit him much more today. A visor is applied for the first time and he could be worth another chance having shown his mark to be workable.

4 MICHAEL’S MOUNT – Arrives here on the back of a Soft ground win over 1m 2f at Lingfield last time out. He’s been raised 5lbs for that run, which looks fair, and there could be plenty of money about for him again today. The step back up in grade will make life slightly harder, however conditions should suit and Luke Morris remains in the saddle. Respected.

5 BOYCIE – Has gone slightly backward on his two most recent starts in Class 4 company, finishing well down the field on both occasions. That has been slightly surprising having been in good form earlier in the season and perhaps the handicapper has caught up with him enough to put the brakes on his progression. Sean Levey takes over in the saddle today and the betting market should guide best.

6 MIA TESORO – Completed an impressive four-timer last season and she ran well on her seasonal reappearance at Chelmsford last time out. She’s returned to turf today and, whilst she certainly has something to prove off a mark of 79, she remains relatively lightly raced and should continue to improve. More will be needed today though.

7 ESKENDASH – Pam Sly’s runner makes his fourth start on the flat today following some fair efforts earlier this season. A rating of 78 looks about as high as he wants to be at present following a 4 1/2 length defeat off this mark last time out. The Soft ground may not have been ideal that day and the quicker surface in this will suit for a yard that does well here. Nevertheless, others make a bit more appeal today.

8 OUTBACK BLUE – Ran a big race last time out at Newmarket to finish 3/4 of a length behind an extremely progressive sort. A mark of 73 is certainly workable and the booking of James Doyle is eye-catching in this. He is effectively higher in the weights without a claimer on board which will make life tougher. However, conditions will suit and his form has picked up substantially of late.

9 GLORIOUS POET – Still seeks his first win in a handicap, with his sole success having come in a Redcar maiden last season. He’s switched yards twice since that success and he doesn’t look as progressive as many of his rivals in this. A mark of 72 should be workable and a useful claimer is booked, but he looks up against it in this stronger company.

10 ESSENAITCH – Wasn’t beaten all that far in a competitive Galway handicap just under three weeks ago off a 1lb higher mark. He has form over this C&D having finished second at Windsor earlier this season off a 3lb higher mark and, whilst this is tougher, that entitles him to respect here. Market support would be significant, with John Egan taking over in the saddle.