There will be a twinge of sadness in the hearts of regular Windsor racegoers on Monday. The meeting is dubbed the ‘Final Fiesta’, the last musical-themed Monday of 2024 at Windsor races.
It’s not all doom and gloom for us Windsor equine enthusiasts, as, like last week, we’ve got two meetings to savour over the coming days. On Saturday, TV and Radio star Sara Cox will be spinning the discs at the ‘Summer Closing Party’, following another enthralling evening race card.
Windsor Races – Thursday, August 15th Review
There was a buzz of anticipation around the track on Thursday as the Racing League returned to Windsor. Plenty of racegoers were donning the coloured baseball caps of the various regional sides and the team managers, including Chris Hughes and Matt Chapman, were all pumped up and feeling positive about their chances.
It was Chris Hughes’ ‘East’ crew who were jumping for joy following the opening race on the card. Roger Varian’s Nazron had been well backed in the build-up and after travelling sweetly throughout, took up the lead at the furlong pole and was pushed out by Danny Muscutt for a cosy 2 ¼ length success in the 5-furlong event. It marked the first Windsor win of the year for the African-born jockey. The result meant that Nazron maintained his impressive run of being placed in all of his career races to date.
You can never keep Matt Chapman down for too long and the smooth-talking, slick-haired Sky Sports spokesman was beaming from ear-to-ear after race 2, as his ‘London & The South’ side claimed a memorable 1-2. After a titanic tussle to the line in the mile contest, Great Aclaim dug the deepest to pip teammate Post Rider to victory. It was the second Windsor win of the year for Eve Johnson Houghton’s 3-year-old.
Favourite Backers On The Rocks
An excitable Matt Chapman will have had high hopes of his team claiming back-to-back winners with ‘London & The South’ runners, God Of Fire & Due To Henry, going off the 9/4 favourite and 9/2 respectively for the 3rd race. Like Great Aclaim, both had already recorded 10-furlong wins at Windsor earlier in the season. It was the Kubler’s God Of Fire, who was gunning for a 4th straight victory, who went closest, but he would be denied by a late well-timed surge from Richard Fahey’s Life On The Rocks, a 28/1 shot. It was a pleasing success for the struggling ‘North’ team, as well as the bookies.
Another ’London & The South’ fancied runner, Lieber Power, had to also settle for second spot in the 4th race over the maximum Windsor distance of 11.5 furlongs. Andrew Balding’s 9/4 shot performed pretty well though, to finish within a neck of the winner, Night Breeze, considering the shoddy start he made. It was a welcome relief for Jamie Osborne’s ‘Wales & The West’ warriors, as none of the runners in the red silks had recorded a top-3 finish that evening prior to the Ian Williams’ trainee winning. It was the first time that the improving 4-year-old had encountered ground firmer than good and he thrived on it.
Kevin Blake’s Plucky Irish Get Their Act Together
The wins were being shared about, with the first four races all being won by different teams. That pattern continued as Kevin Blake’s Irish team grabbed victory in the fifth race on the card over a mile, with Bennetot. The 5-year-old hadn’t won for two years, since claiming a 3-year-old event at Fontainebleau at the backend of 2022. However, he had produced some improved performances under David O’Meara’s handling, especially this season.
Billy ‘The Kid’ Loughnane kept his cool in the saddle, despite being squeezed for room a couple of furlongs out, to notch a comfy 1-length success. It was another pleasing result for the bookies, with the first two home priced at 14s and 33s and the favourite well down the field in 8th.
Favourite backers knew their fate pretty early on in the 6th race on the card, as Haymaker reared when the stalls opened. Hughie Morrison’s ‘Scottish’ team runner, who also made a slow start in the Windsor Sprint Series Final three days earlier, would eventually finish 6th. The win went to Brian Meehan’s 3-year-old, Toca Madera, who was always up with the pace and who forged clear from two out in the hands of Benoit De La Sayette. It was the second success of the evening for ‘Wales & The West’.
