I’m ashamed to say I missed two meetings at Windsor races for the sake of topping up my tan in the Turkish sun. However, with two race evenings in the space of four days fast approaching at the Berkshire track I can honestly say I’m fully focused on horse racing and all the equine delights once again. Annoyingly, the tan is fast disappearing anyway.
We kick off the forthcoming week with ‘Vegas Night’ at Windsor racecourse this Monday evening. Let’s hope we are all busy counting a bountiful amount of chips come the end of the night and not just scoffing a bagful on the way home. Three days later, the Racing League returns to Windsor, for the fourth instalment of the 2024 edition. Chris Hughes’ ‘East’ team are currently involved in a titanic tussle with Jamie Osborne’s ‘Wales & The West’ outfit.
Windsor Races – Saturday August 3rd Review
‘Gents Evening’ got underway with a 6-furlong fillies’ handicap for 3-year-olds and over. It proved to be a winning start for favourite backers, as George Boughey’s Heartwarmer, who was ridden prominently by Danish-born jockey Kevin Stott, took over the lead in the final furlong and went clear. The 3-year-old appreciated the drop back down in trip, as she claimed her first success since winning on debut last December over 6 furlongs.
Kevin Stott almost bagged a quickfire double. His mount in the second, the unraced 2-year-old colt, Reservardo, went off a strong 8/15 favourite for the 5-furlong event. However, Simon & Ed Crisford’s youngster who was involved in a thrilling duel to the line with Lexington Blitz, just ran out of puff at the vital moment and had to settle for second spot. 18/1 shot, Lexington Blitz, used his former racecourse experience to his advantage and it gave trainer Robert Cowell his first Windsor winner since 2022.
Super Kev Sparkles In The Saddle Again
Kevin Stott didn’t let the disappointment of finishing second on Reservardo deter him, as he roared back to winning ways on Jack Channon’s debutant, Queen All Star, in the third race on the card, which was another 2-year-old contest. It was also the second victory of the evening for a horse sired by Holy Roman Emperor, as his daughter, Heartwarmer, had claimed the opener too.
It may have been a good-ish start to the evening for the bookies, but the rot set in from the fourth race onwards. Despite hanging left at the business end of proceedings of the 4-runner 5-furlong handicap, George Scott’s Moulin Booj, the 5/4 jolly in the 3-year-old plus handicap, was always doing enough. He ran out the winner of the 4th race, by 3/4s of a length.
Another Stroll In The Park For Boy George
Dominic Ffrench Davis’ 7-year-old, Boy George, had produced a positive performance when landing the spoils at Bath last month at eye-bulging odds of 25/1. This time over the maximum Windsor distance of 11.5 furlongs, he was expected to follow-up and he didn’t let his multitude of supporters down, who had backed him down to 5/4 at the off. He leapt out of the stalls, for the penultimate event of the evening, in the hands of Liam Keniry and made all. He was given a gentle gee-up a furlong out and ran out the cosy 4-length victor.
The bookies had their backs against the wall and there was to be no let-up in the last race either. The 6th contest favourite, Richard Hannon’s New Kings Road, became the third jolly in-a-row to be sent off at odds of 5/4. Liam Keniry took the reins and he repeated the front-running tactics he had used in the previous race. This time, the Irish jockey faced a stiffer challenge in the final stages, but he held firm as New Kings Road maintained the run of winning favourites.
Windsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
Some of the remaining highlights this year are as follows:
October
14th – Final Flat Meeting
December
15th – The Return of NH Racing
Windsor Races – Monday August 12th Preview
The race for the 2024 Windsor Jockeys’ Championship rages on and the balance of power continues to swing to and fro between Rossa Ryan and Oisin Murphy. Rossa Ryan currently tops the table on 15 wins, following his thrilling treble success during the final Monday evening meeting of July. Oisin Murphy is just one win behind on 14 wins. Both riders missed the last meeting at the Berkshire track on August 3rd and aren’t in action again this Monday either. They, along with third-placed Tom Marquand, all saddle-up at Kempton’s All-Weather card instead.
