Windsor Racecourse was full of dancing queens on Saturday. It was Ladies Day and the heady mix of Pimms, music and glorious sunshine had the glamour-dressed throngs in party mood. We can expect dancing queens aplenty at Windsor Races this Monday evening, too, as it’s the ABBA-themed race night.
After the 7th and last race of the evening, ‘ABBA – The Party’, an ABBA tribute band, will be serenading the crowd on the lawn by the parade ring. Let’s hope we’ll be taking bundles of money, money, money off the bookies. Check out the race-by-race preview below.
Windsor Races – Saturday, June 29th Review
It was a dream start for the bookies brigade in the opener, an apprentice handicap for 3-year-olds. Denis Quinn’s first runner at Windsor races this year, Barafundle Bay, a 33/1 shot, made steady headway from the rear under the guidance of Sean D Bowen and led from a furlong out. The filly, who a combined total of 93 lengths had beaten in her first three career runs, stretched out to claim a cosy victory by a 1 ½ lengths from the favourite, Standbackandlook. She obviously appreciated the drop down in class and the firmer underhoof conditions, which she was encountering for the first time.
Finishing runner-up became a recurring and frustrating theme for favourite backers for the opening part of the afternoon, with seconditis hitting the jollies in each of the first four races. Punters who had put money on Dubai Bling in the second race on the card, a 2-year-old novice stakes, were left pulling their hair out as Hugo Palmer’s colt, the only previous winner in the field, was denied a clear run and had to settle for second spot. However, the juries out whether he would have finished in front of the eventual winner, Ollie Sangster’s Sands Of Marra, in any case. It was the first Windsor win of the season for Sangster and golden oldie John Egan in the saddle.
Ralph Beckett Runners Continue To Rule The Roost.
Kimpton Down’s maestro Ralph Beckett has been in a rich vein of form lately, and that continued at Windsor races on Saturday. He even masterminded the unthinkable and managed to beat a well-fancied Gosden three-year-old in the third race on the card. Beckett’s New Chelsea, who had finished runner-up on three previous occasions over the past twelve months, was involved in a riveting ding-dong battle with the Gosden’s Stanage up the straight. The pair eventually finished over 6-lengths clear of the others. New Chelsea dug deep and didn’t relinquish the lead, to finally finish with his nose in front for the very first time.
We had a similar nailbiting finish in the 4th race on the card, a handicap for 4-year-olds and over. Willie Haggas’ To Catch A Thief, the youngest in the five-runner line-up, led for the majority of the 11.5-furlong contest but was never going at a frantic gallop. He was headed a furlong or so out by Sir Michael Stoute’s favourite Believe In Stars but battled back in determined fashion, using the rail as an aid to clinch victory by a head.
It was close, but no cigar once again, for the 10-time British flat champion trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, who is yet to taste victory at Windsor this year, from six attempts. Half of those runners finished in the second spot.
A Winning Favourite ?? You’re Havana A Laugh
Beleaguered favourite backers were puffing out their cheeks after four consecutive second places, and they weren’t feeling any better after the fifth race. James Tate’s The Amazon went off the 11/4 jolly despite finishing 15th of 15 in his previous start at Haydock. He weakened tamely here to finish plumb last once again. It was John Gallagher’s Havana Pusey who took the victory.
Like Denis Quinn earlier in the afternoon, Oxfordshire handler John Gallagher was achieving success with his very first Windsor runner of the year. Despite a slow start, Havana Pusey made good headway up the centre of the track and ran out an impressive 3 ¾ length winner. Saffie Osborne finished runner-up for the second race on the spin aboard Coup De Force, who has made the frame now in five of her six Windsor starts.
Finally, the wait for a winning favourite would come to an end in the penultimate race on the card, as a Ralph Beckett (yes, him again) runner, in the shape of Allonsy, clinched victory in the 11.5-furlong handicap. The 3-year-old filly used youth to her advantage to make all and outgun 9-year-old She’s A Novelty, who had been victorious on her only previous Windsor visit last summer. It was a double on the afternoon for Ralph Beckett, who has sent out winners on three consecutive Windsor meetings now. It’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Silky Smooth Sean Doubles Up
Ralph Beckett wasn’t the only person doubling up at Windsor. Apprentice jockey Sean D Bowen, who landed the first, finished off how he started by guiding Stuart Kittow’s race favourite, Notre Maison, to a stress-free pillar-to-post success. The 5-year-old must like this time of year as her only previous wins both came in June last year, and she also finished runner-up here at Windsor back in June 2022.
Windsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
Some of the remaining highlights this year are as follows:
December
15th – The Return of NH Racing
Windsor Races – Monday, July 1st Preview
Despite the leading duo in the Windsor Jockeys’ Championship, Oisin Murphy and Rossa Ryan, both being absent and in action elsewhere on Saturday, none of the other saddle stars could take advantage, and the current top-5 remains as it was: Oisin Murphy & Rossa Ryan (both 10 wins), Kieran Shoemark (5 wins), Saffie Osborne & Tom Marquand (both 4 wins).
