prominent centre, hard ridden halfway, soon weakened
raced centre, always behind
raced centre, outpaced and always behind
raced centre, in touch to halfway
raced centre, chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
raced centre, pressed leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
raced centre, prominent until weakened over 2f out
raced centre, in touch, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
raced against near side rail, made all, ridden over 1f out, held on under pressure near finish
slowly into stride, soon chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders centre over 3f
led centre group to over 1f out, soon weakened
raced centre, held up, headway 2f out, led that group over 1f out to inside final furlong, kept on same pace
raced centre, held up, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
raced centre, held up, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, no extra final furlong
raced centre, slowly into stride, recovered and soon chased leaders, ridden to lead that group inside final furlong, ran on
raced towards near side, held up, headway over 1f out, ran on same pace final furlong
raced alone towards far side, prominent, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced
Trick Cyclist, with the aid of a high draw, is taken to land a tricky opening event on the first of many Monday night cards at Windsor. Seven No Trumps and Mine Behind can give him most to do. After scoring at Bath last May, Trick Cyclist lined up in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot where disaster struck as a slipped saddle saw him get rid of Martin Dwyer at halfway. He recovered to run a creditable ninth in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury but had a dip in form afterwards and ended up making his debut on Lingfield's Polytrack in October. He returned to the Surrey track in March to blow the cobwebs away, and if he has trained on, could now start to make up for lost time by winning here under his 5lb claimer. His draw in stall 18 gives cause for optimism and he can make fitness tell as well. Seven No Trumps has been useful in his time but is fully exposed and has to give weight away all round. You would not rule him out though and he is capable of making the frame at least. Mine Behind showed enough last season to warrant being kept in training and he has a good draw. His long absence is off-putting though and he is passed over. A similar comment applies to Nivernais, although we will be paying close attention to Henry Candy's inmates this season. Tayif seemed to recapture a bit of form on the all-weather this winter and makes more appeal than the lowly drawn pair Prince Hector and Whippasnapper. For the winner we return to Trick Cyclist.