Windsor preview: Adventure Seeker has plenty in his favour

Adventure Seeker hinted at a return to form last time out and can take advantage of a slight ease in grade to land the 1m 3f handicap on today’s card at Windsor (16.00).

The Ed Vaughan trained four-year-old is lightly-raced for his age and showed progressive form throughout last season.

After easily beating the useful Penhill by 2 1/4 lengths in a competitive 15-runner race at York off a mark of 78, the gelding went on to finish a cracking 3/4 length runner-up to Vent De Force in the valuable class 2 Melrose Handicap at York off 89.

Adventure Seeker also ran very well on his final start of 2014 when beaten just a head in a 24-runner class 2 contest at Newmarket off 94, and was put up to a rating of 100 after that effort.

Although the son of Dalakhani has failed to trouble the judge in four starts this season, he is now able to race in this lower grade class 3 affair off a reduced mark of 90 as a result.

That gives Adventure Seeker major claims at the weights on the pick of his form, and he comes into the contest on the back of a much improved effort when a staying on fourth at Wolverhampton which suggested his time could be near.

In the 5f handicap (13.50), the well-treated Beau Mistral looks decent value to land the spoils now dropped into class 6 company for the first time in her career.

The Tony Carroll trained mare got back on the winning trail at Leicester back in June when keeping on strongly to score by 1 3/4 lengths in a class 5 contest off a rating of 61.

Beau Mistral got put up 6lb for that success, and has since struggled in four subsequent runs in the same grade.

However, the handicapper has been quick to cut six-year-old some slack and Beau Mistral is now able to race off 62.

That is just 1lb higher than when last successful, and gives the daughter of Windsor Knot major claims from a handicapping perspective in this lower grade contest.

Beau Mistral has also bagged a good draw in stall one, and everything looks in place for a big run.

Selections:
13.50: Beau Mistral (NB)
14.20: Pacharana
14.55: Mountain Bell
15.25: Cornelious
16.00: Adventure Seeker (NAP)
16.35: Swiss Affair
17.05: Sterling Work
17.35: Revolutionist