Windsor preview: Shifting can Power to glory

Shifting Power has some top-notch form to his name, and can take advantage of a drop in class to get back to winnings ways in the 1m Listed feature contest on this evening’s card at Windsor (19.20).

The Richard Hannon trained colt was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile and kicked off last season with a game display to land the European Free Handicap at Newmarket.

Connections decided to let Shifting Power take his chance in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on the back of that success, and the son of Compton Place belied his odds of 50/1 to finish a cracking three length fourth of 14 to Night Of Thunder in the Group 1 classic contest.

Shifting Power backed that up with a solid second to the brilliant Kingman in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, and then went down by just a neck to Charm Spirt in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.

That is top class form in the context of this contest, and although Shiting Power disappointed slightly on seasonal reappearance when third to Custom Cut at Sandown that was a Group 2 contest and this is far easier.

The quick ground will also be in the four-year-old’s favour, and an official rating of 114 gives Shifting Power 5lb and upwards in hand on his rivals, so that suggests he is going to be very hard to beat.

In the 1m contest (19.50), Archilles is a fascinating contender on handicap debut now dropped back in trip.

The gelding, who is trained by Jo Hughes, has only had three starts and shaped better than the finishing position suggest in the last two of those over 1m 2f at this venue.

On each occasion, Archilles has shown plenty of early dash to lead until two from home before weakening out of contention.

The three-year-old clearly has ability, and the drop back to 1m looks sure to suit judged on those efforts.

It’s also interesting that Archilles has had three quick runs in a space of just 31 days to qualify for handicaps, and an opening mark of 70 may well underestimate his ability now that the son of Arch is racing over what looks his optimum trip.

The fact that jockey Silvestre De Sousa remains loyal to Archilles having ridden him in his last two starts also catches the eye, and in what doesn’t look the strongest of contests he could take some pegging back if allowed an easy lead.

Selections:
17.50: Alaskan Phantom
18.20: Genres
18.50: Quick Defence
19.20: Shifting Power (NAP)
19.50: Archilles (NB)
20.20: Vanishing