Monday’s Racing Tips: Queen’s Guard to take the Crown

With Royal Ascot just over 24 hours away, we have a fairly quiet Monday on our hands consisting of five meetings across the UK and Ireland.

Monday's racing tips includes three strong fancies - one being an unexposed handicapper for Newmarket trainer Michael Bell.

19:00 Windsor - Bishop’s Crown @ 6/1

Eve Johnson Houghton’s BISHOP’S CROWN is one to watch at Windsor. He was an impressive winner over course and distance in April. Up near the pace throughout, he was a little too keen in the early stages of the race but that didn’t prevent him from pulling clear to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

It was another good effort when he finished a narrow second off a 9lb higher mark at Goodwood next time and he stuck to his task well, despite getting a little tired in the heavy ground. The son of Havana Gold should be competitive off a 1lb higher mark here on that evidence.

Dropping back to 5f didn’t suit him last time out and plenty went wrong for him that day. He was hanging badly left on the run-in and reportedly lost both front shoes. It’s therefore unlikely that the performance was an accurate reflection of his ability and the form can be ignored.

The return to 6f should be a big help and a return to winning ways could be on the agenda.

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19:30 Windsor - Queen’s Guard @ 5/2

Look out for QUEEN’S GUARD in Windsor’s feature race as she was impressive on just her second handicap start at Lingfield last time out. Making the frame in all but one of her five runs, Michael Bell’s filly already has two victories to her name.

She was entered for the Lowther Stakes as a juvenile, indicating she was highly regarded, and although she didn;t take part in that race she has certainly given the impression she has plenty of ability. That was definitely on display at Kempton, where she eased clear to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

The daughter of Havana Grey is unlikely to be inconvenienced by the return to turf as she was a comfortable winner of a Yarmouth maiden when last seen on grass. It’s hard to argue with a 7lb rise following that latest performance and there should be loads more to come.

20:00 Windsor - Nap Hand @ 9/2

NAP HAND is very interesting here after a cracking effort on his first start for 541 days at Kempton last month. He was beaten less than two lengths in fifth and should improve significantly for the run.

He got off to a slow start and lacked the gears to challenge when the chips were down but that wasn’t a surprise returning from that lengthy absence.

Alan King’s four-year-old is still very lightly raced and he finished second by a narrow margin in a couple of Kempton handicaps in November 2022. It surely won’t be long before the unexposed gelding is back in the winners’ enclosure.