HUGHSIE;S LAST WINDSOR MONDAY EVENING HOORAY

Monday night racing at Windsor, took a slight step into the history books.
Richard Hughes, three times and current champion flat jockey. Took his last steps as a jockey at the course.
A course that nearly saw him make major sporting history with his Severn out of eight winners in 2012. And at the start of the 27th July 2015 Monday evening meeting wetting the lips of the racing fraternity, that possibly they could witness a great hooray from the Dublin born champion with six fancied rides from the six race card.

Richard Hughes on his way to his last ride at Windsor

The first race of the evening was a two year old maiden. At least 85 mm of rain fell on the Berkshire course over the weekend making this juvenile event a five horse runner race with good to soft ground.

Hughes and Hannon, who are the usual victors of these type events at the course, sent to post 3/10 favorite Nisser. Who duly romped home by three lengths from his challengers.

Hannon, Hughes and Nisser

This Bay colt, by Dream Ahead, disappointing the trainer on his earlier starts. Has potential and is sure one to keep an eye on now he his on the way.

The second race, another six furlong dash for the maiden's saw again a possible chance for the Hughes,Hannon team.  Grey colt Fast and Hot getting a lot of attention from the bumper crowed on this overcast and blustery July evening.

But Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole and 3 lbs claimer Cam Hardie riding Shakerattlenroll, put pay to this beating the grey into third place by a length and a half.

Shakerattlenroll

Jockey Cam Hardie getting a two day suspension from the Windsor stewards for careless riding during his evenings work  

The biggest pay out race of the evening was the £7250 Supporting racing welfare fillies handicap. Again over the six furlong straight.

With the ground drying in the blustery conditions, jockeys were undecided on what rail to follow, leading to horses stretching from the inside to outside rail at the line.

Mehronissa, trained in Newmarket by Ed Vaughan and ridden by Frederick Tylicki. Went to post 7-2 favorite, and did not disappoint her backers taking the prize by two lengths.

Mehronissa

The fourth and fifth race of the evening also going to the home of British Flat racing.

George Margarson trained Snappy Guest winning the three year old Handicap over one mile, Tom Queally on board.

And  Rae Guest taking home the one mile 2 furlong handicap with Memoria,ridden by David Probert

Snappy Guest

Memoria

The final race of the evening, The racing welfare Farewell to Richard Hughes Handicap.

Could this see a fairy tale end as a jockey for the champion, who rarely stays for a ride in the last.

Riding for Gary Moore on Shalianzi, the jockey took a rousing round of applause as he went to post,acknowledged by the Irishman with a wave, who rarely shows emotion. But alas could not bow out with a winner for the appreciative crowd. Finishing well down the field, the race going to Marcus Tregoning trained Oskar Denarius, ridden by the possible replacement in the Hannon stable Pat Dobbs.

Pat Dobbs on Oskar Denarius

Which really is poetic justice to continue the story........

Hughsie as he is known throughout the industry presented with a memento of his time at the Royal Windsor course by clerk of the course Jeff Green at the end of racing.

The story of the evenings event can be seen at 

WWW.MAJYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

WHO IS THE FAVORITE AT WINDSOR

If you'd have come to the regular Monday evening meetings at Royal Windsor wanting to lay the favorites. Then think again.........

Justice Lass

Not a Favorite went in all evening. 

 A 13/8 second favorite was the first. Trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Liam Keniry, Justice Lass  duly saw off 10/11 favorite  Little voice by three lengths in the maiden fillies stakes over six furlongs.

Smartie Artie

Yours truly was favorite to win over 1m2f, in the maiden second race of the afternoon for the Newmarket  Godolphin team. But no one had informed the  winning ride of, 14/1 and Smartie Artie ridden by Martin Harley and trained by Jeremy Noseda who came home two and a half lengths clear of the rest of the 14 runner field.

Cullompton based trained Rod Millman's charge Biotic ridden by  Frederik Tylicki took on both joint favorites in  Shell Bay and Thames Knight to win the 1m 2f Handicap in the closest of finishes, a nose and 6 lengths off the weight of 9 st 12 lbs.

Biotic (yellow,purple spots) gets up to beat Shell Bay (Orange, Black diablo)

Biotic Frederik Tylicki

Claiming jockeys and apprentices have been lucky this season at Royal Windsor. And again a 5 lbs claimer in Tom Marquand bought home local trainer from Hook, Peter Hedgers Slip Sliding Away home by half a length at a good price of 6-1 from Midnight Rider trained by Rod Millman looking to notch up a quick double.

Far right, in yellow  Slip sliding away wins the six furlong handicap

Slip Sliding Away

Again, another local resident near to Windsor Henry Candy from Wantage and his charge Perestroika took the 1m 3 f three year old handicap by four lengths. And again the price favored on the side of the bookies at 11-1

This three year old bay filly by Sir Percy not only trained by the Wantage master but owned by him and a few others to.

Perestroika

Last race of the evening, and another close fought finish. Luke Morris's mount Molten Lava beat 11-4 second favorite Hot Mustard by a head for Paul Cole in the one mile handicap. Completing a six race card with no favorites and a good evening for the bookies. Still though a good crowed enjoyed the later half of the race season  at the Berkshire racecourse.

