Return To Windsor Seller For Into The Wind

Tough filly Into The Wind has been running some solid races this season, with three places in four starts and running a career best when second off 66 in a Class 4 handicap at Sandown last time. She is now 7lb above her last winning mark, so have dropped her back into Selling company at Windsor on Monday night. She has run in three similar events over the last two years, winning one in 2012, while she got beat a short head in this event in 2011 and was fourth last year. The main concern is the big field of fifteen, as she's certainly an easier ride in smaller fields when you can drop her out the back. However, there is plenty of deadwood in opposition and as long as Pat can get a decent position early, she has an outstanding chance.

We also have gigantic two-year-old Biotic in the opening two-year-old maiden. This Aqualam gelding made a promising start to his career when finishing fourth at Leicester, despite getting very tired in the soft ground. He is drawn in stall one so should go well on the quicker ground and it would be nice if he was placed again but whatever he does at two will be a bonus and he could be a decent horse when strengthening up next season.

Four At Ffos Las

It's a busy Tuesday evening at Ffos Las, with four runners at the Welsh track, although all four would probably be happier if some of the heavy rain showers hit the track. We have two in the fillies sprint, with both Ivors Princess and Madame Kintyre needing to find some form. Ivors Princess made a great start to her three-year-old career, winning her first two starts with ease at Salisbury but was absolutely hammered by the handicapper as she went up a whopping 18lbs. She then lost her confidence when racing in a higher grade and had a setback in the spring which has delayed her return to the track. Hopefully the smaller field will help her gain some confidence but she will probably strip fitter for the outing. Madame Kintyre has had a lot of problems since denied by a short-head at Windsor in June and although well handicapped, she has completely lost her way. Hopefully the small field will also help her gain some confidence as if returning to form she could certainly go very close but we will be happy if she just gets involved. Sweet Alabama went off too hard in first-time blinkers when fourth at Leicester, having looked likely to win entering the final furlong, which showed she's certainly capable of winning a race. She hasn't repeated the form on two subsequent starts and would prefer some rain today but off a light weight, she's capable of placing at least. Gaelic Ice has been in good form since the hood was applied, having a troubled run when second at Windsor and then got stuck a little wide when third stepped up to twelve furlongs at Ffos Las last time. Dropped into a weak 0-55 handicap, she should go very close and hopefully she gets off the mark as we could do with a winner, as we have found ourselves on the cold list, despite most of the horses running well recently.

Progressive three-year-old Astrum runs on the AW at Lingfield on Wednesday and although we would prefer turf, there are only eight runners and hopefully the weather isn't quite as hot as it will help reduce the kickback, which is particularly bad in the summer. As long as he handles the AW, he should go very close as it doesn't look the strongest of races and he was unlucky not to get his third win of the season when second at Pontefract last time as he was left with too much to do, having been hampered at the start. We also have Into The Wind at Sandown in the evening, the obvious question mark against her is the rise in grade as she is at her most competitive when racing at Class 6 level. However, she is progressing with age and her chance would be greatly increased if the thunderstorms hit Sandown as she loves soft ground. She had too much ground to make up last time and is better in smaller fields so she certainly won't be disgraced.

£20,000 Newmarket Success For Shahdaroba

Shahdaroba put up a much improved effort to land a £20,000 handicap at Newmarket's Craven meeting on Wednesday and winning a race like that is a massive boost for the yard. Despite being heavily backed, we felt a mark of 87 could leave him vulnerable to some unexposed sorts, especially after only finishing fourth on his seasonal debut at Doncaster so it was a nice surprise. He will now be campaigned in all the top three-year-old sprints, including the £100,000 Coral Sprint Trophy at York in June.



Meanwhile on Monday, Into The Wind made a very promising seasonal return when third at Windsor. As she normally needs a few runs, its augurs well for the future and she looks to have improved again from five to six.
Two-year-old Blue Anchor Bay was only sixth on his debut but should come on for the experience.

First Monday At Windsor

You can tell the turf season is under way when the Monday meetings at Windsor have started and we have two representatives there tomorrow. Blue Anchor Bay makes his debut in the opener and he is bred for speed and should make up into a nice two-year-old. It's isn't easy for us to gauge our two-year-olds at the moment, Master Carpenter slightly surprised us by having enough speed to make a winning debut while Dovils Duel has proved very disappointing in his two starts. Blue Anchor Bay will certainly improve for the experience but we hope he puts up a solid show with only one of his rivals having a run under their belts.

 Into The Wind keeps progressing with age and won two races last season. We feel she has strengthened up again from five to six but normally improves for a run or two and may just need this seasonal return.