Equine eyes are fully focused on Berkshire this week. It’s top hats and glam frocks at the ready as the 5-day Royal Ascot Festival bursts into life from Tuesday onwards. However, we won’t jump the gun, as of course just down the road and up first, Windsor Racecourse stages it’s usual Monday Evening extravaganza. This week it’s the ‘Summer Garden Party’, and it’s starting to feel like summer, finally !!! We can expect lengthy queues for the Pimm’s and Prosecco tents. Windsor’s 7-race card gets underway at 17:30, with all races screened live on Sky Sports Racing.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – Monday, June 10th Review
On Edge finally found her way to the winner’s enclosure at Windsor this year, in the opening race on the card, a Class 5 five-furlong sprint for the older types. Christopher Mason’s 6-year-old had finished second on two of his previous three runs at Windsor in 2024, so it was a welcome relief for all connections. On Edge finished with a fantastic late flurry in the hands of Gina Mangan, who was riding him for the 9th occasion on the trot, to pip favourite Safari Dream on the line.
The spotlight fell on the youngest generation in the following race, with a winless or unraced bunch of 2-year-olds. Tom Marquand sizzled aboard Celandine, hitting the front early and making all. He pushed the son of Kingman out when challenged by Richard Hughes’ Pouting in the latter stages, but Ed Walker’s youngster was always doing enough in the 6-furlong contest.
Kingman’s Progeny Reign Supreme
Fast on the hoofsteps of Celandine’s maiden success, another son of Kingman, Andrew Balding’s T’Challa, would also break his career duck. The 3-year-old colt, in the hands of Oisin Murphy, threw down the gauntlet to the evens favourite, Midair, two furlongs out, and got his head in front in the final 100 yards to clinch victory. It was Midair’s fourth 2nd place finish from six starts, but with the front pair finishing over 4 lengths clear of the pack, surely it’s only a matter of time before Harry Charlton’s colt gets his head in front.
The 4th race on the card was also a novice stakes and Tom Marquand produced another saddle masterclass. Like with Celandine earlier on, he kicked Willie Haggas’ Approval out fast from the stalls and didn’t relinquish the lead. Despite a concerted effort from the Gosden’s Lord Of Love, Approval reacted positively, galloping to an impressive 4 ¼ length success. The 3-year-old who had recorded back-to-back 2nd places on the All-Weather at Wolverhampton, relished the return to turf and the good-to-firm conditions.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot A Jubilant Day For Jolly Backers
Favourites finished 2nd three times and 3rd once in the opening four races on the card. In the fifth contest, the prestigious Fitzdares Sprint Series Qualifier, the well-backed Rocking Ends didn’t even place. Tom Clover’s 4-year-old grey had won an earlier Sprint Series Qualifier back in May, but he raced too freely on this occasion and a handful of fast-finishers soared past him. Both of in-form George Boughey’s runners were in the mix, but it was his Navello who came out on top by a short-head. It marked the first Windsor win of the year for champion jockey William Buick.
We returned to first-time winners in the penultimate race on the card, a 3-year-old handicap, with City Of Delight recording his first career success. The majority of his previous runs had been on the All-Weather and he was encountering good turf conditions for the first time. The step-up to 10-furlongs also seemed to bring out the best in David Menuisier’s gelding, as he finished strongly to deny Rae Guest’s grey filly, Lia Rose, by half a length. It was former South African champion apprentice Kyle Strydom’s first ever Windsor victory.
William Buick Denied A Double On The Day
Favourite backers who had been thwarted all evening, were hoping Pat Phelan’s Naasma would bring them some welcome relief in the last, over the maximum Windsor distance of 11.5 furlongs. However, she would run out of puff in the latter stages and finished 5th. It was 25/1 outsider Buxted Too, who took the glory. Richard Kingscote was on board and he timed his run on Ian Williams’ 6-year-old to perfection, denying William Buick’s mount D Day Arvalenreeva the win. A shout out to John & Rhys Flint’s Carp Kid, who was running in his 20th race at Windsor and only finished 3/4s length behind the winner.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
Some of the remaining highlights this year are as follows:
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – Monday June 17th Preview
Rossa Ryan returns to riding action at Windsor after a week away from the Berkshire track and he is now playing catch-up in the Windsor Jockey’s Championship. Oisin Murphy stole a march on his Irish saddle rival while he was away on duties up north and now leads by one, on 9 wins this year. The pair are currently well clear of Tom Marquand and Saffie Osborne who both have 4 wins apiece. Rossa Ryan is due to mount up in 5 of Monday’s races, while Oisin Murphy just has the three rides. Can Rossa roar back to the top of the standings?
