BENTLEY DRIVE AND A GROUP THREE AT WINDSOR

What should of been a beautiful late summer evening for the Royal Windsor racecourse ladies day meeting, turned out to be a rain soaked,overcast more mid autumnal like day on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire.
But still the crowd turned out and the ladies adorned their finery, to see the best racing at the Windsor racecourse this summer. A group three worth £26'736 to the winner. The Unibet Winter Hill stakes. And a listed £16'487 race, The Sri Lanka August Stakes.

Missy Blue Eyes and Papa Luig

The first race, a two year old,six furlong maiden, Saw the unmistakable Richard Hannon place one of his maidens into the mix. Papa Luigi went to post the bookies favourite, but with ground on the soft side of good with the recent deluge of rain in Berkshire over the last few days the Zoffany colt could not get up, and lost out by a neck to the eventual winner Missy Blue Eyes, trained in Lambourn by William Muir and ridden by Sam Hitchcott.
This two year old gelding had his debut at Nottingham a few weeks ago and has come on a lot. Costing £18000 at sales, this Son of Kyllachy out of a Sadlers wells mare seemed to love the give in the ground.

The fillies took to the stage in the second race over the Windsor mile, The Brain Tumour Research Fillies handicap for three year olds. And saw David Elsworth saddle the 5/2 favourite La Superba, who got up in the last few strides driven by 5 lbs claimer Tom Marquand to beat the Roger Varian trained Privileged by a neck, whose 7 lbs weight difference told in the testing going.

La Superba

Another mile race, this time open to all three year olds, saw Keystroke, trained in Newmarket by Jeremy Noseda and ridden by stable jockey Jimmy Fortune, hold off the 15/8 favourite Critical risk by a length.

The three year old by Pivotal, whose offspring had a very good afternoon at the Royal Berkshire course, and must sire horses that love the give in the ground.

Keystroke

The main race of the meeting, the group three Winter hill stakes, saw eight runners go to post for the  one mile two furlong event.

Dermot Weld sent Fascinating Rock over from Ireland to contest but found the now cut up and soft going at Windsor, and the fact that recent form saw the Fasnet Rock colt shoulder 9 st 5 lbs too much, and finished well down the field.

Godolphin's entry Racing History, who disappointed as a two year old but has bought his A game to the table as a three year old by winning his last two outings,the last one being at Chester could not be sniffed at carrying 8 st 7 lbs. Saeed Bin Suroor flying in to make a rare appearance at the Berkshire track.

The son of Pivotal, whose offspring already in the winners enclosure, went to post under William Buick 9/2, and saw off by a length, Class contender Cannock Chase.

Cannock Chase

This quality three year old must be one to watch over the next few months as the ground begins to yield. Could this run see this colt enter into the French group race scene. Only time will tell.

Racing History winner of the group three Winter Hill Stakes

The one mile three furlong listed August stakes, saw again eight runners go to post.

Gospel Choir, who already has two group 2 races to his name, went to post the 7/4 favourite. But it was again the Godolpin team with Beautiful Romance whose only win has come off soft ground at Doncaster last October and since was a creditable third in the Neil Gwyn at Newmarket in early season who took the race honours. Ridden by Harry Bentley this New approach filly out of a cape cross mare won easily in the now cut up ground, and showed she was a good contender on give in the ground.

Beautiful Romance winner of the Listed August Stakes

Bentley who in the last race of the evening, a one mile three furlong handicap. Showed also he was one who like the soft going. And steered home 5/4 favourite Instill  by a length.

Instill

The stallion Pivotal, completing a hat trick of off winners for the evening with this three year old colt trained by Ivan Futado.

Images of the evening events can be seen at

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TROPICIAL FONTWELL HAS EIGHT ON THE CARD

Fontwell park racecourse, scheduled their 'Ladies Day' and hoped to be engulfed in late summer sun, but rain,thunderstorms and humitity threw itself at the West Sussex racecourse.
A good eight race card, and the ladies of West Sussex were at their best
Early season, and trainers put their charges into action. Some for the first time,some who have started the National Hunt game a little earlier. But no horse looked poor in coat or stature.
The ground at the Sussex course was good to soft, with all jockeys coming into the weighting room saying this was perfect jumping ground. Which is needed for this tight,figure of eight course.

The first race, a 2 m 1 f handicap hurdle for three year olds saw eight runners going to post. The favourite 9/4 shot Royal skies,ridden by possible contender for the vacant jockeys championship Aidan Coleman.Could only manage a 6 lenghths fourth,beaten by Gary Moore trained Royal Battalion.

