Tag Archive for: Windsor

Tix Picks, Monday 16/09/24

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Hope you all had a great weekend. I certainly enjoyed taking Sunday off, but we now go again, as Monday's placepots can be played via Tix at Kempton, Thirsk, Windsor & Worcester...

But, what is Tix?

A video explainer can be found here.

You need a tote account to use Tix. Sign up for one here >

A few more pointers can be found in these articles:

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-1/

https://www.geegeez.co.uk/exotic-betting-multi-race-bets-part-2/

Today's pools

Today's meetings, pools and minimum guarantees are as follows...

From which, I've decided to tackle the first six races at Windsor, where the going is expected to be good to soft for these races...

Leg 1 : 1.35 Windsor, an 8-runner, Class 5, 3yo+ handicap over 6f

None of these won their last race, but Harrys Halo and Lahina Bay were both runners-up and the former has made the frame in four of his last six starts. The latter is a former course and distance winner, as are Punchbowl Flyer & Vape and it's Harrys Halo, Lahina Bay & Vape who score best on Instant Expert...

...whilst pace/draw...

...give Vape a huge chance here. My three horse shortlist here would then be (1) Harrys Halo, (6) Lahina Bay and (7) Vape. Lahina Bay looks worst off on pace and I don't want to take three runners here, so I'll leave her out. (5) Punchbowl Flyer is a danger too and might fit your perms if you're going deeper than I am!

Leg 2 : 2.07 Windsor, a 9-runner, Class 5, 2yo Fillies Restricted Novice Stakes over 5f

The top four on the card are the ones with the experience and of the four (Amestris, Aviation Time, Seraphim Angel & OverSpiced), only Aviation Time is yet town over 5f, but she did finish third at both Class 2 and in a Listed race earlier this year and drops three classes here. Amestris actually drops four classes here after a three length defeat in a Listed race. Without diving too deeply into the race, I can see this contest quite possibly being a match between this pair and I’ll just a safety-first approach with (1) Amestris and (2) Aviation Time.

Leg 3 : 2.37 Windsor, a 14-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ Novice Stakes over 1m

Thyer won last time out, but hasn’t raced since that win 54 weeks ago during which time he has moved yards. Noisy Jazz and Run Away both own on debut before finishing 6th next/last time out at higher grades than this.

None of the others have won a race, whilst Muhib and Tex are making debuts here. Breathless Spirit was a runner-up beaten by just half a length at Chelmsford and a similar run puts him in the mix here.

Stalls 5 to 8 seem to be the best place to run from here (Muhib, Breathless Spirit, Saved Lizzie, Tex)

...whilst Noisy Jazz has set the pace in each of her two starts to date and that could be fruitful here at Windsor...

So from all this, I prefer (4) Noisy Jazz of the three previous winners, as she is the only Class 4 winner in the field and she's likely to be upfront from an early point. Of those with experience, I'd take (9) Breathless Spirit based on his near miss at Chelmsford last month and the fact that he is drawn in that central 5-8 area and of those with little/no previous experience, (10) Muhib is an interesting sort. He's with one of the elite yards and they've bided their time with him, he's by Too Darn Hot out of Hameem, who won 4 of 13 herself and made the frame in 5 of her 9 defeats.

Leg 4 : 3.12 Windsor, a 9-runner, Class 4, 3yo+ Handicap over 1m3½f

(2) Morcar was a winner here over 1m2f for a second win in four starts when last seen four weeks ago, but steps up in trip, is 7lbs higher today and would probably want quicker ground, but he remains of interest for a place. (1) Mighty Bandit and course winner (3) Fast Steps have both won relatively recently, whilst (5) The Whipmaster is a former course and distance winner, although that was 15 months ago and he’s 0 from 9 since and steps up in class here.

These four are likely to be racing front rank today, if their recent efforts are anything to go by…

…and I think that I'd be happy to stick with the top three on the card here.

Leg 5 : 3.42 Windsor, a 13-runner, Class 5, 3yo+ Handicap over 1m2f

A tricky looking one to call here with form claims held by many. (1) Party Island has two wins two thirds from his last six, (2) Macari was a runner-up six days ago, course winner (6) New Kings Road has finished 123 in his last three, (10) Darysina Gold has finished 2212 in her last four and bottom weight (13) Idyllic is the only LTO winner in the field and has finished 2331 in her last four.

