There was no Monday equine action at Windsor races for the first time in seven weeks, last week, and didn’t we know and feel it. Time definitely grinds to a halt when you’re waiting impatiently for something. Thankfully we had some top-notch classics action from Epsom to keep us going. Congrats to the winning connections of Ezeliya (The Oaks) and City Of Troy (The Derby). What a run from Owen Burrows’ Deira Mile in The Derby too. The son of Camelot who had romped to a 4 lengths victory at Windsor in April, prior to Epsom on Saturday, finished 4th in the blue riband event of the British horse racing flat season.
The Windsor fretting can stop now though, as the wait is almost over for the next and latest instalment of enthralling evening race action from the Berkshire track. It’s also ‘80s Retro Explosion’ night, with live music after racing. A chance for the ‘Gen X’ crowd to get their groove and glad rags on.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – Saturday May 25th Review
The first Windsor themed race evening of 2024, the ‘Summer Opening Party’, got underway with a 6-furlong handicap for horses aged 4-years-old and over. It featured a few old Windsor equine favourites and one of them, Antiphon, who was looking for a 4th success at the track, had to settle for second spot on this occasion. Mike Murphy & Michael Keady’s 5-year-old produced another strong performance, whose finishes at Windsor are now as follows: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 1st & 2nd. It was Jack Channon’s Sixties Chic though, on her third appearance at Windsor, who produced a storming finish in the hands of Edward Greatrex to claim a first ever career turf victory.
Previous racecourse experience proved vital in the second race on the card, for 2-year-olds. The only two horses who had raced before in the 11-runner field, Afentiko and Arabian Cobra, fought out a dramatic duel to the line and would finish over 4 lengths clear of their unraced rivals. It was Paul & Oliver Cole’s odds-on favourite, Afentiko, who dug deepest to clinch victory by a neck. He had impressed on debut when finishing second to a hot Godolphin colt at Lingfield earlier in May and he backed up that eye-catching display here. Finlay Marsh in the saddle became the second jockey of the day to register a first Windsor win of 2024.
A Jolly Good Day For Favourite Backers
Another race and another odds-on winner. Hot on the heels of Afentiko’s victory, came Ezra Cee. Kevin Philippart De Foy’s 4/6 shot got off the mark at the 4th time of asking, but favourite backers were made to sweat once again as the 3-year-old grey only just shrugged off the attentions of a couple of long-shots, State Of Madness and Pearl’s Edge. Like Finlay Marsh, it would be Ross Coakley’s first Windsor saddle success since 2022.
With two non-runners and Tees Spirit bolting before the start, only five entered the stalls for the 4th race on the card, a 5-furlong handicap dash for 4-years-old and over. Tom Clover’s Jumbeau and Robert Cowell’s Democracy Dilemma fought out the finish and with the latter not keeping a straight line at the vital moment, Jumbeau took advantage to claim her first victory since her racecourse debut in April 2022. It was apprentice jockey, Jack Doughty’s first ever Windsor win. Jack was jubilant, bookies not so much, as Jumbeau was the third winning favourite on the trot.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinlay Marsh Doubles Up On Tony Montana
Finlay Marsh claimed a second victory of the evening, and a second victory aboard a favourite, to keep the bookies under the cosh. His mount in the 5th race, Tony Montana, who had broken his career duck at Chester’s May Festival, showed his liking for the winning feeling, by seeing off Al Anoud by half a length. It was Michael Bell’s second winner of the week at Windsor after another 4-year-old of his, Incremental, had won at the track five days earlier.
The oddsmakers’ woes didn’t end there, as Marcus Tregoning’s Al Khawaneej River became the 5th winning favourite on the spin in the penultimate race on the card, a 3-year-old handicap over the maximum Windsor trip of 11.5 furlongs. The son of Dariyan made steady progress from the rear in the hands of Dougie Costello and led from the 1-furlong pole before pushing clear to claim his first career triumph.
