Monday Windsor Placepot Tips from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Sarah’s Verse, Harb, Dream By Day

SARAH’S VERSE was a highly-respectable third over track and trip three weeks ago on heavy ground and drops in grade from the same mark here. She won over course-and-distance last August and has a fair chance on these terms.

HARB has been competing in stronger events than this of late and wasn’t beaten far in a much stronger race at Epsom last time on similar ground. He is a leading player, and so is DREAM BY DAY, who also drops in grade with two wins on soft ground to his name. 

Leg 2 Selections: Rockit Tommy 

ROCKIT TOMMY won quite stylishly on debut at Lingfield four weeks ago, who came through very strongly to score with plenty in hand. The form has a nice look as well, given the second and third are rated 74 and 73 and have both run well in defeat since. With plenty more to come, he is fancied to remain unbeaten. 

Leg 3 Selections: Ardad’s Great, Hydration 

ARDAD’S GREAT has some useful form in the book, who has finished runner-up in four of her last six. Her nose second in a Listed event at Tipperary is her standout form, as the winner has placed in various Group/Listed events since, while the third has done the same, placing in a Group 1 as well. She sets the standard and is the one to beat.

HYDRATION looked in need of the experience when eighth on debut at Sandown and improved on that initial promise to open his account at Kempton next time on his all-weather debut. He has been gelded since he was last seen and is Roger Charlton’s only runner on the card as well. He can take advantage if the favourite doesn’t succeed. 

Leg 4 Selections: Azure Angel, Crazy Luck

AZURE ANGEL is an improving filly, who was third on debut at Yarmouth and has won both starts on the artificial stuff since. This is a step up in grade but she should have more to come and could take some beating if handling the ground. 

CRAZY LUCK was a bit below form at Newbury last-time-out and should come on plenty for that reappearance. She is now three pounds below her last winning mark and Oisin Murphy maintains the ride, so she could give the market leaders most to think about with a fitness edge. 

Leg 5 Selections: Graignes

I will play only GRAIGNES in this race, who is the class act in the field and the booking of Andrea Atzeni is significant. The seven-year-old has lots of useful form when trained in France and has been highly tried by this yard since. 

His fourth in the Balmoral at Royal Ascot three years ago off a mark of 104 and his latest fifth of 16 at Goodwood off 80 are smart pieces of form. If he is ready to go on his return, which I assume he is, then he is sure to be thereabouts at this lower level. 

Leg 6 Selections: Sydney Mews, Alba Longa 

SYDNEY MEWS is attractively treated at the weights and in the handicap ranks, as the form of her second to Sunset Point last time, despite being beaten seven lengths, is decent. The third is rated 79, so she is thrown in here off 71 and her trainer and jockey have been amongst the winners regularly of late. 

ALBA LONGA is another who could have a say in the outcome. She ran her best race when third at Doncaster on heavy ground last time and an opening mark of 75 is more than workable. If fitness doesn’t hold her back, she should be able to pose a threat.