It doesn’t seem many moons ago since Vernon Kay was spinning the discs and pumping out a plethora of uplifting tunes at Windsor races’ ‘Summer Opening Party’. However, time does fly when you’re having oodles of equine fun and picking numerous winners. Well a few winners anyway !!!
This Saturday, following an enthralling 6-race card, another northern TV & radio celeb, Sara Cox, will bring the curtain down on Windsor’s summer season and this year’s musical-themed race nights.
The ‘Summer Closing Party’ meeting gets going at 17:15 with all races screened live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature event is the Winter Hill Stakes (18:45), which is the only Group race currently staged during the year at Windsor racecourse.
Windsor Races – Monday, August 19th Review
The final musical-themed Monday evening race meeting at Windsor races, aptly dubbed the ‘Final Fiesta’ got underway with a class 4 handicap for 3-year-olds and over. Marcus Tregoning’s Royal Blaze (13/8) and Harry Charlton’s Niloufar (9/4) were the fancied pair in the small 5-runner field, but both failed to spark and finished 4th and a distant 5th, respectively.
The win went to Richard Hannon’s Morcar, a former course and distance winner and the outsider of the quintet. The 4-year-old daughter of Saxon Warrior was happy to take a backseat during the early stages of the 10-furlong contest but made steady headway in the hands of Joe Leavy and lead from two out. He got a gentle nudge at the furlong pole and cruised clear to claim a cosy 3 ½ length success. It was almost a repeat of his Windsor success in June 2023 when he won by 5 ½ lengths in a small field on good-to-firm going.
Piranha Rama was impressed when winning on ‘Vegas Night’ at Windsor the previous Monday, and she went off the slight odds-on favourite for the second race on the card, another nursery over 6 furlongs. However, despite setting the pace, as she had done when winning 7 days earlier, there was no polished finish this time when push came to shove, and David Evans’ 2-year-old eventually finished a well-adrift 3rd in the 4-runner event.
Ed de Giles’ Puglia, who had to settle for second spot behind Piranha Rama last week, finally got her moment in the spotlight, as she and Hollie Doyle held off a late challenge from Cassandraalexandra. It was very pleasing for Puglia’s connections, who had seen their improving filly finish 11th, 8th and 2nd in her previous runs at Windsor this year.
James Doyle Faces Frustrated Punters’ Wrath
It had been a tough start for favourite backers, and their fortunes took an even bigger nose-dive following some shenanigans in race 3, a maiden for 3-year-olds and over. All had been looking hunky dory for Roger Varian’s No Retreat, the 5/6 jolly, for the majority of the 10-furlong contest. However, as had been the case in his debut on the All-Weather at Newcastle in February, he didn’t get the job done when victory was within his grasp.
On this occasion, James Doyle, appeared to stop riding in the final furlong and No Retreat was nabbed on the line by Brave Call. Following the race, James Doyle explained to Matt Chapman that his mount had jinked during his final strides, which required him to get a hold of the colt’s head.
It continued James Doyle’s dismal record in the saddle at Windsor this year. He’s now had zero wins from 5 rides at the Berkshire track in 2024, with three of those five rides being on favourites priced at evens or shorter. James Doyle may have been wishing that the ground would swallow him up, but for another Doyle, Hollie Doyle, it was a moment to remember as she notched back-to-back wins at the meeting on Heather Main’s Brave Call.
Oisin Murphy Draws Level With Rossa Ryan
There was no messing about in the fourth, as Oisin Murphy took up the lead early on Lucky Man and was never headed. Richard Spencer’s 5-year-old hadn’t tasted success since winning at York back in September 2022 and was only 7th of 8 in a Windsor Sprint Series Qualifier last month. However, the drop in class and the firmer conditions seemed to bring out the best in him. The win saw Oisin Murphy draw level at the top of the Windsor Jockeys’ Championship with Rossa Ryan. Both jockeys now have 15 wins apiece at Windsor this year.
Batchelor Boy Fails To Relieve Favourite Backers’ Anguish
With Oisin Murphy on top-notch form in the saddle in the previous race, it was no surprise that his mount in the 5th, John Gallagher’s Batchelor Boy, went off a warm 2/1 favourite. Going conditions may have been in Batchelor Boy’s favour, with all five of his turf wins coming on good-to-firm going, but he threw away his chances with a very sluggish start in the 5-furlong sprint and eventually finished 6th.
