The ‘Final Fiesta’ or Mexican Night may have been the last musical-themed Monday at Windsor Racecourse for the year, a fortnight ago. Still, this Monday (September 2nd) marks the real curtain-closer for the 2024 evening meetings at the Berkshire track. For those die-hard Windsor racegoers, several afternoon cards will come later in September and mid-October.
We also have a pre-Christmas treat to savour on December 15th, when National Hunt racing returns to Windsor for the first time in 20 years. We’ve got a bumper 8-race card to savour this Monday, kicking off at 15:58.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – Saturday August 24th Review
Storm Lillian did her best to spoil the weekend’s equine festivities by unleashing a deluge on Windsor racecourse. Still, it didn’t stop a hoard of hardy Bank Holiday horse racing (and Sara Cox) fans flocking to Saturday’s evening meeting at the track. The going had changed from good to firm to good to soft by the time racing got underway at 17:15, and it softened up even further as the card continued.
Newmarket handler Hilal Kobeissi sent out his first Windsor runner of the year in the opening contest in the shape of the 3-year-old gelding, Tourist. He had shown his liking for juicy underhoof conditions earlier in the season when winning at Doncaster. Despite taking a keen early hold in the 6-furlong handicap, he thrived again in the rain-freshened ground to make all. He did need, however, require late urgings from up-and-coming apprentice jockey Sean D Bowen (and the support of the near rail) to hold off a late challenge from Havana Pusey to claim victory by a neck.
Godolphin’s Midnight Thunder Lights Up Windsor Racecourse
The opener may have been a nailbiter, however the second race on the card was anything but. Saeed bin Suroor’s only previous runner at Windsor this year may have underperformed in June, but that didn’t put off punters piling on his Midnight Thunder for the 2-year-old novice stakes. The son of Kodiac went off a warm 11/8 favourite, and unlike on his debut run, he always traveled strongly. Midnight Thunder took over the lead from Richard Hannon’s Elyam at the 2-pole and forged clear. Kieran O’Neill, who has sizzled in the saddle at Windsor recently, could even ease up on the Godolphin colt, who cruised to a 4 ¾ length success.
Favourite backers were jubilant after Midnight Thunder’s romp and were confident of following up in race 3, with another hot jolly, Deira Mile, in the August Stakes. Owen Burrows’ 3-year-old had won emphatically at Windsor on his seasonal debut before heading to the Epsom Derby, where he finished a very creditable 4th to City Of Troy.
However, on this occasion at Windsor, he didn’t travel as smoothly as he did back in April, and despite a concerted late challenge, he failed to catch Andrew Balding’s Sea Of Roses, who had taken a keen hold and made all in the hands of Hayley Turner. The Notts-born jockey determinedly dug deep on the 4-year-old filly to claim victory by a neck, her first winning ride at Windsor this year.
Embed from Getty ImagesWillie Haggas Claims His First Winter Hill Stakes Win
Punters may have been frustrated by Deira Mile failing to get his nose in front, but favourite backers were buzzing once again following the feature race of the day, the Winter Hill Stakes. It’s the only Group event held at Windsor Racecourse each year and has been won by some notable equine names, including Al Kazeem. Sir Michael Stoute had been the stand-out trainer in the race, winning the three previous editions and sending out ten winners in total since 1986. However, sadly for the Bajan-born Knight of the Realm, his 2024 hopes were dashed when his scheduled runner and the 2022 victor, Regal Reality, was declared a non-runner due to the ‘unsuitable ground’.
With Jamie Osborne’s Sean also a non-runner, seven runners went to post for the Group 3 event over 10 furlongs. Willie Haggas’ 5-year-old, My Prospero, who had won the listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood in the soft last September, went off the 2/1 favourite. It was he and the oldest runner in the field, 8-year-old Certain Lad, who took up the early running, and the duo maintained their stranglehold on the race throughout.
Jack Channon’s Certain Lad, who had finished 1st or 2nd in five of his previous six starts, took over the lead and pressed for home a furlong out on the far rail. However, My Prospero wasn’t to be denied, and he rallied bravely under the guidance of Cieran Fallon to get his head back in front just in the nick of time. It was a welcome relief for the son of the 6-time British flat champion jockey, Kieran Fallon, who had just missed out on a win aboard Deira Mile. He had also failed to win on his ten previous 2024 Windsor rides before that.
Bookmakers Left Licking Their Wounds
Buoyed by his saddle success in the Winter Hill Stakes, Cieran Fallon went for further glory aboard Ian Williams’ Law Supreme from 2 furlongs out in the penultimate race on the card. However, he was caught before the line by Arkhalia Flynn, the 3/1 market leader, who finished with a fair rattle on the rail after a slow start. It was redemption for the trainer and jockey combo of Jack Channon and George Bass, who had to settle for silver in the day’s feature event.
