Windsor stages its feature meeting of the season on Saturday evening and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway has some strong fancies.
Here are his five best bets at the Berkshire venue.
Lucky Ava @ 15/2
1pt win
Havechatma @ 33/1
1pt win
By Starlight @ 10/1
1pt each-way
Achelois @ 9/2
1pt win
Timestamp @ 7/2
1pt win
The Sky Sports Racing 415 Fillies' Handicap (3.55) kicks off the card and five-time all-weather winner Lucky Ava might be capable of recording her first victory on turf.
The Conrad Allen-trained filly produced one of her best runs on turf last season over course and distance, when beaten just a half length into second in a 13-runner handicap, and she again showed this surface holds no fears when fourth at Ascot last time after racing keenly.
That stiff track places the emphasis on stamina, so she did well to finish only four lengths behind the winner after going so freely through the race, and this speed test will suit better.
This is a slight drop in class for Lucky Ava and she might be able to take advantage.
The second division of the Leger Festival On Sky Sports Racing Novice Stakes (5.02) doesn't look an outstanding contest and Havechatma could put her experience to use.
She has shown promise on both starts despite being well beaten. Her debut at Chelmsford resulted in a strong-finishing ninth, when she did remarkably well to beat any of her rivals after fluffing the start, and her latest fifth at Nottingham gave another hint she has ability.
Havechatma kept on strongly from off the pace to finish just three and a half lengths behind the winner in fifth of 12 and would have been closer had she held a better position early on.
She has a decent draw here in stall five and might be able to take another step forwards.
Maksud is the one to beat in the Royal Windsor August Stakes (6.05), but he is a short price in an open race and By Starlight looks the better bet each-way, provided all eight runners go.
By Starlight was successful on this weekend last year at Goodwood and shaped like she is on her way back to form when a strong-finishing third in a Listed race at Salisbury 17 days ago.
She was slowly into her stride that day and got no run when trying to weave her way through the pack, but rocketed home to be nearest at the finish. She is value for better than the bare form.
That was over 1m2f, but all of By Starlight's best form has come over further, including her best run this season when fourth in a Group 3 at Haydock in May. That form may be enough.
The Sytner Sunningdale & Maidenhead BMW Winter Hill Stakes (6.35) is the feature of the entire season at Windsor and Achelois rates a good bet to make the step up to Group class.
The Andrew Balding-trained filly is in the form of her life. She was beaten just half a length by subsequent wide-margin Group 3 winner Anmaat in the John Smith's Cup at York last month and went one better when landing a Listed race at the same track just two weeks later.
Back-to-back career-best Racing Post Ratings confirm she is improving and there could be more to come from this in-form filly, who has no problem coping with soft ground like this.
The Download The At The Races App Handicap (7.35) rounds off the Windsor card and Timestamp is improving quickly enough to make it four in a row with a first win on turf.
He has progressed quickly since gelded and switched to handicaps and followed wide-margin wins in 1m6f handicaps at Chelmsford this month with a cosy success over 1m4f at Wolverhampton last week, for which he has been raised only 4lb to a career-high mark of 71.
Benoit De La Sayette offsets most of that rise because he is superb value for his 3lb claim and Timestamp is bred to be equally effective on soft turf. His sire No Nay Never's progeny usually handle cut and his half-brother Gulf Of Poets won twice on soft ground on grass.
Latest sports betting and odds
Watch horse racing live streaming
Head to the bet365 YouTube channel for exclusive racing content
We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy