The equine action returns to Windsor Racecourse this Monday after a fortnight’s break, but we’re back to the early starts at the Berkshire venue for the first time since April. The track’s evening festivities may be now snuggly tucked away in hibernation until spring 2025, but we still have three afternoon racing sessions to savour from Windsor, including this one, over the next few weeks. There’s no messing about this Monday, with the first of eight races getting underway at 13:35.
Further away on the horse racing horizon, but one we are all getting excited about already, is December’s jumps meeting. It will be the first time a National Hunt card has been held at Windsor Racecourse for 20 years. Sunday 15th of December, don’t forget to mark it in the diary.
Exciting news was also recently announced that Windsor Racecourse will stage two further jumps meetings on Friday 17th January and Sunday 19th January, as 2025 begins with a bang. Those two fixtures will form part of the Berkshire Winter Million Weekend, with Ascot staging a thrilling NH card on Saturday 18th, sandwiched in between the two Windsor meetings.
Windsor Races – Monday, September 2nd Review
Windsor’s final evening meeting of the year burst into life with a 2-year-old novice stakes over 6 furlongs. James Fanshawe’s Miss Nightfall was a very warm order, despite failing to get off the mark in her previous two starts, the first of those runs had been at Windsor back in July. On that occasion, her racecourse debut, she had dwelt at the start and was denied a late run, eventually finishing third.
Miss Nightfall showed no sluggish behaviour this time around and she was always up with pace from the get-go. She was a bit squeezed for room at the furlong pole, but Oisin Murphy manoeuvred the daughter of Sands Of Mali out of trouble and she took over the lead and ran on well like an 8/13 shot should do.
Escarpment Rocks Favourite Backers
Hot on the heels of an odds-on favourite winning the opener, punters were keen to get with another well-fancied filly, Simon Dow’s Thursday, in the following contest, an 11.5 furlong handicap for 4-year-olds and over. Thursday, who didn’t make a racecourse appearance as a 3-year-old, had recorded his first career victory at Windsor back in June. She had produced an eye-catching performance in a class 4 contest at Epsom a week prior to returning to Windsor, which added to her appeal and why she went off the evens jolly.
Like back in June, Thursday was positioned towards the rear, although she did take an overly keen early hold in the hands of Neil Callan during her Windsor reappearance. Simon Dow’s filly made smooth and steady headway though and came with a promising run to dispute the lead a furlong out. However, when push came to shove, Thursday’s final furlong foe, Michael Appleby’s Escarpment, had more left in the tank and kept on the stronger of the pair, to claim victory by half a length.
It’s Close But No Cigar For Windsor Regular Mrembo
The second division of the Hamish Johnson Memorial Handicap, again raced over 11.5 furlongs, also produced another nail-biting finish, with less than half a length separating the first four home in the third race on the card. Jonathan Portman’s Mrembo, who was making her 8th appearance at Windsor since April 2022, went off the 3/1 favourite and was one of those involved in the blanket four-way finish.
However, the 5-year-old mare failed to get her head in front again at Windsor. She lacked the final kick required, losing a couple of places late on and eventually finishing 4th. It was Stintino Sunset who dug the deepest to secure the win, her first for 10 months. Dylan Hogan, who celebrated his first Windsor saddle success of 2024, produced the 4-year-old with a perfectly timed run to snatch victory on the line.
Oisin Murphy Strengthens His Grip On The Windsor Jockeys’ Championship
Oisin Murphy had moved one clear of Rossa Ryan at the top of the Windsor Top Jockey standings following his victory in the opener aboard Miss Nightfall. The Irish saddle star, who is storming towards his fourth British Champion Jockey title, further extended his advantage in the Windsor title race when winning on the fourth race favourite, Shrimp Shady. Andrew Balding’s 2-year-old just failed to get home on his All-Weather debut at Kempton, but Oisin Murphy made sure of victory here, pushing the colt clear to win by 2 ½ lengths.
It was the start of a slippery slope for the bookies, as favourites would continue to go in for the remainder of the card. Following Shrimp Shady’s winning performance, Sean Woods’ Warriors Dream came out on top in a 3-year-old handicap over 6 furlongs. The 9/4 jolly, who was dropping down in class and trip, took over the lead inside the final furlong to claim victory by a head. It was Tom Marquand’s second saddle success of the evening.