Jamie Osborne’s Wales & The West Top The Table
Thirty minutes or so later, those red silks of Jamie Osborne’s ‘Wales & The West’ team entered the winner’s enclosure once again, as Parlando was victorious in the last. It was a second win of the evening for the trainer/jockey combo of Ian Williams and Kieran O’Neill. With the team’s other runner, Sean, trained by Jamie Osborne himself, finishing 3rd, it meant that ‘Wales & The West’ are top of the Racing League ladder, with two remaining legs at Newcastle and Southwell to go. With less than 50pts separating the top-3 teams currently though, there’s still all to play for.
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 19th Preview
Rossa Ryan remains one win ahead of Oisin Murphy in the Windsor Jockeys’ Championship, 15 victories to 14, but the balance of power could swing in the 3-time British champion’s favour this Monday. It was a frustrating week for Oisin Murphy last week and we hope he overcomes his recent health issues quickly. He failed to notch a winner during the Racing League meeting at Windsor last Thursday, but goes again this Monday and there’s no Rossa Ryan on the scene. Oisin is scheduled to have three rides and his best chance of adding to his winning tally, looks to be with Batchelor Boy in the 19:25.
Windsor Race-By-Race Preview
17:25
A small field goes to post for the opener, a handicap over 10 furlongs. The stand-out pick looks to be Niloufar, who is aiming for a third win on the spin. The 3-year-old filly looks to be on the upgrade and shouldn’t have any issue with competing in a class 4 contest. My only concern is that Harry Charlton’s runners haven’t been firing on all cylinders recently, although the Wiltshire handler has been in top form at Windsor this year on the whole. Richard Hannon’s Morcar may push him the hardest of the rest.
17:55
There’s an even smaller field than the first for this 2-year-old event. Piranha Rama returns to Windsor following her pillar-to-post success at the track last Monday evening. David Evans’ filly was the 3/1 jolly that day and will be much shorter this time, but I can’t see her being denied back-to-back triumphs.
It’s Fast Hoof Forward For Roger Varian’s No Retreat
18:25
Roger Varian had a winner on Racing League night last Thursday at Windsor and his 3-year-old colt, No Retreat, is likely to be well fancied for this maiden contest. We last saw him in action on the All-Weather at Newcastle back in February, where he just failed to justify favouritism. He has a good pedigree and should thrive on the turf. James Doyle returns to Windsor for the first time since June to take the ride, his only mount of the night. I’m also hopeful that a couple of racecourse first-timers, Balticus and King Chaos, could run big races on debut.
18:55
Richard Spencer’s Lucky Man hasn’t entered the winner’s enclosure since claiming a York handicap back in September 2022, but he has produced a couple of decent performances in higher class events on good-to-firm going this year and could be in the mix. However, my preference is for Kodiac Thriller. Charlie Hills’ runners are always worthy of note at the Berkshire track and the 3-year-old has been a very consistent sort this year. He ran a very promising run on his racecourse debut at Windsor back in July last year and I fancy him to go well here again.
Batchelor Boy Aiming To Teach His Younger Rivals A Lesson
19:25
Exceed and Darkened Edge are both looking to follow-up on recent victories earlier this month, but they may find one too good in 7-year-old, Batchelor Boy. The son of Footstepsinthesand is a regular runner at Brighton, but he’s performed well at Windsor in the distant past and could go well once again. Oxon handler, John Gallagher, has had four previous runners at the track this year and all have impressed. Batchelor Boy has the added bonus of having Oisin Murphy on board.
19:55
David Evans’ Greatest Time produced an eye-catching performance when a fast-finishing 5th at Windsor at the start of July. That was in a class 5 handicap, so he’s likely to be one of the main contenders in this lower-class event. I’m swaying slightly towards Foreseeable Future though, who’s been knocking on the door. Ruth Carr’s 9-year-old finished second on his last two starts and has Windsor previous, having won at the track back in 2022.
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.
The Racing League Razzmatazz Returns to Windsor Races
A Look Ahead To A Busy Week At Windsor Races
Check Out The Latest Racing News From Windsor races (July 22nd)
Windsor Races – Check All The Latest Views (July 15th)
Preview: Windsor Races – Monday July 1st
Windsor Races Preview – Saturday, June 29th
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, June 24th
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
