7.45pm Windsor Tips & Betting Preview 07/08/2017

The first time ever for this Class Six handicap that has attracted a better than expected field of ten, and with horse rated from 59 at the top to 45 at the bottom. Our race preview for the 7.45pm at Windsor Monday evening is below.

IN SUMMARY: Not the highest quality race ever seen, but that could pave the way for a big run from DANCING DRAGON (Each Way), who looks very attractively weighted on his first attempt at this sort of trip after running on well over shorter last time out. Chunkyfunkymonkey is the main danger but may find the handicapper has his measure for now.

1 INCREDIBLE DREAM – Top weight of nine stone nine for Dean Ivory’s four-year-old son of Vale Of York but with the stable in great form that may not be enough to stop him. With four wins from their last eighteen runners for a 22% strike rate, and a level stake profit of close to 29 points, they are un unstoppable mode of late and as the gelding has only had the five races there is plenty of room for further improvement. His one win was in a ten-furlong handicap when he ran on well, and stepped up in trip today he could surprise them all with Jack Dueren claiming three pounds from the saddle.

2 CHUNKYFUNKYMONKEY – The only winner last time out in this field after scoring by three and three-quarter lengths in a better race at Yarmouth after making all the running over nine furlongs. Stepping up in trip he will need to be held on to by jockey Jack Osborn who won on him last time, and after that run trainer John Ryan said “Chunkyfunkymonkey has been unlucky a couple of times and the lad who rides him rides him at home everyday so deserved a winner….”, and if he stays the extra two furlongs here then he has to have every chance of doubling up if in the same frame of mind.

3 MEDALLA DE ORO – The top three horses in the weights are all ridden by a “Jack” with Jack Mitchell on board Peter Chapple-Hyam’s three-year-old gelding. Still a maiden after seven starts, he has been gelded since last in action when last of seven at Newmarket, he is dropped in class today from that Class Four event and if the operation has had any positive benefits, could surprise them all for a stable with one winner from just the five recent runners.

4 LET’S BE HAPPY – Trained by top jokey turned trainer Richard Hughes, the son of Mastercraftsman seems in good heart with a win and a second at Brighton in his last two outings. Admittedly he was beaten seven lengths by Fair Power (who has won again since), but he could well improve for the step up to this extended trip and is dropped back to a class we know he can win in. Left on the same handicap mark of 64, Shane Kelly rides him for the ninth time on his tenth start so knows the horse inside out, and if he gets the trip he won’t be far away at the finish.

5 WHIPCRACKAWAY – Unseated over hurdles at Uttoxeter when last in action but if that hasn’t had any ill effects (and why should it), then the Peter Hedger trained eight-year-old has decent enough chances based on his third to Grams And Ounces at Chepstow. Rarely seen on the flat these days this trip may well be the barest minimum for him these days but he has the stamina to put all of these under pressure if that is how John Fahy is allowed to ride him and if others do not get home he may be able to pounce late on, and run in to a place this evening.

6 TYNECASTLE PARK – Still a maiden after seven starts, three on the turf, three on the all-weather, and the most recent two over hurdles with a seven length second to Shining Romeo at Huntingdon over two miles. So far he has shown a lot more over obstacles than he has on the flat for Robert Eddery and if that has rekindled his interest he could yet be the dark horse here at a decent price.

7 ST ANDREWS – Two seconds and a fourth in his last three outings with a two and a half-length beating by Tobouggaloo at Chepstow last time out in similar grade. He was trying to fight back after being headed over the mile and a half that day when hampered, but was still comfortably beaten at the line and runs off a pound higher here, leaving the Ian Williams’ trained four-year-old with something to find as he looks to win his first race on his fifteenth start.

8 SOLENT MEADS – First-time cheekpieces for the Daniel Kubler three-year-old who is looking for his first win on his ninth attempt. He did run well on his second third and fourth starts last year when beaten two lengths or less each time, but hasn’t repeated that in 2017 with an eleven lengths fourth of nine at Lingfield in a ten-furlong maiden last time out. Steps up in trip but looks to have plenty to find even after being dropped three pounds by the handicapper.

9 DANCING DRAGON – Another wearing first-time cheekpieces, this time for trainer George Baker. Four starts from seven to nine furlongs are yet to see anything closer than a four and a half-length fifth at Lingfield last time out, but he was running on late that day and seems sure to be suited by this step up in trip. Add a very decent handicap rating of just 59 and he has to have a solid each way chance under decent jockey Trevor Whelan and is certainly overpriced in the circumstances.

10 CORNELIUS – Finished second on his third outing at Le Teste De Buche when trained by Tony Martin but has only finished in the first ten home once in eight races since. His third run since joining Jonathan Geake saw him finish a twenty-four length thirteen of fourteen at Chelmsford over further and much as connections deserve more for their patience he is impossible to make a case for here even off bottom weight.