7.40pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 14/08/2017

A small but select field for the mile nursery at Windsor on Monday evening. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview for the contest.

IN SUMMARY: FERIK is well bred, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Wigmore Hall. He has finished strongly over seven furlongs the last twice, looking as if this step up to a mile would produce another jolt of improvement. Codicil and Noble Manners are both smart looking fillies coming off the back of wins. Both should be suited by the step up in trip here, but neither of them do anything quickly and they may find the selection has too much toe for them on a sharp track.

1 FERIK – Has stayed on stoutly at the end of a pair of seven furlong contests, including on his nursery debut last time out. This step up to a mile is sure to see him in a better light, with a three pound rise for that handicap debut more than fair on what he showed. The David Evans yard are going through a quiet spell at the moment which is a concern; however, as a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Wigmore Hall, this colt should have plenty more improvement in the tank to come so he gets the nod.

2 BARBARIANATTHEGATE – Fitted with headgear as early as his second career start – which is never a positive – he ran well to be placed in a pair of novice events in July. Pitched into the deep end on his handicap debut, he floundered in the mud at Glorious Goodwood in a far deeper race than this, a run that can easily be excused. This should be more his level but he has to prove his stamina stepping up an extra furlong in trip. He looks one of the less likely in the field

3 NOBLE MANNERS – The most exposed of the field with six runs under her belt, it wasn’t until her latest start that she finally got off the mark. That was a more competitive contest than this one over seven furlongs at Newmarket, needing all of that distance to get her head in front. The front pair pulled well clear that day but, even so, an eight pound rise is a steep one given it was a career best by some distance and, as such, needs to be backed up. This step up in trip should suit, but quicker ground and a sharper track are perhaps not going to turn this into the stamina test she requires.

4 CODICIL – A perfect 2/2 so far in her career, she needed all of the seven and a half furlongs at Beverley to get her head in front last time. She begins her time in handicaps on a workable mark on the back of that and looks well in need of the step up in trip already in her young career. Her dam was a Group 2 winner, scoring over ten to fifteen furlongs so she has the look of a smart middle distance prospect for 2018. But, she has enough ability to be making a further impact this campaign.

5 PUCHITA – Has had just the three starts to qualify for her first go in a handicap, but has steadily regressed. Her first outing was solid enough over six furlongs but has flopped over that trip and over seven since. Soft ground last time can perhaps be used as an excuse for the poor effort, but her pedigree screams sprinter so she is tough to support stepped up to try a mile here.