Royal Battalion

Trainer Gary Moore,whose family is a very strong addition to the racing industry,not only in training,but with both sons and daughters strong in the saddle in both discipline's. Gave Jockey Tom Cannon the leg up on this four year old gelding by See the Stars. And duly went up the Fontwell hill a length and a half to claim the £2477.00 prize money.
Cannon came off saying the horse had improved well from his run at Worcester over the same distance finishing third in July.

Royal Battalion

No Nation Hunt race meeting would be complete without the addition to the popular Yellow and green colours of John.P. McManus. And so be it at Fontwell.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill,who trains at the home of the jumps game at Cheltenham sent to post I'dliketheoption, for this 2 m 1 f novices hurdle. Top weight Antony again trained by the formidable Gary Moore found his top weight of 11st 5 lbs just too much for the inclined finish and a 1 lbs difference between horses found this four year old by Presenting get up to win by a neck.

I'dliketheoption

Jockey Richie McLeron said the ground was perfect to race on. A good covering of grass, and the earlier rain made this perfect going. and also making his poor performance at Bangor last month even more of a mystery to the McManus team







The first race over fences for the afternoon, The Aviator bar and resturant Bongnor Regis Handicap Steeplechase over  2m 4 f saw only four runners go to post. The rails not really making their minds up who the favorite for the race was, it was Marie Des Anges Trained by Anthony Honyball and ridden by amatuer Mr D Noonan who rode his 7 lbs clain well off the handicap weight of 11st 11 lbs.
With two upsides coming to the second last. Formal Bid ridden by another claimer James Banks took to the ground, this left the seven year old well clear of rival Try Catch Me by a distance, who tried but could'nt.
Jockey Mr Noonan, who had a fair good set of point to point rides and winners last season has no plans at present to take the step foward into the professional market, but would not put it out of the question for the future.

Marie Des Angles

The name of Scudamore and pipe has been senominous within the jumps fixture throughout the years. Now the next generation, David and Tom work together to hopefully dominate the winter racing game.

 For 'N' Against went to post  for the  2m 4 f handicap hurdle, and from the home turn looked like a true contender for a big race within the season.The 3/1 shot, six year old won by a comfortable distance from the Aidan Cloeman ridden Skint, and looks a true contender. The horse not having an outing since a second place run at Exeter in March looked to take his break well.

Tom Scudamore and For'N'Against

Sylvan Legend, trained in Umpley Stoke by Neil Mulholland  and ridden by Mark Quinlan went to post with nine other contenders  for the second of the two races over the fences in the afternoon.

The seven year old by Midnight Legend off the weight of  10 st 1 lbs got up in the final 100 yrd to beat The wee midget by one and a half lengths, making his 3 lb drop in weight from his previuos Newton Abbott fourth tell.

Quinlan, who is in the yard of Mulholland most days, reports all horses well and an increase in contenders coming out from the yard, which can only be a blessing for both trainer and jockey in the current climate.

Sylvan Legend

Sylvan Legend

Two divisions of the £50 Welcome bonus at Racebets.com Handicap Hurdle over 2 m 3 f saw Gary Moore trainer, take his tally of the afternnoon to three winners.

Osgood off top weight 11 st 12 lbs and the price of 20/1 took division 1 by three lenghts. Jockey George Gorman making his 10 lbs claim beat the handicapper, holding on from the second last hurdle.

Osgood

Shalianzi

Shalianzi, gave the Horsham based trainer his third winner of the afteroon as the five year old gelding took  division two of the handicap hurdle by 16 lengths at the price of  10/1.

The horses last run was on the flat at Windsor in July and ridden by none other than recently retired Richard Hughes finishing on that occasion fifth of a six runner field.

The eighth race of the afternoon, a 2 m 1 f national hnt flat race went to Nicely Indeed. Ridden by 7 lbs claimer Mikey Hamill and trained in Lambourn by Seamus Durack. The five year old running his first race under rules previuosly running point to points, last time unseating his rider. Hamill taking his mount up in the closing stages to beat 11/10 favorite Amirr by three lengths.

Nicely Indeed

Images of the afternoon can be seen at

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WINDSOR EVENING RACING 9TH AUGUST 2015

Indian Affair and Ciaran McKee

Six more races at Windsor, after Severn the day before, showed that the Berkshire racecourse is a serious contender at giving the racing enthusiast what they want.
The evening kicked off with a six furlong apprentice handicap. Ten claimers took their steeds to post, 2/1 favorite Silvia Dancer trained by Chris Wall and ridden by 5 lbs claimer Samuel Clarke, was narrowly beaten a short head by top weight Indian Affair Trained across the River Severn by Milton Bradley and ridden by another 5 lbs claimer Ciaran McKee.
McKee riding his 5 lbs weight allowance well, got this five year old by Sleeping Indian, who idled once getting to the front up on  line making good his fourth place effort nearer to home in Chepstow eight days ago.

