Monday’s Racing Tips: Shagraan the one to beat at Windsor

Flat racing takes centre stage on a quiet Monday consisting of just four meetings (one jumps offering) in the UK. First off is the card at Pontefract, before they go at Worcester, Wolverhampton and Windsor.

Monday's racing tips includes one for Mick Appleby who's taken to follow up a fine effort at Royal Ascot with victory at Windsor.

15:45 Pontefract - Aviemore @ 8/1

One of the stronger of Today's Horse Races is this Class 4 handicap over a mile. There are several strong candidates and we think the most likely winner is AVIEMORE.

Charlie Johnston’s three-year-old has only had three starts thus far and he has filled the runner-up spots in each of his last two. Perhaps the best of those efforts came on his penultimate start at Carlisle when he was beaten by a head over 1m1f.

The ground was soft that day and that, combined with the stiff track, probably stretched his stamina as far as it will go. With that in mind, the drop back to a mile should suit and the switch to handicaps is also likely to facilitate plenty of progress.

17:45 Windsor - Big Time Rascal @ 4/1

Another thoroughly-unexposed sort, watch out for Paul & Oliver Cole’s BIG TIME RASCAL who looks ready to shed his maiden tag.

The three-year-old finished second last time out and it would be no surprise if he was to go one better this time around.

It would be very hard to fancy him on his two-year-old form as he showed next to nothing three starts last term. He clearly wintered well, however, as his second at Brighton was a massive improvement.

George Boughey’s Mutamanni was the winner by a length that day and he boosted the form by winning next time. Big Time Rascal was well clear of the third that day and further improvement is expected.

Handicaps should also help and an opening mark of 72 is unlikely to be too problematic.

19:15 Windsor - Shagraan @ 6/4

Mick Appleby’s SHAGRAAN is very lightly raced in handicap company and has acquitted himself well so far this term. He was fairly highly tried as a juvenile for Clive Cox and managed to finish second in Listed company last summer.

The son of Sioux Nation has been very competitive in some hot races so far this season, most notably at Royal Ascot when last seen. Finishing fifth in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes; that was a fine effort on just his third handicap start.

He didn’t quite possess the requisite pace to provide a threatening challenge and the return to 6f could help with that in mind. Appleby’s three-year-old got off the mark impressively in a course and distance novice this time last year and a return to winning ways could be on the agenda.

It’s highly unlikely that he has peaked yet and a mark in the low 90s clearly isn’t beyond him. This is arguably his easiest task of the season, so expect him to take full advantage.

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