6:30 - Windsor – MIRROR PUNTERS CLUB SELLING STAKES (CLASS 6) (3yo+) Good To Firm 1m3f135
Urban Space has won 6 times from 33 starts on the flat turf and five of the 6 year old’s chestnut geldings wins have been at Windsor. In 17 runs at the Berkshire track he has also been placed 2nd on a further 6 occasions with a 3rd place thrown in for good measure. He also likes to run at the height of the summer, winning twice and being placed twice from 6 runs when he has run in August, with both of his wins and 2nd places coming at Windsor.
Urban Space runs in a Selling race for the first time this evening having spent the majority of his career running in Class 4 and Class 5 Handicaps. He has never won in Class 4 but he has won twice and been placed twice from 6 runs in Class 6 races which is the level he runs at tonight. He is top on Official Ratings being some 11lbs clear of the next best horse in the race. However, he carries the same weight as 5 of the 7 runner field and 5lbs less than the top weight. In a handicap he would be giving a minimum of 11lbs to the rest of the field.
Perhaps the reason that Urban Space likes running in August can be explained to some extent by the going. The ground at Windsor is riding Good to Firm and he has won in the going 3 times and been placed 2nd or 3rd six times from 15 runs in Good to Firm ground. The trip is just over 1 mile 3 furlongs and Urban Space has won over course and distance twice from nine runs and finished placed on 5 other occasions.
He also has him favourite jockey riding this evening. Kieren Fox has ridden him 7 times, winning three times and finishing 2nd on two further runs. No other jockey has managed more than 1 win on the horse. All three of his wins and both of his placed efforts have come at Windsor from 6 runs.
Urban Space does have a couple of disappointing runs to put behind him but he does have excuses for both of them. His last run at Windsor was two starts back when he finished 8th in a Class 4 Handicap (3 placed runs from 18 starts) and his last run was on the all weather (Unplaced from 9 runs). However, he is back down to Class 6 tonight so should be much more of a force. He has plenty of ticks in boxes. He loves running at Windsor, he has an excellent record in August, he gets on really well with is jockey, he has a good record over course and distance and he also has his favourite going. If he is going to win for the first time this season, one suspects that tonight is the night.
