Windsor Preview: Polybius poised to follow-up

Polybius looks to have been let in lightly on handicap debut at Windsor this evening (8.10) and rates a solid bet to follow-up his recent impressive success.

Trained by David Lanigan, the gelding shaped with plenty of promise when fifth on debut at Newbury before bolting up by three lengths over course and distance earlier in the month.

The son of Oasis Dream travelled strongly throughout the 6f contest, making smooth headway two from home on the outside of the field before leading at the furlong marker and quickening clear to win easing down.

It was a very taking performance, and one which suggested Polybius needed firmly keeping on side.

With the prospect of plenty more to come, the three-year-old’s opening mark of 84 looks on the lenient side and it will be disappointing if Polybius does not take this en route to better things.

If I Were A Boy has dropped to a handy mark and looks decent value to take advantage in the 1m 2f handicap (8.40).

A course and distance winner, the Dominic Ffrench Davis trained mare was last successful when beating Push Me by 1/2 a length on all-weather surface at Lingfield last August off a mark of 65.

The seven-year-old gets into this off 7lb lower, having shaped as if coming back to form when runner-up to Lily Edge at Lingfield last time out.

If I Were A Boy is weighted to go well if building on that effort, especially given that her win over course and distance came on quick ground off 63.

In the 1m 4f handicap that closes proceedings, Classical Art looks the one to beat now dropped in grade.

The Roger Varian trained colt shaped well on handicap debut at Haydock last month when staying on to finish third to Farquhar in a 1m 2f class 5 contest off a mark of 73.

The son of Excellent Art gets into this lower grade class 6 affair off 1lb lower, and the step up to 1m 4f may well bring about further improvement.

Its also interesting that Kieren Fallon, who partnered Classical Art at Haydock, is on board again as he has a strike rate of over 28.5% when teaming up with the stable in the past 12 months.