6.40pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 14/08/2017

Fascinating three-year-old handicap over a mile and a quarter, with a number of unexposed types with the potential for significant improvement. Our runner by runner preview and expert tip are below.

IN SUMMARY: Medalla De Oro is likely to prove popular but this step down in trip on quicker ground gives enough cause to be wary at odds on. Fanfair is going to appreciate the drying ground having struggled with very soft conditions last time out on her bid for a hat-trick. BECUNA stayed on in eye-catching fashion over a mile at this track on her final run for a mark. That was after racing poorly in her first handicap last time when the race wasn’t run to suit. A filly can always be excused a poor run and she looks overpriced on her maiden effort here.

1 MEDALLA DE ORO – Broke his maiden tag over an extra quarter mile here last time. That was his first run since being gelded, the operation working well to improve his concentration. This is a step back up in grade but, such was his superiority at the line, he fully deserves his chance at this level. Pulled for his head on that occasion so the drop in trip could help. However, he has been well beaten on good to firm in the past so may not want the ground to fry out too much.

2 FIRE PALACE – Showed solid form as a juvenile at a higher level, but she has been suffering from a sophomoric slump so far in 2017. She weakened late on over this trip last time out so she has plenty to prove tried over this distance once more before she is worthy of support.

3 FANFAIR – Enjoying a successful campaign, winning twice so far. Very soft ground may have been the cause of a lesser display on her bid for the hat-trick so today’s surface should suit her much better. She isn’t the biggest but she lacks nothing for heart, digging deep to repel the fields when she has been successful. This is a step up in class from a six pound higher mark than her latest win so it demands more of her, but further improvement is entirely possible.

4 MISTER CHOW – Has shown promise in his first two handicaps, especially on the first occasion where he was well backed through the morning. Connections reach for first time blinkers now as he wasn’t doing anything quickly under pressure at Ffos Las last time. The drying ground is a slight concern and he may lack the pace at this sharper track to get involved.

5 BECUNA – Shaped with promise over a mile here on her final maiden run, failing to back that up when taking on her first handicap last time. That contest was run at a crawl which didn’t suit her and, with a couple in here in first time headgear and a winner over further, it would be surprising if this wasn’t run at a better gallop. It’s worth forgiving a filly a bad run – she has a solid each way chance on what she previously showed and looks very overpriced.

6 BROAD APPEAL – Made a winning debut at Kempton in February but has struggled to get close to reproducing that since. The heavy ground may not have suited him when behind Mister Chow at Ffos Las last time out. However, in general he has a little too much to prove at present to think that he can be winning this.

7 PRESENCE PROCESS – Showed promise on turf last year in maidens, struggling on the All Weather so far in this campaign. The switch back to turf is in his favour from what looks like a favourable perch if he can reproduce his 2016 form. He is a ten race maiden so it’s hard to be confident about his winning chances but, at a big price, he has an intriguing each way chance.

8 LADY PRIMA – Has shown a similar level of moderate form in all her three starts for a mark. They were over seven furlongs and a mile, her breeding strongly suggesting that she will improve for this step up in trip on handicap debut. The handicapper hasn’t been kind with her opening gambit, so she is going to have to show that potential improvement. She is one to watch with the future in mind.

9 CRYSTAL SECRET – 17 race maiden, she has rarely threatened to get her head in front. First time blinkers replace the visor she has been running respectably in at a low level, but this looks too tough an ask for her.