Guide to the Sky Bet Windsor Sprint Series Finale

Run over six furlongs and carrying a total prize fund of £75,000, the feature of Monday night's card at Windsor is open to horses which have been placed in the first six on at least one occasion in a Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier in 2017.

Sky Bet are paying five places on each-way bets (if 14 or more run) and the second running of this valuable contest has attracted a strong and competitive line-up.

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Stake Acclaim - Form: 212601 Trainer: D K Ivory Jockey: R Winston

Arrives in top form after victory at the Shergar Cup which has seen him climb up the ratings by 4lbs to a career high perch of 101. More is obviously required and held by a few of these rivals on their running over course and distance (C&D) last month.

Upstaging - Form: 11-9213 T: P F I Cole J: David Egan (5)

Chased home Stake Acclaim over C&D in June before reversing that form last month with Englishman and Ice Age filling the places. Ran a huge race from a 6lb higher mark to finish third in the Stewards' Cup and races from the same mark here so looks a key player.

Dougan - Form: 062965 T: P D Evans J: Robert Tart

One of those behind Upstaging in July and subsequent efforts don't suggest he's on the brink of returning to winning ways. He has slipped a couple of pounds back down in the weights but may still be in the handicapper's grip.

Spring Loaded - Form: 21-3402 T: P W D'Arcy J: A Kirby

Eight wins from 14 on the all-weather and one win from 14 on turf. Ran well here over five furlongs last time and will appreciate the step back up to his optimum distance and a case can be made, not least from a handicapping perspective, but his record suggests others are more likely.

Atletico - Form: 12/3515 T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

Rated 5lbs higher than when winning over C&D with something to spare at the end of last month and may have found the run coming too soon on the back of that success when beaten at Goodwood. Hasn't got many miles on the clock and must go well for all that he may not have been done any favours by the draw.

Ice Age - Form: 423471 T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: Edward Greatrex (3)

Finished third in last year's renewal and it's a mark of the progress that he's made that he's now racing from a 9lb higher mark. Likely to make another bold bid but surprising if he can dominate this field from the front and still be there at the finish.

Tomily - Form: 558445 T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

Listed placed as a juvenile and gradually creeping down the weights despite generally running with credit. By no means dismissed but may still need a little more help from the assessor before she can be considered for win purposes.

Lightning Charlie - Form: 2-22510 T: Mrs A J Perrett J: S J Drowne

Another whose conversion rate on turf is the poor relation to that on the all-weather but he's been running well this season, including at this track, and it's easy enough to excuse his latest effort in the Stewards' Cup consolation. Place claims.

Gulliver - Form: 1-74027 T: H Palmer J: Harry Bentley

Speedy juvenile who didn't quite live up to expectations then or since. Still has time on his side after just eight career starts and wasn't far behind Englishman over C&D in May. Lower in the weights now and could play a hand but obviously rates a risky proposition.

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Parnassian - Form: 23-0214 T: Mrs A J Perrett J: Kieran Shoemark

Generally progressive for Karl Burke and now set to debut for new connections after changing hands for 34,000 guineas last month. May need a strong pace to be seen at his best over this trip at this course and probably needs a career best to have a say in the outcome.

Secondo - Form: 39/46-85 T: J Tuite J: J F Egan

Managed just two starts in 2016 and appears to be gradually working his way back to form judged by a couple of respectable runs at this venue, including when a little over three lengths behind Upstaging last month. On a good mark on the best of his form and interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.

Pettochside - Form: 143260 T: J J Bridger J: Josephine Gordon

Readily brushed aside by Atletico at the end of last month but has continued in good form, in the main. That's meant the handicapper hasn't eased his grip though and hard to see him being good enough to lift this prize from his current mark.

Open Wide - Form: 632215 T: Mrs A J Perrett J: M Dwyer

Touched off by Parnassian here in June which prompted connections to swap cheekpieces for a hood and blinkers, a decision which reaped an immediate return with victory at Bath. Ran respectably at Chelmsford latest and could play a hand if getting the breaks.

Goring - Form: 541058 T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: J P Fahy

Rated 1lb lower than when fifth in last season's race and continues to perform with admirable consistency, including when ahead a number of these rivals at Goodwood. Expect him to run his race again and expect him to find at least a couple too strong again.

Major Pusey - Form: 127322 T: J Gallagher J: F Sweeney

Runner-up to Ice Age over C&D on his penultimate start and backed that up when filling the same position at Newmarket. Races from the same mark again and should give another good account.

Englishman - Form: 484286 T: J M Bradley J: L Morris

Meets Upstaging on 6lbs better terms (before jockey's claims) than when beaten half a length at the start of July so obvious claims from that perspective. Wouldn't want conditions to dry out too much and firmly in the handicapper's sights but wouldn't be a complete surprise to see him bounce back at a course he runs well.

Conclusion

A quality line-up for the second running of this race and it's hard to argue with the presence of in-form, progressive sprinters Upstaging and Atletico at the head of the market. There are some admirably consistent performers in against them and fortune will always play a role in races of this nature but few really appeal as being either well enough treated or having the scope to get the verdict ahead of that pair. It mightn't be the worst idea to back them both given it's 11/2 the field but the vote goes to Upstaging given his fine performance in the Stewards' Cup, form which was boosted by the run of fifth home Shanghai Glory at Ripon on Saturday.

1. Upstaging 2. Atletico 3. Secondo 4. Ice Age 5. Open Wide