Indian Affair, Silvala Dance

Jockey George Baker, who had spent the afternoon on the golf course. Made good his evenings work by getting on board Roger Charlton trained Projection and beating even money favorite Noble peace by three lengths. 

This lightly raced two year old bay colt by Acclamation ran over the same six furlongs at the back end of June. Finishing eighth of an eleven runner field, but made good his experience  by taking home £2279 in this six furlong maiden, making the syndicate from the Royal Ascot Racing Club happy to be at their next door neighbors meeting.

George Baker

Projection

Another maiden race and another narrowly beaten favorite by a lightly raced three year old. Outrage ridden by Luke Morris and trained in Lambourn by Daniel Kubler, got up to beat 13/8 Fav Regal Miss by a short head, in this four runner, five furlong dash.

Outrage,Regal Miss

Richard Hannon, who has been slightly quite at Windsor since Richard Hughes hung up his boots, placed two runners in this five runner nursery handicap. Possible new stable jockey Pat Dobbs took the ride on this improving two year old colt Dubai's Secret, and duly beat 15/8 favorite New Caledonia by again a short margin, making good his earlier victory at Chepstow at the beginning of July, and then not being disgraced in a nursery event at Glorious Goodwood.

The main race of the evening was the £5'824 Unibet offer Daily trainer/Jockey specials handicap Stakes, over one mile two furlongs.

This three year old event saw six go to post. But it was bottom weight Bishop's Leap who took the spoils for the Ambassador of Windsor racecourse, trainer Andrew Balding. Ridden by David Probert this chestnut gelding by Major Gadeaux out of a Fairy King mare, again beat the favorite Jeremy Noseda trained Smartie Artie, three and a half lengths in third spot. And made good his Newbury victory eighteen days previous.

The last race of the evening a handicap over the Windsor mile, finally saw the favorite take the race.

9/4 shot Fleckerl, trained in Lambourn by William Muir, and a comfortable winner of a six runner handicap at Lingfield nine days earlier, got up to beat bottom weight Devious Spirit by a neck, despite carrying top weight of 10 st.

The trainer got his own back on the handicapper though,by employing the services of Severn pound claimer Rowan Scott who rode this Danehill Dance five year old for a second time, and obviously has struck a cord with the gelding by guiding him home for his only two wins.

Images from the evenings racing can be seen

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

And next the jumps game with regular reports from Fontwell Park

SUNNY SUPER SUNDAY AT ROYAL WINDSOR

The last Sunday meeting at Windsor racecourse  this summer, saw a Severn race card in glorious sunshine.

Billed as a family fun-day, the card offered  mediocre  racing to attract the converted and not so to the sport of kings.
 From fun fairs to mascot racing, the well attended meet had it all. Close finishes and fancied runners winning. There was much to cheer about.







The last evening meeting ended with an amateur riders race, so it was only appropriate to open with the same. The Betfair novice flat amateur riders handicap stakes.
Some of the runners from the last amateur riders race went to post again, having had Severn days away. This included the winner last Monday Moojaned.

Moojaned

This David Evans charge went off the 10/11 favorite,but this bay gelding 6 lbs worse off from his last victory found two of his competitors from last time  just to good.

The Cornishcowboy ridden by Mr B. James and trained by John Ryan in Newmarket duly romped home by six lengths from Nebula Storm.

The Cornishcowboy

The next two races belonged to the young horses. A six furlong maiden auction Stakes saw thirteen two year olds go to post, again the victor coming from the home of British flat racing Newmarket.

Mr Wizard by Major Cadeaux and costing 11'900 Gns as a yearling, making his debut at the races seeing off by two lengths his rival This is for you. Mr Wizard trained by Nick Littmoden and ridden by John Egan made good work of his price of 16/1.

Mr Wizard

Lord Kelvin

Another maiden, this time over the longer trip of 1 mile for the two year olds, saw the race go to Lambourn. Charles Hills whose stable is well in form at present sent Lord Kelvin to post after his debut at Sandown.

This Iffraaj colt out of a group three winning mare beat Dave Simcock trained King of Dreams who was 8/15 favorite by two lengths, making these two maiden races a bookies hooray for the afternoon.

