Monday’s Racing Tips – The Whipmaster eyes up a fourth course win at Windsor off a reduced handicap mark

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The weekend was a disaster from start to finish, with most selections flattering to deceive during their races.

Purple Lily never looked to be travelling like she had done in the past. She looked a bit laboured despite the jockey hiding that by the way he was riding her. When she got a clear run she didn't really do much with it, and eventually was beaten by a horse she was ahead in the Irish Oaks.

Believing is just extremely unlucky. She has found herself on the wrong side of the track yet again, which has favoured Bradsell as it did in the Nunthorpe. The near side was evidently the place to be, with much more pace allowing Bradsell to be dragged through the race with something to aim at, whereas Believing's group were lengths behind with a couple of furlongs to go, which made it extremely difficult for Ryan Moore who got Believing staying on strongly to finish second in another Group 1.

Giavellotto also looked laboured and was slightly misbehaving before the start, and was a bit sweaty around the neck, and I don't think we saw a true showing. Kyprios is a true staying legend of the game and is the best in that category, but I felt like it was worth taking him on over this slightly shorter trip, even when Oisin was in the clear with his horse, it was like he had nothing under the bonnet. It was a fairly gutless performance.

Cairnzy's Tips

Kento 5/2 – Windsor 5:15

For my sole selection on Monday, I thought I'd chance the nine raced maiden Kento for trainer Tom Clover.

Kento has been a frustrating horse to follow, and I'm personally down money myself from following this horse ever since he made his race course debut back in September of last year. However, the one positive is his consistency – he has finished in the top three in five of his nine starts, including two second-place finishes where he was beaten by narrow margins of three-quarters of a length and a neck.

I have a habit of giving horses too many chances when I feel they are inches away from a win and normally it comes back to bite me, which is evidenced in some of my recent selections such as King's Lynn and The Goat. The double whammy is when you tip a horse up in a race and one of your older selections win, which has happened recently with The Goat. Without blabbering on too much, I'll risk him once more, as I do feel Kento is close to sheding his maiden.

Connections have recently applied blinkers to my selection which has seemingly improved his form. Kento went close at Chelmsford last month when finishing three quarters of a length down in second behind Lisa Williamson's Smooth Silesie. The form of that second reads well with the winner following up at Bath in his next outing.

Connections have booked Oisin Murphy to take the ride which is another eye catching factor.

Rizzel's Tips

The last week has been a total disaster on my part, after ending strongly last month and starting the month off quite well. Hopefully, today's runners can help me bounce back.

Tawajjah 6/1  – Windsor 2.37

It pains me to side with Jim Crowley as I really don't rate him these days, but I did think it was strange how he has decided to go to Windsor than Kempton where he has decided to ride one of Shadwell's horses over the other two on the all-weather. Not only that, but he has decided to stick with Tawajjah rather than the good pedigree debutante Muhib who clearly must be decent as the Gosden's have been very patient with him.

As far as Monday novice races go, this is an intriguing race. The favourite Noisy Jazz is clearly very talented and wasn't suited by the big step up in trip last time out, being far too keen. Based on her win on debut, she has a lot of potential. Run Away is rated 83 and also made a winning debut, but didn't follow up the time after, so she also has to prove something in today's race. You can give claims to the likes of Breathless Spirit who has shown that he is improving as his recent second looks like a decent effort.

Tawajjah looked interesting for the Roger Varian yard as similar comments apply to the other Shadwell runner, they are persisting with him after just one run. He has a very good pedigree, being by Frankel and out of a Group 1 placed mare, so you'd like to think there's a good horse in there somewhere. He was quietly supported on debut, into 4/1 so they must've been expecting a decent show as the money is normally pretty spot on for the Varian yard; any drifters you'll know about it, but he went off a short-ish price for a debut run, so I think he has ability. It didn't go to plan on debut, he was slow out of the gates and was bumped around before staying on at the finish when he had no chance of winning. In hindsight, it was a very good novice race and nearly every horse in that race has franked the form, and done it to a good level.

I think we can see an improved version of Tawajjah who has the pedigree to be contesting Class 1 races.

The Whipmaster 7/2 – Windsor 3.12

This is an interesting race, and I think a fair few of these can stake their claims in what appears to be a wide-open race. However, I have a sneaky feeling that The Whipmaster could be returning to form at the right time and could be too well-handicapped for the others.

On his day, The Whipmaster is a pleasure to watch. In the past he has cruised through his races and put the race to bed, winning in good style. This season, he hasn't been racing too much, but his return to the track on the back of a 106-day absence at Lingfield at the end of August was a pleasing return and it was something Gary and Josh Moore could build on. Since his last win which came at this track last June his handicap mark has dropped to 77 which is 6lbs below when he won here. This is a very good track for The Whipmaster, his record at the track is strong with three wins from eight attempts, with a runner-up finish in there as well. He is becoming very well handicapped as I've already mentioned and considering he was a neck second at this track last August off a mark of 85, recording an RPR of 92 that day, he is surely going to run a huge race today.

Last time out was after a big layoff and was his first run since having his second wind surgery. He managed to win the second time out after his first wind operation, which coincidentally was his last win. That could be potluck, but it's definitely something to think about for today. The form of that run at Lingfield looks quite strong for the grade. My selection had to carry 10st 4lbs that day and was giving away 18lbs to the winner who only managed to win by a length. The winner has since followed up and won by 9.5L off a 3lb higher mark, which was 8lbs as the 5lb claimer wasn't able to claim the second time around. The runner-up has finished second on his latest start, losing by less than a length, so given it was his first start in a while, it was an encouraging effort.

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