On the trainer’s front, the Gosdens, who have had a thrilling start to the season at Windsor with their 3-year-olds, currently top the standings with 5 winners. However, they are fully focused on Royal Ascot and have no runners at Windsor this week. It gives the likes of Andrew Balding and Jack Channon the chance to cut the gap this Monday.
The Return Of Windsor’s Sprint King
We hit the halfway mark in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Qualifiers. It’s the 5th Qualifier this week, with only five more to come, before the line-up for the Final is known. Last year’s Sprint Series Final champ, Indian Creak, has a second crack at reaching this year’s showpiece after trailing in 10th and last in the first 2024 Qualifier, back in May.
Amazonian Dream, who finished 4th in the 2023 Sprint Series Final, is also aiming to stake a claim for a spot in this year’s Final. Rod Millman’s 5-year-old has already run three times at Windsor this year, but is taking part in his first Qualifying contest this Monday. He produced an eye-catching winning performance in his last start here last month and will be at the top (or near the top) of the bookies’ boards.
Embed from Getty ImagesRace-By-Race Preview
17:30
We kick off the evening with a 3-year-old sprint handicap and a couple of Harry Angel’s progeny catch my eye, Fidelius and Acer. Robert Cowell’s Fidelius has produced some decent efforts on the All-Weather, including breaking his duck at Chelmsford last time out. However, I like Acer’s chances with Rossa Ryan on board. Rossa has a good record when riding for Clive Cox and he was on board when Acer produced one of her most pleasing career performances here last summer in a Class 4 contest. Sadly with at least one dropping out, only the first two home will count though for each-way fans.
18:00
Invincible Crown’s breeding suggests he will give a good account of himself in his Maiden Stakes for 2-year-olds and is likely to come on for his All-Weather debut at Chelmsford. A couple at bigger prices that might show more than they did on debut are Happy Happy and Pathetic Fallacy.
Galaxy Could Be Out Of This World
18:30
Ralph Beckett’s Galaxy Princess was a well-beaten 2nd (behind another Beckett beast) in a Class 4 event at Salisbury last month, but she was doing her best work towards the end. The winner that day has since rubber-stamped that performance. Galaxy Princess is likely to prefer the firmer conditions on this occasion too and could be too good for her Class 5 rivals here.
19:00
We’ve a big field for this week’s Fitzdares’ Sprint Series Qualifier and it looks a very open contest. Kingman’s progeny were in sparkling form at Windsor last week in similar underhoof conditions and there are three of Kingman’s entered here: Kingentleman, Al Farabi and King’s Vanity. I like the look of the latter two, who both have a couple of this year’s in-form Windsor jockeys taking the reins.
19:30
Queen’s Guard returns to turf action for the first time since winning at Yarmouth last August. Danny Tudhope saddles up for his only ride of the evening and gets on well with Michael Bell’s 3-year-old filly. She’s likely to be pushed hardest in the 3-year-old handicap by Karl Burke’s Beyond Borders.
High Spirited Could Get Punters In The Party Mood
20:00
High Spirited impressed when winning a Class 2 contest over this distance at Windsor last spring. Henry Candy’s 4-year-old again gave a good account of himself when finishing 3rd last time out here, earlier this month, and could be in the mix.
20:30
We finish the evening over the maximum distance at Windsor and a large field go to post. Andrew Balding and Sir Mark Prescott have both been in decent form of late and their runners, Lady Birdie and Top Flight Century could run big races.
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