Idyllic is, however, up in class today, but both Party Island and New Kings Road drop down from Class 4, whilst from a status perspective, Macari’s claims are boosted by the fact that since 2009, trainer Sheena West is 11 from 28 (39.3% SR) with four further placers from runners in Windsor handicaps who are her only runner at the track that day.

Not usually my thing, but in such an open contest, I’m taking all five from the well!

Leg 6 : 4.12 Windsor, a 13-runner, Class 6, 3yo+ Handicap over 1m

My initial thoughts here were that in card order, course and distance winner (2) Daisy Roots (121 in her last three), (5) Absolutely Buzzing (LTO winner) and (9) Judge Frank (also won LTO) would be amongst those favoured to do well, but I suspect they’ll also be the first three in the market, which isn’t ideal.

(11) Oriental Spirit and (12) Roman Spring were both runners-up last time, though and the former is noted as a fast finisher. Absolutely Buzzing and Judge Frank are two of five three year olds getting a 4lbs weight allowance.

Pace is often the key to going well here at Windsor and based on the field’s last four races, both Daisy Roots and Roman Spring appear in the first three…

...whilst Judge Frank is likely to race prominently too and he's very conveniently drawn in the central area that seems to do well over a mile here. If truth be told, it might be a bit of a stretch for either or both Roman Spring and/or Oriental Spirit to run two good races in a row, but they do look dangerous and I don't really want to leave any of the top three out from the last leg, in case we're still in with a chance of winning something. I am reluctantly going to take five shots again, but if I was to leave one out, it would probably be Absolutely Buzzing.

All of which gives me an overall (late race heavy) selection of...

Leg 1: horses 1 & 7

Leg 2: horses 1 & 2

Leg 3: horses 4, 9 & 10

Leg 4: horses 1, 2 & 3

Leg 5: horses 1, 2, 6, 10 & 13

Leg 6: horses 2, 5, 9, 11 & 12

...and here's how I'd play them, whilst trying to stay close to a nominal £20 total stake...

Good luck however you play this one, I'm off to see some monkeys!
Chris.

 



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Wales and The West top Racing League after Windsor treble

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Wales & The West ended week four of the Racing League on top of the table after the Jamie Osborne-led team enjoyed a treble at Windsor.

The East, managed by Chris Hughes with the help of assistant Charlie Fellowes, held a narrow advantage heading into the seven-race card, with Wales & The West second and London & The South in third.

The East enjoyed eight winners across the first two meetings at Yarmouth and Wolverhampton, and while their advantage significantly eroded after leaving Chepstow last week without a victory, they struck first at Windsor with the Roger Varian-trained Nazron (5-1) to ensure they remained in pole position.

Jamie Osborne at Wolverhampton
Jamie Osborne at Wolverhampton (Nigel French/PA)

London & The South, managed by Matt Chapman, enjoyed a one-two in the second race and briefly hit the front in the overall competition – but it is Osborne who has the bragging rights ahead of the penultimate night at Newcastle next week courtesy of a hat-trick of victories.

Of Chapman, Osborne told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s so annoying isn’t he! I think on expectations tonight he would have absolutely been favourite, and while he’s had a one-two, I think he’ll be very disappointed.”

Wales & The West’s first winner of the night was provided by the Ian Williams-trained Night Breeze (13-2), ridden by Kieran O’Neill, while Brian Meehan’s Toca Madera (8-1) made it a double in the hands of Benoit De La Sayette.

Williams and O’Neill completed a double of their own and made it a treble for the team in the concluding race with Parlando (11-2). The Osborne-trained Sean was an unlucky third after encountering a troubled passage.

Osborne added: “I think Sean has run a great trial for the Winter Hill Stakes back here a week on Saturday! It was a great run from him off 108, but fair play to Ian – he thought his horse would leave the Yarmouth run behind him and he was absolutely right.

“It’s great for Wales and great for the team and that’s the most important thing. I would have preferred it if Sean had won, but they’ve both run fantastic races.”

The East’s Nazron impressed in the opener, always travelling well under Daniel Muscutt and picking up smartly once given his head to score by two and a quarter lengths from Spring Is Sprung in second.

Reflecting on the fact The East had been knocked off top spot and now find themselves in third, Chris Hughes said: “It’s been tough today. We came here with 13 decent horses and there’s a few we’ve run tonight that have run under par, but that’s racing and it’s competitive.”