Daisy Roots Is Proving To Be A Summer Bloomer
The bookies’ pain continued in the 6th race, as the second odds-on shot of the evening, Daisy Roots, justified favouritism when landing the mile handicap. Adam West’s filly had appeared at Windsor once previously, back in October 2022, when finishing nowhere after running very green.
However, Daisy Roots has blossomed since then and the daughter of Footstepsinthesand showed her battling qualities on this occasion. Despite losing the lead to Dean Ivory’s Adace, racing here at Windsor for an 8th time, inside the final furlong, Daisy Roots knuckled down and managed to get her head back in front (well her neck) on the line. Adam West became the fourth trainer of the evening after James Fanshawe, Julia Feilden and Sean Woods to register a first Windsor win of the year.
Georgina Nicholls became the fifth shortly after, as her Bobacious produced the most commanding display of the evening in the penultimate race on the card. Josh Bryan had the 4-year-old out in front early and the 6/5 favourite never looked back. Bryan increased the pace down the straight and Bobacious went further clear readily, leaving the field trailing in his wake, as he recorded a cosy 5 ½ length success. It was Josh Bryan’s sixth successive ride on Bobacious and he hasn’t finished out of the frame in any of those races.
Jungle Run Breaks His Season Duck As Windsor’s Evening Season Closes
A short and sweet 5-furlong sprint brought the curtain down on Windsor’s evening racing season for the year. It was particularly sweet for Tom Clover’s Jungle Run. Both of the 5-year-old’s previous two career wins had come on the All-Weather and the latest of those wins was way back in May 2023.
However, Bungle Inthejungle’s progeny have performed well on the whole at Windsor this year, Amazonian Dream being the prime example. The drop down to the minimum trip seemed to work wonders for Jungle Run here. The 3/1 jolly made steady headway in the hands of Connor Planas and took over the lead in the final furlong, keeping on well to see off Michael Attwater’s fast-finishing Cabeza De Llave. The bookies’ satchels were definitely a little lighter at home time, with Jungle Run becoming the sixth winning favourite of the evening.
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 – Monday, September 16th Preview
A couple of small shoutouts before we get cracking. With an apprentice race kicking off proceedings this Monday, I’d thought it was worth giving Sean D Bowen the nod. The Tipperary-born apprentice is back in action at Windsor this Monday and he’s been impressing us throughout the year here, with 4 wins from his 13 rides to date. He definitely looks one for the future and we wish him all the best.
I’ve kept my beady on Deira Mile since he romped to victory on his 2024 seasonal debut at Windsor back in April. As a 4/9 shot, he didn’t win me much, but he left a lasting impression. Owen Burrows’ colt stepped up significantly from there, heading to the Epsom Derby, where he finished with a flourish to grab 4th behind Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy.
We were all glad to see him back at Windsor last month and despite finishing a neck-second, when the 11/10 favourite, we weren’t too hard on him. However, what a display he gave on Saturday at Doncaster in the St Leger. He chased home two Aidan O’Brien good-things in Jan Brueghel and Illinois and was unfortunate to lose out on 3rd spot by just a nose. He’s given us much joy this year and we hope to see him again at Windsor at some point. Don’t forget us !!
Still, Plenty To Play For In the Windsor Trainers’ Championship
The Windsor Jockeys’ Championship has been a two-horse race for a fair while, with the balance of power swinging between Oisin Murphy and Rossa Ryan for a large part of the season. However, in Rossa Ryan’s recent absence, Oisin Murphy has stamped his authority on proceedings and leads by 2 wins, with some more eye-catching rides to come this Monday.
The Windsor Trainers’ Championship isn’t such an open and shut case though. John and Thady Gosden looked in a dominant position a couple of months ago, but it’s become a very competitive heat since then. The Gosdens remain on top with 8 season wins, but Jack Channon is just one victory away on 7. In fact, only 3 wins separates the top seven trainers in the standings, with the likes of Ralph Beckett, Willie Haggas, Andrew Balding, Eve Johnson Houghton and Richard Hannon, still all within touching distance.
Windsor – September 16th Race-By-Race Preview
13:35
The spotlight is focused on the apprentice riders in the opening race on the card. The leading hopefuls looks to be Lahina Bay and Harry’s Halo. Harry’s Halo has been performing better in softer conditions and as the suns been shining for the majority of the past couple of days in the Windsor area, my preference is for Lahina’s Bay. Rachel Cook & John Bridger’s 4-year-old filly has performed well at Windsor in the past and has been running consistently this season.
14:07
It may be a class 5 novice stakes, but three of the runners appeared at Royal Ascot back in June. Two in particular standout, Amestris, who finished 9th in the Queen Mary Stakes and Aviation Time, who was an impressive 3rd in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Michael Bell’s Amestris, ridden by Oisin Murphy, will definitely have her admirers. She’s had two further solid runs in class 1 events and destroyed her rivals when last running in a class 5 contest prior to heading to Royal Ascot.
However, I’m going to side with Richard Hughes’ Aviation Time. Amazingly, Lambourn handler Hughes is still looking for his first Windsor winner of the year. He’s hit the bar a few times during 2024, with four 2nds and two 3rds, but Aviation Time, his 20th Windsor runner of the year, could see him finally break his seasonal duck at the track. Aviation Time has run at a consistent level since Royal Ascot and her breeding suggests she’ll run well here. The progeny of her sire, Sands Of Mali and dam sire, War Front, have both impressed at Windsor this year.
Noisy Jazz Hoping To Hit All The Right Notes
14:37
It’s always worth keeping an eye out when the Gosdens have a newcomer, especially if their odds start tumbling in the market. John and Thady send out the 3-year-old Muhib for his racecourse bow in this novice stakes. He’s a son of Too Darn Hot and the Gosdens have had a couple of 3-year-old winners with his progeny at Windsor already this year, in the shape of Lucentio and Lyric.
A safer option for me here though is to get with Noisy Jazz. James Owen’s runners have given you a good run for your money at Windsor throughout 2024 and Noisy Jazz should come on for two impressive starts to date.
15:12
There are several Windsor regulars in the line-up, including Morcar, Fast Steps and The Whipmaster. Richard Hannon’s Morcar has produced a couple of his best career performances at Windsor, including last time out, when winning at canter in a small field over 10 furlongs. I’m expecting another solid display from him over this longer trip. The Whipmaster is my pick though. Like Morcar, he has produced some of his best life-time runs at Windsor and in better class events than this. Gary and Josh Moore’s 6-year-old looks to have reacted well to wind surgery and should go well.
Lone Piper May Lead Them A Merry Dance
15:42
Kingman has been one of the best performing sires at Windsor during 2024 and another one of his offspring could run a big race at the track this Monday. Tom Clover’s Lone Piper is one of the least campaigned runners in the field for this class 5 handicap over 10 furlongs and looks open to further improvement. He has seemed distracted during recent runs, flashing his tail on occasions, but hopefully with blinkers now added, he should be fully focused on the job in hand. Forest Hills could be in the mix too, though his previous runs at Windsor are a little off-putting.
16:12
Daisy Roots gave a career-high performance when winning here at Windsor a fortnight ago. It was the filly’s second win in three starts and the Adam West trainee looks to be in a good place right now. Callum Shepherd took the reins on her two weeks ago and another top-quality jockey, in the shape of Jim Crowley is booked on this occasion. Theworldisnotenough has been off the boil in recent runs, but she was flying at Windsor at the start of the season and a return to the track may see her fly again.
Will Windsor Bring Out The Best In Adace Again?
16:45
Dean Ivory’s 6-year-old mare, Adace, almost broke her seasonal duck here at Windsor a fortnight ago, just failing to keep her head in front despite leading within the final furlong. It was Adace’s eighth race at Windsor and her only under-par performance at the Berkshire track came way back in 2020 when the ground was heavy.
I’ll be backing Adace again here, but this looks to be one of the most competitive contests on the card and plenty look to have chances. Trainers Thomas Faulkner (Bella Veneta) and Jimmy Fox (Marchetti) are both sending out runners to Windsor for the first time this year. They’ve both made eye-catching jockey bookings in Oisin Murphy and Hollie Doyle respectively.
Who’ll Reign Supreme In The Sprint Finish?
17:15
Like at the previous Windsor meeting, this Monday’s card ends with a 5-furlong sprint. Michael Attwater’s Cabeza De Llave attempts to go one better after finishing a close second in the aforementioned race, two weeks ago. He’s only won once since 2022 and he may find one to good once again. I like Rod Millman’s Bama Lama. Oliver Searle saddles up on the 6-year-old and she is his only ride of the afternoon. The apprentice gets on very well with Bama Lama and has not finished worse than 4th in his last nine rides on the mare and they’ve got good form together here at Windsor.
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