8.20pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 15/05/2017

This is a Class 5 handicap over an extended 1m 3f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Michael Bell has been in good form of late and JE SUIS CHARLIE has a fine chance of success today. He was well-beaten in a tougher race than this on his seasonal reappearance and he should improve plenty for that run combined with a drop down in grade. He has leading claims on today’s terms. in this. Wordsearch has become slightly disappointing with defeats in weaker races than this and Chaparrachik may provide the selection with the most to think about now stepped up in trip.

1 BLUSHING RED – Broke his maiden tag at the third time of asking in March on the All-Weather over an extended 1m 4f trip. He was well-supported that day and the handicapper has been fair in allotting him an opening mark of 75 which is a good starting point for this Le Harve colt. He showed a good turn of foot on his last start so the step down in trip should be no problem and James Doyle is booked to ride today. Respected.

2 ROAD TO DUBAI – Raised 5lbs in the weights following a cosy success at Goodwood earlier this month. The form of that race isn’t particularly strong but he did it well enough and he remains in Class 5 company today over a slightly longer trip. That should suit him having done his best work late on that day and George Wood claims 5lbs again here. This is tougher than his last race and he’s worth taking on in this.

3 GOLDEN WOLF – Handicap debut today following three runs in poor maidens. He wasn’t beaten far on any of his maiden starts and it’s no surprise to see him stepped up in trip again having looked just a shade outpaced over shorter. A mark of 74 is fair but he doesn’t look to have a huge amount in hand and he could be worth opposing in this for a yard operating at a 3% strike rate in the past fortnight.

4 JE SUIS CHARLIE – Faced a difficult task on his seasonal return last month in a decent Class 3 handicap at Newmarket. He steps up in trip again today which looks like the right move and a mark of 74 still looks about right for him given he was beaten 5 1/2 lengths off just 2lbs higher in a similar race to this last autumn. The yard have been in good form of late with 7 winners from their last 23 runners so he’s worth close attention in the betting.

5 WORDSEARCH – Yet to break his maiden tag and he’s making his sixth career start today. He was disappointing in two Class 6 maidens over a mile and 1m 2f and he’s returned to handicap company off just one pound lower which still looks high enough having been beaten 3 1/4 lengths off just one pound higher last winter. He gets the services of Ryan Moore today but the yard are still not performing as well as they can and there are questions marks regarding him here. Finished a length behind Golden Wolf at Lingfield last time out.

6 ULYSSES – Has gone backwards if anything since making his racecourse debut in early March. He was well-beaten over 1m 2f on Good to Firm ground here last month, finishing 19 lengths behind the winner beating just one rival home. The blinkers are applied for the first time today and a mark of 74 should be workable although he’s another that needs to start delivering some better performances.

7 CHAPARRACHIK – Finished 2 lengths behind Road To Dubai earlier this month at Goodwood. He looked a bit short of pace that day so connections look to have found a good opportunity for him over further in this. He’s been a raised a pound for that last run but he’s better off at the weights with Richard Hughes’ runner and it would be no surprise to see him go close in this. Respected here although the stable are without a winner from their last 15 runners.

8 SUSSEX RANGER – Handicap debut today for Gary Moore’s runner following some mixed performances in maidens. He’s improved for each start and went close at Kempton in December, beaten just 3/4 of a length by some decent enough sorts. This is the right grade for him on all known evidence although he may just struggle against some nicer looking sorts and he may be one for slightly later in the season.

9 MARETTIMO – Sent off at 80/1 on his seasonal reappearance at this track last month and he could never get in contention, eventually finishing 15 lengths behind the winner. He will do better now switched to handicaps and the booking of Andrea Atzeni catches the eye and a mark of 67 could prove to be quite generous in time now tackling longer trips. Worth close attention in the betting here.

10 ASTUTE BOY – Was a disappointing eighth of ten at Chelmsford in December when beaten 14 1/2 lengths. He failed to build on his previous promise over a mile and connections step him up in trip on handicap debut. He doesn’t look particularly well-treated on all known form and he’s best watched today against some race fit rivals with far better form in the book. The stable have sent out one winner from 20 runners here.

11 CHAMASAY – Took advantage of a near-basement handicap at Southwell in March when a 5-length winner off a mark of 47. He couldn’t follow up that effort on a faster surface at Kempton although he did go on to win again back at Southwell over a mile and off 8lbs higher. He arrives here off a 9lb higher mark and he’s likely to struggle now kept on the turf on this faster ground. Significant market support would be of interest though.