Great Acclaim followed up last week’s victory at Chepstow to lead home the one-two for London & The South – who started this week in third place.

Great Acclaim winning at Windsor
Great Acclaim winning at Windsor (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Carrying a 7lb penalty for his triumph in Monmouthshire seven days ago, Eve Johnson Houghton’s 11-4 favourite knuckled down for jockey Charles Bishop to see off the persistent challenge of team-mate Post Rider by half a length.

The North secured its first winner of this year’s Racing League as the Richard Fahey-trained Life On The Rocks finished best to spring a 28-1 surprise in the the third race of the evening.

The team led by ex-footballer and trainer Mick Quinn drew a blank across the first three weeks of the competition and while this winner gets them on board, they remain fifth of seven in the table.

Quinn said: “I spoke to Richard and the lads beforehand and they said the horse was bucking and kicking at home. Two out I thought ‘aye aye, he’s travelling as well as anything!’.”

Life On The Rocks’ owner, Aidan Ryan, added: “It’s great prize-money, why wouldn’t you support it (Racing League)?

“We thought he’d a real chance tonight and I told a few people to have a small investment. He was a big price.”

Jockey Billy Loughnane (centre) celebrates winning aboard Bennetot for Ireland
Jockey Billy Loughnane (centre) celebrates winning aboard Bennetot for Ireland (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Bennetot struck gold for Ireland under a power-packed ride from Billy Loughnane.

Charlie Johnston’s 33-1 shot Love De Vega looked set to claim top honours for Scotland after manoeuvring his way to the front, but he was unable to resist the late surge of the David O’Meara-trained Bennetot, who got up to score by a length.

The victory was a turnaround in fortunes for O’Meara after his runners failed to make it to Chepstow last week after getting stuck in traffic.

Ireland manager Kevin Blake said: “This is horse racing, the road is long, you have loads of bad days but normally the wheel turns and to have a horse that was one of O’Meara five on that lorry last week come here and win this week is brilliant.

“In fairness they did fancy the horse. I’m very careful what we’re putting Billy on as we’re trying to make him leading rider and the guys gave me loads of encouragement.

“I thought he won well there and it’s put Billy in a great spot as well. I think the team competition has gone for us, so the focus is on Billy now.”

Loughnane ended the night on top of the jockeys’ standings with 217 points, ahead of Saffie Osborne on 210 and Muscutt on 190.

Loughnane said: “The last two weeks have been a little bit tricky and it was great to get a win.”

After a topsy-turvy night, Wales & The West lead the Racing League on 571.5 points, with London & The West close up behind in second on 567 and The East now with work to do on 529 in third.



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Get It poised to chase another big prize at Windsor next week

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George Baker is eyeing further riches with Get It, with the Stewards’ Cup hero in line for a quick return to action at Windsor on Monday.

The six-year-old was registering his eighth career success when plundering the £128,850 first prize at odds of 40-1 under Pat Cosgrave at Goodwood, with the victory also a notable feather in the cap of “Sussex man” Baker in a race he had watched since a boy.

With his handler pleased with the condition of Get It following his exertions on the Sussex Downs, his sprint champion could now go in search of the £38,655 on offer to the winner of the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final Handicap – a race the gelding qualified for when winning at the track in June.

Baker said: “The horse is fantastic and has bounced out of the race really well. He only lost 3KG, which implies he didn’t have a hard race, which is amazing.

“He is in the Fitzdares sprint final at Windsor on Monday, which is a £75,000 race, and I wouldn’t normally think of rushing back a Stewards’ Cup winner so quickly but he is giving me every indication that he is in grand order and if all is well throughout the rest of the week, it seems silly to miss out on a pot like that. All being well, we may turn up at Windsor with nothing to lose.

“He qualified for it when winning well there earlier in the season and it’s not going to define his season. It’s going to be a big ask and he’s almost certainly going to be top weight, but we’re kind of in the bonus column with him now after winning a Stewards’ Cup.”

Get It (right) winning the Stewards' Cup
Get It (right) winning the Stewards’ Cup (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Get It spent the majority of the last two winters competing in Bahrain and a return to the Persian Gulf appears on the cards following a possible stop off at Doncaster for a tilt at another prestigious sprinting prize.