Georgia Dobie Gets Off The Mark
Like a number of other jockeys on the card, Georgia Dobie, would get off the Windsor mark for the first time in 2024, as she claimed victory aboard Eve Johnson Houghton’s 3-year-old Great Acclaim in the 7th and last race. He had finished 3rd at Windsor 12 days earlier, but appeared to appreciate being up with the pace on this occasion. Great Acclaim became the 4th horse of the evening to record their first ever career win. Thankfully for the bookies, race favourite Calm Waters took a keen early hold and could only finish 5th.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindsor Races – What’s Still To Come In 2024
Some of the remaining highlights this year are as follows:
Windsor Races – Monday June 3rd Preview
It’s another bumper 8-race card at Windsor this Monday with the equine action getting underway from 17:10. A little stat attack to get you started for the week. Of the 61 race favourites who have run at Windsor so far in 2024, 26 have won, which works out as a 42.6% success rate. Another 13 of them have finished 2nd, which works out as 63.9% of jollies having come 1st or 2nd. Placing a £1 win on each of the 61 favourites, would have returned £53.58, so a loss of just under £8.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Race For Windsor Top Jockey Continues
The more well-known Windsor jockeys were all absent from the ‘Summer Opening Party’ meeting, but the saddle stars return in full force this Monday evening. The top-3 in this year’s Windsor Top Jockey standings, Rossa Ryan, Oisin Murphy and Saffie Osborne are all in action. Current leader, Rossa Ryan, is booked for 6 rides, with Oisin Murphy and Saffie Osborne both scheduled to mount up on 4 occasions. Defending British Champion & Top Windsor Jockey, William Buick, is still looking to open his account at the Berkshire track for 2024. He has two rides booked this Monday evening.
Race-By-Race Preview
17:10
There are several with chances in this race for 3-year-olds who haven’t won more than once. Of the three in the field who have tasted success before, Raffles Angel, an impressive winner at Ripon earlier this month, could perform the best. Of those still looking to break their career duck, I like the look of Willie Haggas’ Persian Blue. The filly has been running extensively on the All-Weather, but should appreciate this turf outing and these conditions. Both Richard Hannon runners are interesting, but Crocus Time, who had a decent run at Windsor last summer, could be worth a shot for each-way punters.
17:45
Previous racecourse experience proved vital in the 2-year-old contest at the last Windsor meeting and it could be a key factor again here. Willie Haggas has another interesting sort, in the shape of Titian Blue. The daughter of Blue Point was doing her best work towards the end of her debut run at Ripon earlier this month after running slow and green at the start.
Stoute Youngster Looking To Get Off The Mark
18:15
Both previous Windsor runners in the field, Arthur Rose and Thundering Breeze, clashed in the same race at the track 3 weeks ago. Thundering Breeze in 4th was the most impressive and finished well, so could sneak a place at big odds. Sir Michael Stoute’s Red Pixie is the one for me here though. The daughter of Kingman is hoping it’s third time lucky and is dropping down in trip and that might just do the trick.
18:45
Charlie Hills’ Trefor, one of two course and distance winners in the line-up, won on similar going at Windsor last summer and should be there or thereabouts. My selection is Blue Day though. Harry Charlton’s 3-year-old got off the mark in the hands of Oisin Murphy on the All-Weather at Southwell at the end of April and is expected to step up on that. Oisin Murphy who seems to get on well with the colt, takes the reins once again.
Silver Gunn Targets Another Windsor Win
19:15
Marco Botti’s Silver Gunn fires out of the Windsor stalls for an eighth occasion and is one for the shortlist. The 6-year-old has won two Class 4 events at the track before with one of them coming on good to firm going. My preference is for Willie Haggas’ Flindrikin however. The trainer/jockey combo of Haggas and Marquand have a number of good chances throughout the card. This is Flindrikin’s first turf outing, but she looks to be an improver and should go well.
19:45
Trojan Truth has produced some solid performances on good to firm going at Windsor (3rd, 1st, 3rd) in his previous appearances at the track, although two of those runs were over 10 furlongs. Oisin Murphy takes the ride on Ed de Giles’ 5-year-old and I fancy him to run a big race. Course and distance winner, Gilbert, could run well too, at bigger odds.
Dee’s Dreaming Big
20:15
Dee’s Dream ran a good race here last summer and would have been a lot closer to the winner if she hadn’t hung badly in the latter stages. Tom Marquand is in the saddle this evening and I expect a strong run.
20:45
There are three course and distance winners in the final race on the card, a 1 mile handicap for older types. Of those three, Grey Fox looks the pick. Emma Lavelle’s grey has been in good form this term and has run well previously at Windsor when the hooves have been rattling.
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.
Windsor Races Preview – Saturday, May 25th
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, May 20th
Yorkshire Cup Preview – King Of The Knavesmire
Windsor Races Preview – Monday, May 13th
Chester Cup Preview – Who Will Be The Roodee Shrewdie?
Windsor Races Preview – Monday May 6th
Gunning For Guineas Glory at Newmarket
Image Credit: Deposit Photos