Half an hour later, the duo were back in the winner’s enclosure, with another successful favourite, Elforleather, taking the honours. Similarly to his winning ride on Arkhalia Flynn, George Bass came with a strong late run and took the lead in the final furlong. Elforleather remains a very consistent sort at this class 6 level. It was his second win on the trot and the sixth successive occasion the Jack Channon 3-year-old has finished in the frame.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Racecourse – 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 2nd Preview
Oisin Murphy may be sitting pretty at the top of the British Flat Jockeys’ Championship, but the Windsor Jockeys’ Championship race is still up for grabs. The Irish Oisin Murphy and Rossa Ryan are currently tied on 15 wins apiece. The next best in the standings, Tom Marquand, is 7 wins adrift of the frontrunners.
The ball is well and truly in Oisin Murphy’s court, though, as the 3-time champion jockey is scheduled to have 5 rides this Monday evening while Rossa Ryan takes his saddle to Chepstow instead for the afternoon meeting. Those Windsor racegoers who revel in Rossa Ryan’s talents have been pining late, as the County Galway star hasn’t appeared at the Berkshire track since the end of July.
Windsor Race-By-Race Preview
15:58
The Coffeepoddotco’s 3rd place finish in a class 2 event at Chester in June is decent form, and I expect Richard Hannon’s 2-year-old filly to be in the mix in the opener on the card. However, I prefer James Fanshawe’s Miss Nightfall, who was unlucky in running during her previous starts this year, including on her racecourse debut at Windsor at the end of July. Oisin Murphy takes the reins on her this time, a bonus.
Terramindar might be an option for those looking for an each-way possibility at bigger odds. The daughter of Territories produced a solid display on her first racecourse appearance on the All-Weather at Kempton, and her breeding hints that she should improve further on the turf. Paul Cole’s runners have also run well at Windsor this term.
16:30
Michael Appleby’s Escarpment produced some positive performances at Musselburgh and Beverley on good/good to firm going earlier this summer, and his breeding suggests he’ll run well here. However, I’m inclined to side with Simon Dow’s Thursday, who looks a very progressive filly. She broke her maiden tag when winning at Windsor impressively in June on good to firm going and gave her best career display last time out when 3rd in a class 4 contest at Epsom.
Jonathan Portman Is Hoping For A Memorable Mrembo Moment
17:00
Five-year-old mare Mrembo is racing for the eighth time at Windsor Racecourse this Monday evening. She may have only finished 6th and 7th in her two-track appearances this year, but they were class 5 events, and she drops back down to class 6 here. The last time she took part in a class 6 event at Windsor, she was victorious almost a year ago (September 4th 2023). It was good to get going on that day, too. Apprentice Olivia Tubb had been on board for Mrembo’s last 16 rides, but Richard Kingscote takes the reins on this occasion.
17:30
Jane Chapple-Hyam’s youngster Calyxoh has raced five times but is yet to enter the winner’s enclosure. This could be his moment to shine. He’s got some impressive performances, including finishing 8th in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s been staying on in several of his runs this year, so the step up to a mile could bring out the best in him. Another who should appreciate moving up in trip is Eve Johnson Houghton’s Gap Year, and he’s already performed well at Windsor when 2nd in a class 2 contest, back in May, in similar conditions.
Dashing Harry Looking To Go One Better At Windsor
18:00
You have to return to Windsor’s first-afternoon meeting of the year in mid-April for Dashing Harry’s first run out of 2024. Clive Cox’s 3-year-old was doing all his best work at the end of the 5-furlong sprint after starting slowly out of the blocks. We haven’t seen the best of Dashing Harry in two races since, but the return to Windsor could reignite his spark. Richard Kingscote is back in the saddle for the first time since his seasonal bow in April.
18:30
Daisy Roots looks likely to go off the short-priced jolly for this mile handicap, but I’d rather side with Dean Ivory’s 6-year-old Adace, who loves it here at Windsor and always seems to give you a good run for your money. Like Mrembo, this will be her eighth time in action at Windsor. Adace hasn’t finished worse than 4th in her last six starts at the Berkshire track and was knocking on the door in both her previous runs here this year.
Worth Sticking A Bob Or Two On Bobacious
19:00
Bobacious has finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in his last three starts over the 10-furlong trip. Georgina Nicholls’ 4-year-old also had a couple of good runs in slightly high class events at Windsor earlier this year. Denis Coakley’s Milvus is likely to be there or thereabouts too. He’s finished 3rd and 5th on his previous two Windsor starts, but as his record of 0-15 reflects, he will probably find one or two too good once again.
19:30
The trainer and jockey combo of Jack Channon and George Bass was on fire at Windsor on Bank Holiday Saturday, and Betweenthesticks will have his supporters in this final race sprint. I’m more inclined to get with Jungle Run. Tom Clover’s runners have been flying of late, and the 5-year-old impressed when 3rd here at Windsor a fortnight ago.
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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