Royal Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes 2011

Royal Ascot (Day 1, Race 6)

Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo) Winner £28,385

Picks: Federick Engles (win) & Bayleyf (each/way)

Arnold Lane: Made a promising winning debut with bit in hand in fair 5f Leicester maiden earlier this month (revered well from slow start, well on top despite idling late on); Fourth in decent contest last time and needs more here.

Ballesteros: Promising start when beaten 4 lengths by useful prospect in Haydock maiden last month but didn’t make the expected improvement for that when third again in Haydock maiden last time out and while drop in trip could work, others preferred.

Bayleyf: Was best of the rest behind Gatepost (Coventry fancy for many) at Folkestone first time out, showing inexperience in abundance (steadied at start, had to be switched wide, hung) & decent effort when behind two Coventry runners last time out here; Yard has excellent record in this (100/1 winner, Flashmans Papers, 50/1 newcomer Kingsgate Native finished second the previous (his Stone Of Folca also looked the most likely winner until final half-furlong last season); Outsider’s chance.

Bear Behind: Managed to make US challenger and major contender Gentlemans Code work on debut, and came forward from that when landing maiden with ease (had well regarded/backed type behind); Can do well again here.

Caledonian Spring: Made a promising start when fourth on debut over C&D behind two nice sorts, just a ½ length behind Bayleyf on his debut; Bumped into two useful horses in Eureka and a subsequent winner last time out but does need to find a large amount of improvement to figure here.

Caspar Nestcher: Well backed on debut and did job in fine style when running out a ready winner on debut at Beverley, overcoming a poor run to win going away; Not so good when beaten in Pontefract conditions stakes, unable to give 4lbs, ground and a beating to a previous winner; Had chance to make amends in Woodcote Stakes but never at ease with the track and got too far behind to make impact; Can do better here but raised in class again.

Crowning Star: Far better than bare form when good third on debut in Brocklesby, but no improvement from first to second start when more than well beaten in ordinary race last time and ignored.

Es Que Love: Showed major promise on debut, when looking set to win before losing race through veering;  Made amends when easy winner of maiden next time out but trashed by Federick Engles latest and no form reversal likely.

Federick Engles: Bumped into a good one first time out and then ran into a potential top – notcher in Shumoos at Haydock, the best of the rest by 5 lengths; Got off the mark when he absolutely trashed Es Que Love last time out and has big claims here.

Gentleman’s Code: Suffered odds – on reverse at Belmont (muddy track) and made amends when opening account in easy style, beating an easy subsequent winner with fair amount in hand; Trainer has had race in mind for some time and can go close here.

Hamza: Was a ready winner of a 5f Musselburgh maiden on debut from subsequent winner & bettered that form significantly when clear second to Royal Ascot prospect Gatepost, with four other winners behind; Beaten by good pair at Beverley latest and while his form is solid, others might have more in hand.

I’m Still The Man: Saw off odds-on shot to take Sandown maiden auction last month (nothing else in the race) & and while that success impressive visually, this far harder.

Lupo D’Oro: Promise when prominent for a long way before fading late when fifth in a 6f Haydock maiden on debut & well behind Mitie Mouse with benefit of previous experience last time out.

 Magic City: Made favourite for Coventry Stakes after demolition of strong field at Newbury (5 subsequent winners emerged from that contest) but not run to that form since, sore shins blamed when unsuccessfully giving weight to subsequent Listed winner Miss Work Of Art, and a lot to do when beaten again by Bannock at Windsor; Unable to find any more than one pace when third in National Stakes and hard to fancy after that.

Mitite Mouse: Got better of odds on shot (who had previously made a very promising debut) at Kempton on AW and respected on that; Holds L’upo D’oro on that form but little promise apart from that.

Monnoyer: Clear cut winner of maiden on AW debut, and not disgraced when fourth behind 3 previous winners at York in decent event; Probably too keen for own good when up against a good horse Wise Venture at Yarmouth latest; Dettori is a notable booking and not ruled out in first time visor.

Rent Free: Made standard improvement expected for debut when taking ordinary Ayr maiden (good to soft) but that weak, weak race and cannot be expected to make same progression from second to third start.

Springinmystep: Quite likely to improve a good deal for his debut, when second behind Worthington at Carlisle (green early); That said, decisively beaten at the line and didn’t have to suffer tough passage that the winner did, so hard to envisage a form reversal.

Stonefield Flyer: Has bumped into two decent horses on his first two starts, one of whom reopposes (Hamza) and the other has won twice since; Blitzing rivals in ordinary Newcastle auction maiden last month; That form has to be improved on but looks likely to come forward again.

The Penny Horse: Managed to overcome his tendency to hang late when making a nice debut at Nottingham; Withdrawn after refusing to enter stall here later that month and on big occasion such as this, that must be a concern.

Monnoyer: Had to be driven just to keep up with Monnoyer on his debut at Windsor (very green) & left that form well behind when winning maiden at Chepstow last month; Hughes deserts but Moore no less of a replacement and considered.

Copper Falls: Weakened out of things late on debut behind useful horse (subsequent winner) but no improvement when well held second on next start (pulled hard and awkward); Well beaten into third again last time & form way below what is required to feature here.

Huma Bird: Hung too badly on debut to feature, different proposition when making all to take ordinary 6f Lingfield maiden last time; Yard has strength in depth with this division and notable that she is sent here.

Lady Nickandy: This is way harder than hard-fought win in weak Yarmouth maiden auction last week  and best watched.

Lexington Spirit: Cosy winner of 5f Thirsk maiden on debut and made it two from two when edging out another previous winner in three-runner novice event at Newcastle last time; Going to get the gallop he wants but second string of Fahey’s yard.

Owley: 3,000 gns buy; The 1995 and 1996 winners were also debutants but that was when race was conditions stakes and this far harder, so can only be watched.

Worthington: Won Carlisle maiden (good to soft) despite decisively despite meeting some mid-race trouble and has to be respected for stable which won this last year; Has a decent chance.

VERDICT: A muddling affair and the draw complicates things once again, so it’s best ignored altogether. Many make some sort of appeal but the standout is FREDERICK ENGLES, who sets a high standard on his 6 lengths romp at Musselburgh last time out and has the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle. Gentlemens Code should beat Bear Behind again and go close, while Worthington merits respect. That said, those looking for a big priced success could do worse than side with Bayleyf, whose form reads well for a yard that has a good record in this.