Michael Attwater’s Nordic Glory, in the hands of William Carson, was the victor of the class 6 contest, just seeing off Tony Carroll’s Wedgewood by 3/4s of a length. It was the first Windsor win of 2024 for both trainer and jockey and also marked Nordic Glory’s first ever turf success.
Tony Carroll may have been thwarted in race 5, but the Worcestershire handler wasn’t to be denied. He sent out three runners in the last race on the card, another class 6 handicap, this time over 6 furlongs. Two of those runners, Kensington Agent and Falmouth Bay, didn’t run with the pack, instead racing as a duo on the far side of the track. While Falmouth Bay weakened from the halfway mark onwards, 12/1 shot Kensington Agent ploughed on strongly under Luke Morris’ guidance to clinch victory. It rounded off a frustrating evening for favourite backers, who failed to get a single market leader home.
Windsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
The remaining meetings this year are as follows:
October:
14th – Final Flat Meeting
December:
15th – The Return of NH Racing
Windsor Races – Saturday, August 24th Preview
Sir Michael Stoute is attempting to land a fourth consecutive Winter Hill Stakes and a tenth in total at Windsor this Saturday. He runs Regal Reality, who won the event two years ago. The legendary trainer won his first ‘Winter Hill’ way back in 1986 with Samarid. As well as Samarid, Walter Swinburn also rode Dolpour (1989) and Desert Shot (1995) to victory for Stoute in the race. Adilabad in 2000 & 2001 is the only Stoute winner to record multiple successes in the race. Prior to his triumphs in the last three years with Solid Stone (2021), Regal Reality (2022) and Passenger (2023), he was also victorious with Tam Lin (2006) and Queen’s Best (2007).
Windsor Race-By-Race Preview
17:15
I expect another strong showing from one of my Windsor favourites, Indian Creak, who produced a positive performance in the defence of his Sprint Series crown at the track, when 4th in the 2024 Final earlier this month. However, my preference is for a couple of the young 3-year-olds in the line-up, Heartwarmer and Tourist. George Boughey’s Heartwarmer looks an improving type and could follow up on his impressive win here on ‘Gents Evening’. Tourist may run a big race at larger odds. He’s Newmarket handler, Hilal Kobeissi’s first runner at Windsor this year and the up-and-coming apprentice, Sean D Bowen, takes the reins.
17:45
It always catches the eye when a Saeed bin Suroor runner arrives in town (Midnight Thunder), though his only previous runner at Windsor this year finished 11th of 15. The Newmarket trainer’s runners have been in good form of late, but I’d rather be with Karl Burke’s Milford. This is his first appearance since finishing 11th in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. He gave a good performance on soft going, in the race prior to that and may appreciate any juice in the ground. I reckon Spirit Lead Me could be in the mix. Richard Hughes’ runners are flying, and the progeny of Calyx has a decent record this year on the track.
Deira Mile Returns To Windsor After His Epsom Derby Heroics
18:15
We last saw Owen Burrows’ Deira Mile in action when finishing an impressive 4th behind City Of Troy in the Epsom Derby at the start of June. Prior to that run, he had scooted clear to claim the honours, and break his career duck, in a novice stakes at Windsor in April. He should appreciate the forecasted Saturday deluge and will be hard to beat. The best of the rest could be Under The Sun. I like his breeding and he’s another who shouldn’t be put off by any softening in the ground.
18:45
I’m torn between Richard Hannon’s Persica and Jack Channon’s Certain Lad in the standout contest on the card, the Winter Hill Stakes. Both should appreciate it being softer underhoof and have been running well of late. I’m swaying towards Persica, who has won both his previous starts over 10-furlongs and looks to still be on the upgrade.
Will Ian Williams Be Winning At Windsor Again?
19:15
Worcestershire trainer, Ian Williams, bagged a brace of winners during the Racing League night at Windsor last week and it wouldn’t surprise me if his runner in the penultimate race here, Law Supreme, is in contention for honours at big odds. The 5-year-old has run below par in a couple of recent starts, but he performed better earlier in the season when encountering a softer surface. Clive Cox’s Midnight Drive is running on turf for the first time in her career and may take to it like a duck to water.
19:45
James Owen’s Kinetic has definitely found her winning touch, recording back-to-back successes including a win at Windsor a fortnight ago. However, I’m a little concerned with how she’s going to handle the forecasted juicier surface and I’m more inclined to side with Elforleather. Jack Channon’s 3-year-old has finished in the top-3 in his last five starts this year with the going for three of those runs being on the soft side of good.
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