Baker continued: “If he runs on Monday, we can give him an easy time after that before going for something like a Portland – and then we can freshen him up ahead of heading back to Bahrain.”



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Roving Reports: Time Away

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When the cat’s away, the mice will disappear off down South for a weekend of punting, so the saying goes in our house, writes David Massey; and, with the good lady vanishing off to a spa weekend with her sister and nieces to celebrate one of them turning 18, it meant a weekend of either fending for myself, which usually ends with the local takeaways doing well out of me, or letting someone else take the strain, and take in some racing as a sideline.

So rather than raid the ready meals aisle at the local Big Tesco, I took the decision to take myself off to the desirable location of Staines-On-Thames for the weekend and had the idea of going to Plumpton on Sunday and Windsor on Monday night before heading home to Southwell on Tuesday morning. But first, an actual day of work at Nottingham.

Yes, it’s the one day of the year that it’s Money Without Work, as I jump on board the Martyn Of Leicester bandwagon. Martyn has numerous pitches at Ascot, Leicester, Warwick and Nottingham so anyone that’s anyone can get a day’s work as Martyn spreads the lightboards all over the country. It’s a local one for me at Nottingham and as it’s their Ladies Day, a busy one to boot.

I mean, it was busy, don’t get me wrong, but not as busy as last year when I worked the rail for them; there’s a lesson for courses here, it’s okay filling the place, Nottingham having sold out every ticket beforehand, which didn’t happen last year, but when you do, and space is at a premium, people tend to find a spot and stay there, rather than roam around, knowing a sitting space is more likely to be available. More isn’t always better, when it comes to crowds and the experience they have.

Anyway, let’s not complain too much. After a slow start and results not really falling our way, the second half of the day livened up and just in time as the 8-1 Spirit Genie was followed up with 6-1 and 12-1 winners, meaning a good day for the firm. (Unlike later on at Warwick, with five jollies and two second-in jollies going in. Ouch.) The pay for the day will cover my expenses for the weekend, so let’s kick on.

I’d already made an executive decision, once I’d seen that the M25 was shut between junctions 9-10 over the weekend and was going to cause quite a few disruptions (and throw in people traveling to the South Coast on one of the hottest days of the year so far) that poor old Plumpton was going to get the heave-ho in favour of a day of pointing at Kingston Blount, near High Wycombe. I’d never been and always wanted to go, so with my friend Lawney helping out with a badge, it was time to hit the M40 and head to Aston Rowant.

I have to say, what a glorious setting. Green fields as far as the eye can see in all directions, beautiful forestry, and a pair of red kites soaring overhead for most of the afternoon, if that’s your sort of thing. Where better to be than with a pint in your hand when the sun’s beating down? (Please drink responsibly.)

As for the punting, well, I’ve had better days. Alan Hill tells me his best chance of the afternoon runs in the first, so I invest 40 notes on him at 6-4. Sadly that went west, even with the odds-on favourite all but refusing to jump off; he never looked like winning and pulled up. No bet on the 1-3 favourite in the second and I left the Ladies Open alone, but did like one in the Men’s Open, which led three out, went clear, only to get picked off in the shadow of the post. It’s a stiff old finish, is Kingston Blount, and going for home early isn’t always the best policy. So that was a kick in the teeth, although not as much as the first division of the maiden, where I backed one each-way at 6s, and with three going clear three out and my pick just taking up the running, he unseated.

I decide today is not going to go my way, pull stumps and lick my wounds back at the hotel. At least the food was decent. Some comfort at the end of the day.

Monday morning. I’ve a lot of work to do before Windsor tonight and crack on, but once again it appears I’ve got clog-wearing Morris Dancers above me in the hotel and I opt to retire to a nearby coffee house to do some writing, which is considerably quieter. The York card looks decent and I decide fairly early that I’ll be having a decent each-way bet on Makanah in the sprint handicap.

You’d think that I’d know my way around the racecourses, having done it a few years now, but somehow I manage to take a wrong turn for Windsor and end up going down the M4 for a junction too many. Good job I’ve left in plenty of time. It’s supposed to still be a warm evening but I can tell you from bitter experience Windsor can be a cold place and sure enough the wind is blowing when I get there. The t-shirt comes off, and the long sleeved version goes on.

Operation Sunday Recovery begins well when the paddock throws up the first winner He’s Got Game, who I have £40 on, and despite almost throwing it away out of the stalls, he’s got enough in hand to win. I’ve nailed the trifecta on paddock looks as well, and already Sunday’s disasters are becoming but a distant memory.

The second looks too difficult, with five of the eight runners presenting well beforehand, so I sit it out, and a three-place bet on the exchanges on Frinton in the next gets me a bit more back. I go the wrong way in the novice with Mono River, and decide, having got Sunday’s losses back in the main, to call it an evening. I give Simon Nott, one of the few people in racing that does more miles than me, a lift back to the station and head for the hotel.

I get back in time to watch my tip for the day, Inspired Knowhow, scramble home in the closer and make a good day even better. He wins literally on the bob, and the next morning I remark to Mr Delargy how lucky we’ve been with the bob lately - three winners in the last week, none of which were in front either before or after the line. Sometimes your luck is with you, sometimes it’s not.

I celebrate with the complimentary fizzy water in the fridge and a Twirl (have you seen the tiny size of those these days? Shocking)  - rock ‘n’ roll, kids - and decide on an early night, with a long drive to Southwell Tuesday morning beckoning. It’s been a fun weekend, with a bit of profit at the end of it after expenses, which you can ask for no more than. Busy week ahead - York, Doncaster and Stratford, no rest for the wicked, or indeed the journeyman worker. See you all on the Knavesmire - and bring a brolly…

- DM



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Deira Mile enhances Derby prospects with Windsor win

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Owner Ahmad Al Shaik is again dreaming of Derby glory after Deira Mile broke his duck in routine fashion at Windsor.

Dubai Mile was ninth in the Epsom Classic last year carrying the Green Team Racing colours and hopes are high of an improved placing this term.

The Owen Burrows-trained Deira Mile remained a maiden following four runs as a juvenile, mainly due to fluffing his lines when sent off as a 1-5 favourite at Chelmsford.

However, he showed his potential when beaten less than three lengths in fourth behind Ancient Wisdom in the Group One Futurity at Doncaster and built on that by justifying short odds of 4-9 at Windsor under Jim Crowley.

Asked about Derby aspirations, his owner told Sky Sports Racing: “It is in my blood and my sons’ blood, not just me. We need to go to the Derby and one day we will win – if not me, one of my sons.

“He is still green but Jim Crowley said the further he goes, the better he will be.

“We have only 40 days now until Epsom, I don’t think we have time to run him again, so I will discuss with the trainer about going straight to Epsom and I think he will be fine.”

Burrows added: “He’s a big lad and mentally, he’s still quite immature. He had the four runs last year, but he is still a big baby.

“The plan was to try and find as easy a race as we could and it worked out perfectly. He’s ended up hitting the front a little sooner than ideal, as he gets to the front and just thinks ‘right, what do I do now?’ But he’s had a race.”

Crowley pulled alongside main market rival Castle In The Sand between the final two furlongs of the 10-furlong contest and Deira Mile responded to his urgings to prevail by four lengths.

The jockey said: “It’s the first time I’ve ridden him, but I saw him at Chelmsford last year and I think when he hits the front, he just loses concentration a little bit and he did it there, hence why I gave him a smack, because I just don’t want him to get in the habit of doing it.

“The race sort of fell apart at the two-furlong pole and I could have quite easily stayed upsides on the bridle, but he probably wouldn’t have learnt an awful lot.

“But he is learning, he’s going to progress and he stays well – he’s a lovely type of horse and he was entitled to win that race.

“His two-year-old form was very good at the back-end and I suggested to Owen we could possibly put a set of cheekpieces on him, especially in a better race where horses take him further.

“Like I said, he stays very well and there will be some lovely races for him through the summer.”



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Winter Million jumps cards moved to Windsor in 2025

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Arena Racing Company has announced its two Winter Million jumps fixtures will be switched from Lingfield and staged at Windsor from next season.

The Berkshire track hosted National Hunt racing until as recently as 1998 and even stepped in to hold a number of fixtures when Ascot was being redeveloped in 2005 and 2006.

It was confirmed in the summer of last year that jumps racing would return to Windsor, with the Thameside track being reconfigured to utilise previous dormant areas of the site, with the jumps course a continuous left-handed circuit rather than the current figure of eight. The first meeting is scheduled for December 15.

