Windsor preview: Ronaldo can score in sprint handicap

Rio Ronaldo has some strong for to his name, and looks weighted to get back on the winning trail in the 5f handicap on this evening’s card at Windsor (19.35).

This gelding, who is trained by Mike Murphy, won a class 4 contest over 6f at the track on his second start this season when travelling strongly off the pace before being produced to lead inside the last and showing a nice turn of foot to readily beat Acolyte by 1 1/4 lengths off a mark of 77.

The runner-up is a progressive sort has since gone on to land a brace of handicaps and is now rated 93, and that represents very strong from in the context of this contest.

Rio Ronaldo was then far from disgraced when fifth of 11 to subsequent Stewards’ Cup winner Magical Memory in a class 3 contest at Leicester off 83, but hasn’t been at his best in two subsequent starts.

However, that has resulted in the son of Footstepsinthesand being some slack by the handicapper and Rio Ronaldo is now able to race in this class 4 affair off 80.

That is just 3lb higher than when last successful, and makes Rio Ronaldo look well weighted judged on that victory over Acolyte.

The drop back to 5f should also hold no fears given that Rio Ronaldo is a strong travelling type and, with Pat Dobbs in the saddle, everything points to a huge run.

Postbag has a progressive profile and can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to land the 1m handicap (19.05).

The Henry Candy trained filly opened her account at the second time of asking when showing a good attitude to beat Journey by a short-head in a 7f maiden at Leicester.

That form has since been given a massive boost by the runner-up who has gone on to score twice since – including in a Listed contest at Salisbury off an official rating of 92.

It makes Postbag look potentially very well-treated off a mark of 79, and the daughter of Three Valley’s comes into the contest on the back of a cracking third on her handicap debut at Goodwood.

Postbag didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages before staying on strongly to be beaten just one length.

It was an effort which suggested the three-year-old was ahead of the assessor, and after just three starts Postbag remains unexposed and open to stacks more improvement.

Selections:
17.35: Dark Forest
18.05: Nebula Storm
18.35: Wheat Sheaf
19.05: Postbag (NB)
19.35: Rio Ronaldo (NAP)
20.05: If I Were A Boy