The two main races of the afternoon were a six furlongs fillies handicap and a mile three year old handicap. Both races giving a £5'064 prize to the winner.

The fillies handicap going to Henry Candy trained Cape Xenia ridden by Dane O'Neil. Again beating the favorite in Mehronissa by 3/4 of a length, and backing up her Leicester win eighteen days ago.

Cape Xenia

The mile three year old event again went to the local horses. Franco's Secret trained by Peter Hedger ridden by Charles Bishop, beat it's rivals in a photo finish. Willie Haggas trained favorite Wekeyll finishing disappointingly last of Severn, again making the bookies cry hallelujah on a Sunday as the 13/3 favorite went down.

Franco's Secret

   

Lambourn again hailed the home for the next winner of the afternoon. Seebeedee trained by Harry Dunlop,ridden by Sam Hitchcott. The filly took home the Jamie Beighton 40th birthday celebration handicap stakes over 1 m 2 f.
Again a beaten favorite, this three year old filly beat her rivals by three lengths to take home the spoils.

Seebeedee

The last race of the afternoon was a 5 furlong dash. And this race did belong to the favorite. Marco Botti in Newmarket sent out Kassbaan with 3 lbs claimer Marc Monaghan on board to take the race by 3/4 of a length. This course and distance 11/4 winner made good work of his allowance and good form throughout the season.

Kassbaan

Racing continues at the Berkshire summer venue in the shape of the usual Monday evening meet. And both this and today's images of the meet can be seen at.

WWW.MJAYPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

MONDAY EVENING RACING REPORT ROYAL WINDSOR RACECOURSE

As the long summer evenings start to draw in. Windsor racecourse enters it's final stretch for the season
With the absence of Windsor favorite Richard Hughes, who bowed out from the saddle at Goodwood over the weekend, and Frankie Dettori stuck in traffic (as was yours truly) and not able to take the ride on  Al Shaqab owned, Richard Hannon trained second favorite Al Khateya in the opener. A two year old,six furlong maiden. Stylistic, trained by Luke Dace. Ridden by Charles Bishop won by a short margin from William Haggas's Electra Voice. In fact the first three home over the 5-1 price made this race one for the bookies.
Alas the hold up on the roads not only cost Dettori a ride, but also the lack of photography in this race. As all i could do was to listen as i pulled into the Windsor car park.

Know all set up, the second race of the evening a five furlong dash for three year olds, this saw Magical Daze, trained in Lambourn by Sylvester Kirk and ridden by Dane O'Neil go to post 9/4 favorite.

Magical Daze

This three year old filly, By showcasing out of a Bertonlini mare and carrying 9 st 7 lbs was driven along by O'Neil in the final furlong to win by a nose from Mick Channon trained King crimson, backing up her previous victory at Kempton in June.

King Crimson

The main events of the evening the £7250 The bet now with Ladbrokes app handicap stakes over the Windsor mile, saw Newmarket trainer Roger Varian saddle 5/4 favorite American Artist. This chestnut colt by dual group one winner Danehill Dancer, ran only twelve days previous when carrying a lesser weight of  8 st 11 lbs at Sandown winning that mile event by 3/4 of a length.
Off now a weight of 9 st 3 lbs from that victory, this in form three year old held on well to beat Red Warrior by a length.

American Artist

Dettori know in his place in the weighing room, and on board another Al Shaqab racing- Richard Hannon trained favorite Aldayha.

Aldayha

Went to post for another £7250 handicap. This time over the sharp six furlongs.

Lambourn trained Stellarta took the spoils beating the favorite by again a race that could not see more than a length between first and third. This Sakhee's secret four year old filly making up for her fourth place effort at Windsor a few weeks ago.

Stellarta

Again Berkshire trained horses ruled supreme, when Henry Candy trained Uele River and ridden by jockey of the evening Dane O'Neil, his second of the meeting won the Ladbokes maiden stakes over 1 mile two furlongs, beating race favorite Burmese by four lengths.

Uele River

The final race of the evening gave a welcome break to the professional riders, as thirteen amateur riders took to the Berkshire course for a 1 mile 3 furlong race the This is Ladbrokes life amateur riders handicap stakes.

Moojaned, trained by Windsor regular David Evans from Abergavenny duly beat 8/11 favorite Gioia Di Vita by 3/4 of a length. Ridden out well by Miss K Begley, who made her 5 lbs allowance off the handicap weight of 10 st 12 lbs tell in the final furlong.

Moojaned

Moojaned ridden by Miss K Begley

Next week at Windsor, a double header of racing. Sunday afternoon racing

 followed by the usual Monday evening event.

All covered and reported by

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