Windsor will partner with Ascot to present the ‘Berkshire Winter Million Weekend’ in January next year, with the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot the centrepiece of Saturday and the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase headlining Sunday at Windsor.

Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, said: “We were delighted to announce the return of jump racing to Royal Windsor last year, and to make this further announcement regarding the Berkshire Winter Million Weekend.

“We hope that, alongside the fantastic day’s racing at Ascot Racecourse, the three days will be hugely exciting for racing fans to look forward to in the New Year.”

Felicity Barnard, commercial director and deputy CEO at Ascot, said: “We look forward to being a part of the inaugural Berkshire Winter Million Weekend in 2025 and hope it will be an exciting weekend for racegoers to combine a visit to both tracks as well as those watching from home on both Sky Sports Racing and ITV Racing.”



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Doha makes striking impression at Windsor

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The legacy of two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners lived on at Windsor on Monday when Doha broke her duck in impressive style at the third time of asking.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, the regally-bred filly is by the all-conquering Sea The Stars and out of dual ParisLongchamp heroine Treve but after an encouraging debut at Kempton last month, Doha was well held when sent off a 1-2 favourite at Leicester on her next start.

However, she showed all the qualities associated with her illustrious parents when again sent off favourite -this time at 2-1 –  for the At The Races App Expert Tips Maiden Stakes at Windsor, romping to an imperious nine-length success in the hands of Hector Crouch.

“She sort of disappointed on her second start and maybe we ran her back a bit quickly, but today was much more like it,” said Beckett of the three-year-old.

“I think she will probably step up again, this just looked like a very winnable opportunity.

“It was more about the opposition than race conditions today and she would probably go back to a mile and a quarter whatever we do. What we do, I’m not entirely sure yet.

“We’ll run her again this year before we make any decisions (about her future). We’ve done the most important part and now we will work out what we do next.”

Doha sports the Al Shaqab Racing colours Treve carried to her famous victories in the French capital and is just the second of her progeny to taste success on the racecourse.

Treve remains one of the most successful Al Shaqab-owned horses having won nine of her 13 starts – striking six times at the highest level while trained by Criquette Head-Maarek – and connections were delighted to see her gain another victory in her second career as a broodmare.

“It is fantastic to make her a winner bred like she is, and we are delighted, added Al Shaqab’s Alison Begley.

“She ran so well on her debut and nothing ever came to light why she ran like she did at Leicester, I think it was just inexperience.

“Hector said she was much more switched on today and she did it very nicely.”

She went on: “It means a lot for all the team to have one out of Treve win and it was great.

“She’s very much, and quite rightly, one of Sheikh Joaan’s favourites so it was great and fantastic.”



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Five Towns brings up landmark winner for Marquand

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Tom Marquand brought up his 1,000th winner in Britain aboard Five Towns at Windsor on Monday evening.

The 25-year-old, who has built up a reputation for being one of the best jockeys around, had already reached that figure in Britain and Ireland but has now reached the milestone on home soil having successfully linked up with a filly appropriately trained by his boss, William Haggas.

Marquand began his career with Richard Hannon in 2014 and only a year later was crowned champion apprentice at the tender age of 18.

His first Group-level success came in 2017 when Anna Nerium landed Salisbury’s Dick Poole Stakes, but he would have to wait until 2020 for his first Group One victory which fittingly came in Australia where Marquand spent plenty of his time honing his craft.

He earned the moniker ‘Aussie Tom’ for his exploits in the Southern Hemisphere and partnered the Haggas-trained Addeybb to three big-race victories in Australia before also combining for Champion Stakes glory at Ascot in 2020.

That triumph came shortly after Marquand landed his first Classic success, as he proved an able late deputy aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Galileo Chrome in the St Leger at Doncaster.

Earlier this year he wrote himself into the Royal Ascot history books when steering Haggas’ Desert Hero to win the King George V Stakes. It was the first time the King and Queen’s colours had been carried to victory at the Royal meeting since the death of the late Queen.

Marquand married fellow jockey Hollie Doyle in 2022, with the pair sitting second and third respectively behind William Buick in this season’s jockeys’ championship.

“It’s fantastic,” Marquand told Sky Sports Racing.

“It takes a lot of horses and lot of people to ride 1,000 winners, so I’m very fortunate to have had that support.”



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Wales & The West still blazing a trail in Racing League

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Saffie Osborne was once again on the Racing League scoresheet at Windsor, as Wales & The West continue to top the charts in the team competition.