There’s no Rossa Ryan again this Monday, though Oisin Murphy is set to have a whole book of 7 rides. As of writing, none of them are currently favourites, but that could all change of course. Several jockeys are set to be making their first Windsor appearances of 2024 this Monday: Jimmy Quinn, Aidan Keeley, Rhiain Ingram & Alistair Rawlinson. We wish them all a warm, Windsor welcome and the best of luck.
One spot from Saturday’s action is how well the first-time trainers performed. Denis Quinn and John Gallagher both sent out their first Windsor runners of 2024, and both were victorious. Barafundle Bay won the opener for Denis Quinn and Havana Pusey, claiming the 5th race for John Gallagher. It may be worth keeping an eye out this Monday for some trainers who are having their first runners at the track in 2024. They include Chelsea Banham, Richard Spencer, Roger Ingram & Craig Benton. The Gosdens remain three wins clear on top of the Windsor Trainers’ Championship table despite not troubling the scorers on Saturday afternoon.
Race-By-Race Preview
17:45
We get underway with a handicap for the 3-year-old sprinters. It’s a small field and a very open contest, but Nigel Tinkler’s Make It Easy catches my punting eye. She’s been running in a better class of race than some others in the field and was an impressive second on her previous appearance at Windsor last summer. That race was run over conditions similar to those she will encounter this time.
18:15
I’m hopeful that Invincible Crown will get his nose in front for the first time in this 2-year-old maiden stakes. Richard Hughes’ colt has finished 3rd on both his previous starts, including last time out here at Windsor. He should improve on that performance and have the reliable Richard Kingscote in the saddle.
Ralph Beckett Looking To Seek And Destroy The Opposition Again
18:45
Another maiden stakes, this time for 3-year-olds and over. Seek And Destroy is likely to go off one of the fancied runners, with the Ralph Beckett yard in such good form of late. She was definitely on the shortlist, but I’m swaying more towards Willie Haggas’ Bursinel, who has an exciting line of form under her belt. Back in January, she finished in touching distance (under 2-lengths) of 1000 Guineas winner Notable Speech on the All-Weather at Kempton. This is her first run out on turf, and I’m hoping she takes to it ok.
19:15
The Fitzdares’ Sprint Series Qualifiers continue, and the two I like here, Katey Kontent and Amazonian Dream, have both staked their claims for the August Final, already having run well in previous qualifiers this year. I’m going to side with Katey Kontent, who has won on both of her previous Windsor starts on good-to-firm going. She will need to step up again here, though, with a couple of her rivals running regularly and well in class 2 events, but I’m trusting her to do so.
Will Aerospace Give An Out-Of-This-World Performance?
19:45
We remain in handicap mode for race 5. Hollie Doyle arrives at Windsor for just one ride this Monday aboard Archie Watson’s Aerospace, and I’m keen to get behind the 5-year-old. He’s been tried at different distances, but today’s trip of 10 furlongs seems to be his most favoured. He’s finished 2nd and 3rd here at Windsor over that distance on good-to-firm going. Course and distance winner Wisper could be his most formidable opponent.
20:15
A number of these are well known to regular Windsor racegoers, and of those, I expect Mujid to be in the mix. I’m more inclined to get with Weston Court, though. He failed to fire on his seasonal debut here at Windsor, but that was over 11.5 furlongs. He returned to form with a bang over today’s trip of a mile last time out when his hooves were rattling on firm going. Ron Harris’ horses have been in good nick recently, too, which is a bonus.
Hello Hello, Zabeel is Back
20:45
Another tough handicap to round off the evening before the ABBA classics get belted out on the lawn by the parade ring. Hello Zabeel has performed well on both his previous Windsor appearances, including in a higher-class race here at the end of May. He should get better underhoof conditions today and has the benefit of having Oisin Murphy on board for the first time, too.
Keep an eye out for Meimun Johnny, who has plied most of his trade on Hong Kong tracks. He finished 10th of 10 on his first run out in Britain at Lingfield in May but may appreciate this return to turf. He recorded some excellent results at Happy Valley on good-to-firm going.
Like every Windsor meeting, all races will be screened live on Sky Sports Racing. Good Luck All !!! Let us know your Windsor selections by clicking on ‘Comments’ under the main article title at the top of the piece.
Windsor Races Preview – Saturday, June 29th
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, June 24th
What Awaits The Ballydoyle Brigade On Royal Ascot Day 4?
Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day – All The Facts And Figures
Royal Ascot Preview – Day 1 Stats & Trends
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, June 17th
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, June 10th
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
