We kick off proceedings with a competitive fillies' handicap over ten furlongs from Doncaster (14:10) and the one to keep on side looks to be Push Me. She made a winning return over hurdles at Kelso in October but is of more interest judged on her flat reappearance at Yarmouth last time. She travelled well into the race and was twice closed off when looking for a gap in the closing stages, eventually forging clear of the chasing pack to take second, but was left with too much to do to close on the leader. Frankie Dettori rides in what is an eye-catching booking and although handicap debutants Missy Wells and Ballyshonagh are worth a market check, if the selection can build on her admirable effort last time off just a 3 lb higher mark she should go close.
We remain at the same track for the next contest under consideration, a seven furlong handicap (17:00) which looks firmly in the hand of Mariners Moon. Although the potential of slightly softer ground is a concern, you do not see many handicaps won in the manner that he won his last start over seven-and-a-half furlongs at Beverley, and if he turns up in anything like the same form as he did on that occasion he will be very tough to beat. He dismantled the field to eventually win by six lengths under minimal assistance from Danny Tudhope, and with his excellent handler David O'Meara proving himself as effective as anyone in handicaps so far this season, he is a confident selection to defy the 6 lb rise and potentially rack up a string of victories in this sphere.
We head to Windsor for our final bet of the day, the listed Royal Windsor Stakes over a mile (19:20) in which Out of Bounds looks to have an excellent chance. He has ran well fresh on previous occasions, notably when winning at Doncaster in September, and has some smart juvenile form to his name from Meydan last winter. Something was potentially amiss when he was last seen at York in October and he remains lightly raced, capable of significant further improvement and receives a 4 lb weight allowance from market leader Ocean Tempest. It would be no surprise to see Saeed Bin Suroor's unexposed colt make a winning start to the season and continue the good form of the boys in blue.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
Back Push Me @ 6.05/1 in the 14:10 at Doncaster
Back Mariners Moon @ 1.865/6 in the 17:00 at Doncaster
Back Out of Bounds @ 5.69/2 in the 19:20 at Windsor