With the absence of the top-3 Windsor riders, it gives Kieran Shoemark, Saffie Osborne and Edward Greatrex, who currently reside in positions 4th to 6th, the chance to add to their win tally at the track. Saffie is back at Windsor for the first time since June and is scheduled to have the most rides (3) of those jockeys mentioned. Eddy Greatrex just mounts up on one this Monday, Palmar Bay for Ralph Beckett (19:10), which could be worth keeping an eye on.
Who’ll Be Crowned Sprint King Or Queen?
The feature event on this Monday’s 6-race card is the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final. After 10 qualifying events, 16 horses currently line-up for the big finale. One of those is Jack Channon’s Indian Creak, who is looking to defend his Sprint Series crown after clinching the 2023 Final by a neck. The 7-year-old, who has won five times at Windsor during his race career (though not this year), is making his 15th Windsor appearance this Monday. Rose Dawes who rode him to victory in the Final last August, takes the reins once again.
Two other 2023 Sprint Series finalists line-up again in search of glory. Amazonian Dream who finished 4th in last year’s edition has raced eight times at Windsor since then, including six times during 2024 already. In six of those eight runs, Rod Millman’s 5-year-old has finished in the top-3. Haymaker was sent off the 3/1 favourite for the 2023 Sprint Series Final, but after a slow start, the Hughie Morrison trainee trailed in a disappointing 13th. Haymaker has enjoyed the firmer underhoof conditions he’s encountered so far in 2024, placing on all 5 starts this year, so is expected to give an improved performance this time around.
Windsor Race-By-Race Preview
17:40
Ralph Beckett has fired in 6 winners at Windsor this year and has been in good nick of late. I expect a strong run from his 2-year-old Miami Memories in the opener. Despite finishing only 9th in a Windsor event at the end of July, that experience and the drop in class should benefit the filly. Pure Liberty is another in the field who’s had a previous run in a better class of race at Windsor this year and is likely to show improvement.
18:10
Of those 2-year-olds with previous racecourse experience, Blewburton and Huscal, set a good standard. My preference is for Huscal of those two, who produced an eye-catching finish when 6th on debut, after a slow start in a class 2 contest. There are a couple of newbies in the field who may give a good account of themselves, Curzon and Glentanar. Glentanar comes from the Alan King stable, which has performed well at the track this season. The chestnut colt’s pedigree also makes for interesting reading.
Will Staincliff Leave A Positive Mark?
18:40
The bookies will be beaming from ear to ear if Jack Channon’s Staincliff gets chinned. She performed admirably on both her starts as a 2-year-old and is expected to build on those solid foundations at very short odds. I expect her to do the business, but one other to keep an eye out for is State Of Madness. He ran well at Windsor on debut in May and could be there or thereabouts again.
19:10
The Fitzdares Sprint Series Final looks a very open affair. The heart says Amazonian Dream. Us regular Windsor racegoers love Rod Millman’s 5-year-old, who has run 13 times at the Berkshire track in the space of just 26 months. Six of those runs have been this year and he’s finished 1st, 3rd, 1st, 2nd in his most recent starts at Windsor. However, the head says Palmar Bay, who produced arguably his best performance of his career when winning the 10th and last Sprint Series qualifier here a fortnight ago.
Can Kinetic Power To Her First Career Victory?
19:40
Kinetic has been knocking on the door, but is yet to enter the winner’s enclosure. This could be 12th time lucky for the 3-year-old filly though. She moved stables at the start of the month and ran her first race under James Owen’s guidance last week when finishing a creditable second at Yarmouth. I expect her to improve on that to finally break her duck.
20:10
I like the look of the trainer/jockey combo of James Owen and Sean D Bowen, who combine with Flying Panther. However, my no.1 choice in the last is Oh So Audacious. Harry Eustace’s 5-year-old has been a consistent sort over a mile when the hooves have been rattling this season and won here at Windsor in similar conditions in July last year.
Where To Catch All The Windsor Race Action
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.
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Image Credit: Deposit Photos
