Evening cards at Windsor and Lingfield to feature on Sky Sports Racing
Thursday’s live coverage on Sky Sports Racing turns to two southern venues as Windsor and Lingfield provide the evening racing. The Windsor card includes a competitive handicap and a notable maiden, while Lingfield’s highlight is a fillies’ novice contested by a couple of improving juveniles.
7.41 Windsor: RIP Susan Procter Memorial Handicap
The supper-time handicap at Windsor brings together a mixture of progressive types and proven performers stepping up in trip. Two horses contesting this mile-and-a-quarter assignment have recent form lines that suggest they could be primed for better efforts.
City Of Poets arrives following a slightly disappointing run at the Coral Eclipse meeting, when he encountered interference. That race has subsequently worked out well, and the combination of a drop in class and an increase in trip will be closely watched as potential positive factors for the James Tate runner.
Law Court also appeals on the back of a finishing effort in a slowly-run mile handicap at Glorious Goodwood and has previously performed well at Sandown, including a victory on Brigadier Gerard night. The step up in distance is expected to play to his strengths.
Also in the mix are three in-form types—A Major Payne, Bold Impact and Parlando—each arriving off recent wins. A Major Payne’s latest success came over course and distance and suggests he remains on a workable mark. Billy Loughnane takes the ride on that one.
7.11 Windsor: Matchbook Betting Exchange Supporting UK Racing Maiden Stakes
The maiden at Windsor presents an intriguing clash between well-tried juveniles and a high-profile debutante. Waterford Castle, trained by George Boughey, is the only runner in the field with a rating and comes in as a 10-race maiden. While his form as a maiden might not immediately stand out, he has been placed behind promising types and has experience in competitive company, including a mid-division finish in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Opposing him on paper is Partying, a Frankel filly purchased privately for a substantial sum. As a newcomer to the racecourse she is an unknown quantity and market interest will be telling on debut.
Other entrants to note include Thatcham, who returns from a short break and could benefit from a switch back to turf, and Richard Hannon’s newcomer who has Pat Dobbs booked.
7.28 Lingfield: Become a Friend of Racing Welfare Fillies’ Novice Stakes
Lingfield’s fillies’ novice pits Shangri La against Neswick and a small field of sisters. Shangri La, owned by Kirsten Rausing, seeks a first success after a respectable reappearance at Wolverhampton where she was fifth on handicap debut. The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica drops into novice company and may be suited by a shorter trip as she develops.
Dove Tale, trained by John and Thady Gosden, improved from her first start at three to finish placed at Kempton a week earlier and carries the family credentials of being a half-sister to German Derby runner-up Diamond Dove.
Neswick, despite modest breeding, made an encouraging start on debut over course and distance and can be competitive if she builds on that initial run.
Other races of interest
- Kaaranah bids for a hat-trick in Lingfield’s opening handicap; she has been raised 4lb after her latest success but looks to be in form.
- At Windsor, well-handicapped Great Chieftain returns to action in the Matchbook Loves Racing Handicap, with Colourband among his rivals.
- Mythological Star, successful at Windsor earlier in the week, looks to add a third consecutive victory in the Classic Golden Music Group 10th Anniversary Handicap.
The cards at Windsor and Lingfield provide a compact evening programme with a mix of promising juveniles, handicappers in form and established names dropping back in grade. Coverage on Sky Sports Racing will follow the key races through the night.
