by Jack Milner
Ryan Moore was cut to ½ (From 4/6) with BetVictor to regain his Flat Jockey's Championship over the weekend and Moore can add to his already brilliant haul of 47 winners for the new format. Reigning Champion Richard Hughes is his nearest pursuer and with Moore missing this evening's action after spending the weekend riding for Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, Hughes can make further inroads at Windsor. Hughes is currently 3/1 to seal a fourth straight Title in the Irishman's last season in the saddle and heads to his familiar stomping ground this evening with four excellent chances.
Hughes partners Belvoir Bay (6.00) in the opening 5f Maiden with Richard Hannon's well-bred filly taken to shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking. The daughter of Equiano stayed on strongly once the penny had dropped last month on debut at Leicester and looks the ideal type to go improve further and go one better accordingly.
Hannon and Hughes can double-up with Nosey Barker (8.30) who was similarly second on debut when chasing home a well-bred colt of Sir Michael Stoute at Lingfield. The selection was unfancied in the market but was a massive eye-catcher when snatching second late on and the well-bred Rip Van Winkle colt can make amends with Hughes replacing Pat Dobbs in the saddle.
Clive Cox's Tears of the Sun (7.30) was narrowly touched-off over course and distance three weeks ago however remains well-handicapped and can score for the second time this term in the competitive 10f handicap. The selection has been raised 2lb for chasing home Ed Walker's well-backed Persona Grata however was value for much more with the filly hampered in the closing stages. She is clearly thriving at present and can defy a career-high mark of 85 under regular partner Adam Kirby.
Mark Johnston won the feature at Pontefract on the corresponding card last term and can taste further success with Gold Medallion (3.00) under Franny Norton. The selection knew his job well when scoring impressively under Adam Kirby on debut at Leicester and despite the form on paper lacking strength, the colt showed a tremendous attitude to knuckle down in the closing stages. The Acclamation colt is taken to get the better of Richard Hannon's Age of Empire who was far from disgraced finishing 6th last time out in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Nine go to post for the Fillies' Handicap and whilst Mark Johnston's Mambo Paradise is respected chasing her third success of the season, she is overlooked for David Barron's course and distance winner Jamesbo's Girl (4.00) under regular partner Graham Gibbons. The mare has twice finished third behind the re-opposing Gran Canaria Queen, at Ripon and York respectively, however reopposes on 11lb better terms and should reverse the form accordingly.
Ryan Moore is West Yorkshire-bound to ride Voice Control (4.30) for Sir Michael Stoute with the gelding taken to shed the maiden tag at the belated sixth time of asking. The selection looked desperately in need of the run on his seasonal appearance at Beverley and disappointed last month when a beaten favourite at Windsor however remains open to further improvement and can score from a pound lower mark.
Majdool (3.15) chased home subsequent Coventry Stakes 4th Beaverbrook last time out at Chester and looks to have been well-placed by trainer Roger Varian to shed the maiden tag on the all-weather. Sheikh Hamdan's retained rider Paul Hanagan goes to Wolverhampton for the ride and the Acclamation colt is taken to better Godolphin's Criminalistic under Irish Derby winning jockey William Buick.
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