Windsor and Wolverhampton

Windsor starts its popular Monday evening cards next week, but the track opens today for the new season with an afternoon meeting. The card opens with a race for 2yo maidens followed by 4 races for 3yo´s. By far the most interesting events are the two maiden races over 10 furlongs, which have runners from leading trainers Sir Michael Stoute, Sir Henry Cecil, John Gosden, Roger Charlton, Andrew Balding et al. Some of these are very well bred, but the most interesting pedigree is that of Aegaeus (Ed Dunlop/ George Baker) in the first division at 16.30 CET, who is by Monsun out of multiple classic and Group One winner Ouija Board. In the second division, we believe that the two unraced runners, fillies trained by Cecil and Stoute respectively, will come out on top, as those that have run have not shown much. The card closes with 3 very tricky handicaps, wIth the mile race at 17.30 the best betting race on the card. Starwatch (John Bridger/ Sean Levey) was much improved in the second half of last season, and won 5 of his last 6 races, 4 of them with this jockey, while course specialist Uncle Fred (Patrick Chamings/ Fergus Sweeney) won this race last year, but our choice is top-weight Benadonner (Mike Murphy/ Neil Callan), who is dropping in grade here and has been given a real chance by the handicapper.

Windsor - betting forecast:
1. Race: Meringue Pie - Regal Dan - Ouzinkie
2. Race: Impel - Little China - Pettochside
3. Race: Masters Club - Somemothersdohavem - Priestley`S Reward
4. Race: Rosslyn Castle - Ace Of Valhalla - Scottish Vespers
5. Race: Falkland - Savida - Man Of Plenty
6. Race: Zafeen`S Pearl - Moone`S My Name - Alhaban
7. Race: Style And Panache - Escape To Glory - Avonmore Star
8. Race: Shalambar - Honourable Knight - Reset City



The all-weather racing at Wolverhampton is pretty dreary, but Ed Dunlop can perhaps land an across-the-card 3yo maiden double with Sir Maximilian (Jamie Spencer) at 15.45. Beau Duke (Balding/ Liam Keniry) can take the other maiden, over an extended mile at 16.45, while Pittodrie Star (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope), who ran well last week at Musselburgh and also has good all-weather form to his credit, can take the stayers handicap at 16.15.

Wolverhampton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Poker Hospital - Guava - Fugitive Motel
2. Race: Pashan Garh - Sir Maximilian - Going French
3. Race: Pittodrie Star - Al Khawaneej - Covert Decree
4. Race: Beau Duke - Sareeah - Main Line
5. Race: Love Your Looks - Frosty Friday - Cairanne
6. Race: My Boy Ginger - Bursting Bubbles - Always Eager
7. Race: By Implication - Cwmni - So Is She