Monday 18th May 2026
I return to Windsor this week after a very profitable day here last week, and the first of my four selections comes within the first race at 5.05, and this is a Class 2 maiden which is contested over a distance of six furlongs. I’ve come down on FIRE THUNDER here for Marco Botti and Benoit De La Sayette. She posted a highly encouraing effort on her racecourse debut at Wolverhampton earlier this month, finishing second of six and just a head behind the eventual winner. The run can be marked up further due to the fact that she was slow away, and knuckled down well to get as close as she did. She should naturally take a big step forward coming into her second start, which makes her a player here.
Next up, it’s the 5.40, and we move into handicap company with a Class 2 affair over five furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of REDORANGE here for Clive Cox and Rossa Ryan. He was only seen last week at York when finishing eighth of twenty-one in a highly competitive affair. That finishing position doesn’t tell the full story, as he got no run at all under Ryan Moore on that occasion, and was allowed to come home in his own time. He’d have surely got closer having had more luck, and he has to be of serious interest here off the same mark, should he get a clear passage on this occasion.
My best bet of the day comes within the 6.10, and this is a Class 2 fillies’ maiden, which is contested over a mile. I’m confident that CHIMES OF THUNDER can run a big race here for the team of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She showed significant improvement on her seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month, running a hot favourite and potentially useful sort in Symbol Of Majesty very close, going down by just a neck in the end when having to settle for second. She should continue to progress, and it would be disappointing if she wasn’t bang there at the business end of things here, representing a yard who are once again in solid form.
The fourth and final selection of the evening for me comes in the 6.40, where we have a Class 5 handicap over five furlongs. This is another competitive affair; however, I’ve come down on MAHARAJAS EXPRESS for Ian Williams, who’s another ride for Tom Marquand. He’s a consistent performer and has had a significant amount of success within higher grades than this, as well as running well at this track in the past. He posted a reasonable effort on his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield last month when finishing fourth; however, that was over five furlongs, and he should be a lot more at home back over five. He’ll need luck in the run, as he’s a hold-up performer; however, he can progress from his Lingfield run and has every chance off a mark just a pound higher than his last winning one.
Monday Selections
18/05/26
5.05 Windsor
FIRE THUNDER – (9/2) (Each-Way)
5.40 Windsor
REDORANGE – (9/4) (Win) (NB)
6.10 Windsor
CHIMES OF THUNDER – (13/8) (Win) (NAP)
6.40 Windsor
MAHARAJAS EXPRESS – (6/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
