Flat racing at Folkestone and Windsor

if it´s Monday it must be Windsor - this will be the standard theme for the next 5 months, as Windsor´s Monday meetings (especially later on in the evenings) are a regular fixture. The most interesting race there today is the 3yo maiden over 10 furlongs at 17.50 CET; this race was won last year by Popmurphy, who finished in front of Fame and Glory yesterday at the Curragh. There are 14 runners, none of whom has run more than twice, and they include several promising types from the big stables, such as Kronful (Michael Jarvis/ Frankie Dettori), Protaras (Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally), Nibani (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) and Bombadero (John Dunlop/ Eddie Ahern) among others. It is difficult to make a choice here in view of the lack of recent form, but all the above-mentioned are expected to pay their way this season.

There are better betting opportunities in the two divisions of the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.50 and 17.20. In the former race, Luscivious (Jeremy Glover/ Freddie Tylicki), an easy winner last week Musselburgh, can score again under a 6lbs penalty; however Efistorm, who has won this race twice before and shows his best form in the spring and early summer, looks a big danger. There are two recent scorers in the second division, Love you Louis (John Jenkins/ Richatrd Hughes) and Master Lightfoot (Walter Swinburn/ Shane Kelly). The former has gone up 10 lbs for winning on very heavy ground (conditions today will be much different), so we prefer the latter, even though he is more of an all-weather specialist.

The opening race for 2yo maidens has 15 runners, only one of which has already run; this is Scarlet Rocks (David Evans/ Jamie Spencer), who has already twice finished runner-up. He sets a good standard and can get off the mark today. Evans has his juveniles in good form and can also take the 2yo maiden at Folkestone with Bajan Bullet (Andrew Heffernan), who has also run two good races. The 6 furlongs handicap here at16.00 is quite open, but German-bred Quasi Congaree (Ian Wood/ Seb Sanders) and top-weight Halsion Chancer (John Best/ Robert Winston) look the two likeliest candidates, although both of them have so far shown their best form at Lingfield; however they are better handicapped on turf and should go well.