No one can complain about the quantity of runners at Monday’s four meetings, and at the two evening fixtures at Beverley and Windsor in particular, where the field sizes average above 12 and 10 respectively. Quality, as would be expected on a Monday, is spread a little more thinly. But on pedigree at least there are several interesting runners in the 10-furlong maiden at Windsor, including Stormy Blues (8.15), a half-brother to this year’s Ascot Gold Cup winner, Big Orange.
Stormy Blues is one of three runners for the Godolphin operation in the 16-strong field, along with Adjacent, a half-brother to three winners, and Clearly, a half-sister to three winners whose dam was a half-sister to the Lammtarra, the Derby and Arc winner in 1995. Other runners with interesting pedigrees include Fujaira Prince, a half-brother to Willie Mullins’s top-class hurdler Nichols Canyon, who won at listed level on the Flat, and Graphite, a gelded son of Galileo, whose dam, Simply Perfect, was a dual Group 1 winner in the Fillies’ Mile and Falmouth Stakes.
On paper at least, there is plenty of potential in the field but Stormy Blues has much the best form in the book, having finished a close second behind Intellect in a maiden at Nottingham last time out. Intellect then went on to win a Newbury handicap by nine lengths off a mark of 80 and while heavy ground there may have exaggerated the margin, Stormy Blues is a fair price at around 7-4 to get off the mark.
Outcrop (7.15) has been gelded since finishing third on his latest start at Newbury and if the operation has settled him down a little he could well find enough improvement to return to winning form on the same card.
Rossall was favourite for his debut at Beverley when he struggled to find running room at a vital stage but he is weak in the betting this morning and Regulator (1.55), who ran well in the second division of the same event, is the pick to open his account at Ayr.
Maureb (6.55) made the most of a reduced mark last time out and should go close off a 3lb higher mark at Beverley in a race in which she finished third – from 6lb higher mark – 12 months ago. As You Like It (2.45) was disappointing last time out but will be difficult to beat if he can return to his previous winning form when he lines up on the card of Cartmel, one of only seven at the Lake District track all year.
Tips for Monday’s races
Ayr
1.55 Regulator (nb) 2.30 Little Belter 3.05 Sahreej 3.40 Magic Journey 4.10 Tesko Fella 4.40 Berengaria 5.10 Itlaaq
Beverley
5.55 Black Prince 6.25 Special Purpose 6.55 Maureb 7.25 Strummer 7.55 Navarone 8.25 I’m Super Too 8.55 Bollin Ted
Cartmel
2.10 Who’s For Tea 2.45 As You Like 3.20 Cougar’s Gold 3.55 Flying Eagle 4.25 Smadynium 4.55 Alderbrook Lad 5.25 Rockabilly Riot
Windsor
6.15 Ortiz 6.45 Di Alta 7.15 Outcrop 7.45 Atletico 8.15 Stormy Blues (nap) 8.45 Dragons Voice