Jamie Osborne’s team headed into the night with a 77-point advantage and remain the ones to beat at the halfway stage of the six-week event following a double on week three that left them on 471 points.

Rhys Clutterbuck steered Clive Cox’s Just Bring It (9-1) to victory in the William Hill sponsored one-mile handicap, before last year’s Racing League top jockey made her customary Thursday night trip to the the winner’s enclosure when Tony Carroll’s 9-4 favourite Gallant Lion ran out a gutsy winner of the penultimate race of the evening.

“He’s got loads of ability and I was was really happy with him early on, I got some nice cover from Jack Mitchell and he settled nicely,” Osborne told Sky Sports Racing.

“When Jack went to make the running, he was left without cover and he just latched on a little bit and there was no point arguing with him, he’s obviously got a lot of ability and a high cruising speed and once I let him stride on he did everything within himself. I was able to get a nice breather into him and he saw it out well.

“He’s obviously got tons of ability and he is still lightly raced and learning and you’d like to think there is more to come.”

The most valuable event on the card went the way of Richard Fahey for the second week in a row as Spirit Dancer scooped the £51,540 first prize in the hands of Oisin Orr.

The 9-2 winner was representing the North and was the second half of a double on the night for Fahey and Orr who also enjoyed success with Show Me Show Me (10-1) in the five-furlong handicap.

“We love £100,000 races,” said team manager Mick Quinn.

“We won the £100,000 pot last week at Chepstow and we’ve won it again this week.

“The owners wanted to come here, Richard wanted to come here and it’s paid off.”

Earlier on, Zoulu Chief (28-1) showed who was boss to land a decisive win in the nursery handicap which kicked off proceedings, providing Scotland with a welcome victory in their quest to climb off the bottom of the table.

London and The South (in second on 378 points) were on the scoresheet on home turf when Tom Ward’s 9-2 joint-favourite Capote’s Dream led home a one-two for the region in the six-furlong handicap, with an all-Irish finish to the three-year-olds only one-mile event as Richard Spencer’s Pjanoo (22-1) held off 100-30 favourite Hat Toss.

It was third-placed Ireland’s second win of the competition and team manager Kevin Blake was delighted to see winning Irish jockey Danny Sheehy make his trip to Windsor worthwhile.

He said: “I’m particularly happy for Danny. He hit the crossbar at Chepstow last week, so for him to now get a winner, I’m particularly happy.

“He’s a very good rider and so strong for a light fella and a natural lightweight, so it’s been fantastic to get him over here and put him in the spotlight and who knows what could come from it.”



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National Hunt racing to return to Windsor

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National Hunt racing is to return to Windsor, the venue’s owner Arena Racing Company has announced.

The track staged jump racing until as recently as 1998 and even stepped in to host a number of fixtures when Ascot was being redeveloped in 2005 and 2006.

It is hoped the first meetings will take place during the 2024-25 season with December 15, 2024 earmarked for the first action.

Windsor will not see an increase in its number of net fixtures, however, with the new jump cards switched from traditional Flat meetings in April and October.

To facilitate the return of National Hunt racing, the track will be reconfigured to utilise previous dormant areas of the site, with the jumps course a continuous left-handed circuit rather than the current figure of eight.

“We have long held a desire to bring jump racing back to Royal Windsor racecourse, and we are really pleased to confirm this plan well ahead of the planned first fixture in December 2024,” said Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division.

“Whilst the racecourse hasn’t hosted regularly scheduled jumps fixtures since 1998, we believe that the plans that we have put together with the British Horseracing Authority will mean that the small number of fixtures that we would like to host will sit well alongside the long established, popular summer Flat programme.

“A significant amount of work has gone into considering the optimal layout for jump racing at Royal Windsor, which will see the course configured differently to how it was previously, but we believe that it is an excellent proposal to offer jump racing fans the chance to come back to Royal Windsor, whilst not impacting on the Flat programme, which is an important consideration.

“The proximity to the River Thames gives the track excellent drainage, and our records show that the racecourse very rarely ran jumps fixtures on heavy ground, with the majority of abandonments coming due to frost.

“Happily, turf management techniques have developed significantly since that time, so we are confident of providing excellent jumping ground for the fixtures that we would like to host in 2024 and 2025 and beyond.”



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