Molten Lava

Images from the evenings racing can be seen at

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

DOUBLE DOYLE AT WINDSOR

Last weeks Monday evening racing, claiming jockeys took center stage in the winners enclosure. The trend this week was to carry on.
Again Windsor racecourse staged an opening race for apprentices.

Reginald Claude

With female jockeys very much in the media at present, the opening race went to Reginald Claude, trained by Lambourn Trainer Mark Usher and ridden by 4lbs claimer Josephine Gordon,                who showed in a  sport were male and females compete on level terms, she was as strong at riding a finish than most. Beating Jordan Vaughan on Kylies Wild Card by a neck.

6 Furlong apprentice race kicks off the evening

In the second race of the evening, another claimer in Phillip Prince took 3 lbs off David Evans's Hillgrove Angle. This 1m 2 f selling stakes saw the 1-5 favorite come home by Severn lengths.

The 3 yo grey gelding though made his way back to his Abergavenny stable, as he was bought back in by his owner at 6'400gns from a starting price of 3'000gns

Hillgrove Angle

James Doyle with his first ride of the evening at Windsor, and riding for Newmarket master Roger Varian. Bought home 6/4 favorite Alizoom,beating High Speed by 3 lengths.

Doyle did not finish there in his visit to the winners enclosure. Riding for Godolphin, he bought home Keep in Line to win he 1m 3f handicap. Just as the rain came up the 6 furlong straight, making the ground ride on the soft side of good, and pushing the racing line from the stand side of the track to the far side.

Alizoom

James Doyle

Keep in Line

-

Just as Doyle makes a brace of winners. Trainer David Evans adds to his Monday night tally,with his second winner of the evening, 11-1 shot Essenaitch winning the six furlong maiden. 

The trainer often bringing fancied runners to the Berkshire track from his Ty- Derlwyn Farm base in Pandy, Gwent.

Telling look of Jim Crowley

Essenaitch wins 6 furlong 2 yo maiden

Jonathon Portman took home the prize in the one mile fillies handicap with Edge of Heaven. The Pastoral Pursuits 3 yo filly went off at 8-11 and whereas the bookies satchels bulged at the 11-1 winner in the last race, they soon had to start withdrawing cash, as Richard Kingscoat on board this filly with 9st 5lbs on her back beat Stalit Cantata by 2 Lengths.

Edge of Heaven

Again a good evenings racing at the Royal track, and though the weather tried to put dampers on proceedings, a good sized crowed enjoyed good sport.

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

NOT A FAVORITE AT WINDSOR EVENING MEETING

Monday night racing at Royal Windsor drew a fair crowd for the beginning of July, but those who wanted to back fancied runners left a little lighter in the pocket.
Five winners from the bumper seven race card at Windsor over 5-1  in price, the other two were fair favorite or joint favorite prices.....Not a evening for the bookies.
The card started with an apprentice race over a sharp 6 furlongs, so trainers looking to give the young riders experience and take a few pounds off their horses backs.

Silvala Dance beats Chevise

Chris wall from Newmarket did exactly that, giving the leg up to Samuel Clarke who took the Severn pounds off Silvala Dance to beat Chevise by half a length.





Local to the course trainers Charles Hills and Paul Cole took the one,two in the six furlong maiden two year old race. Imperious One ridden by James McDonald seeing off three pound claimer Cam Hardie on Honiara by a length at the price of 10-1.

Imperious One

The third race of the evening saw a guest appearance from top National Hunt Trainer David Pipe who bought his three year old chestnut gelding Beijing Star for the 1m 2 f claiming Stakes. Ridden by another claimer in form for the evening Mikey Ennis, who took 5 pounds off the top weight 7-2 favorite, and duly beat the handicapper. Taking the race by a length from first to third, beating Just Because and Helmsman.

Beijing Star beats Helmsman and Just Because

The best priced winner of the evening was 16-1 shot Nocturn ridden by Royston Ffrench trained by Ronald Harris who took the trip down the M4 and beat the 3-1 favorite Lady Kyllar in the 5f dash.

Nocturn

Richard Hannons horse Divine Law came back to Windsor after finishing second in June from the back of a hat-trick of wins at Windsor this season. Sent off second favorite to Godolphins Pathway to Honour, both horses were well beaten by 8-1 shot Gary Moore trained top weight, Lady Marl ridden by George Baker over the Windsor mile.

Richard Hughes on the way to ride Divine Law

Lady Marl beats Highland Duke,Purple Rock and pathway to Honour

Divine law finishes unplaced

The best debutante of the evening went to the three year old Sealife. by racehorse legend Sea the Stars out of a Diktat mare this well bred, well built bay filly idled a bit in the pack but when asked to come out and race drew out sharply and bumped third place horse Lemoncetta. Jockey Pat Cosgrave reported this was just the horse being green and should come on from the run. But certainly one to watch as she seems a very nice stamp of a horse.

All in all, a good evening for the well attended crowd, but maybe not if your a bookmaker.

As always to see images from the whole of the evening go to

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK