SUPER DUPER JOHNSON ON A TREBLE

Enjoying Ladies evening at Fontwell, Rebecca,Sally,Faye, Lisa

Ladies evening at Fontwell, a course that’s been rested for a few months and now ready to take on some terrific jump racing through the winter months.

And it started with a bang, Champion jockey Richard Johnson the bit between his teeth gathering three winners to maintain his nine winners lead over young contender Sam Twiston Davies.

Champion jockey Richard Johnson

Starting off with a good run in the first a conditioning handicap hurdle over two miles three furlongs, Johnson bought home Jim Best’s Red Orator the 6/4 fav by two and a half lengths from Gary Moore’s Shalanzi.

‘We knew if he could produce his Stratford form he would run well, he has battled down hard in the end to win the race nicely, Jim Best had confidence in him, he is a nice straight forward sort of horse.

The ex Mark Johnston horse seems to be on the improve, has had broken blood vessel problems in the past, but now seems to be on the up with his fourth win out of fifteen starts.

Another horse hailing out of a flat yard was Richards second winner of the evening Satellite formally out of the William Haggas yard,the seven year old  took the two mile one furlong novices hurdle in fine form beating Tarkeur out of the Simon Hodgson yard by a commanding thirteen lengths.

Satellite 

The pace was taken on at a strong rate Harry Cobden taking the Colin Tizzards Ivor’s Queen out I front stringing the four runner field out from early on. 

A certain disrespect of the hurdle out in the back straight caused the leader to fall leaving the eventual winner out on his own sooner than he would have liked. 

‘The pace was fine for my horse, but until the lead horse fell I wasn’t really very confident in my fella, he done well out in front, just a little earlier than I wold of liked.’ 

With only his third run over hurdles and has won also on soft ground. The going at the West Sussex course being good to firm,the five year old seems an improving and versatile sort.

Improvement possibly need for this nice looking gelding, the plan would possibly be a nice race at Kempton in the Autumn

The owners of the Danehill Dancer five-year-old Paul and Louise Bowtell mentioned 

‘the victory seemed a bit hollow really with the fall of the Tizzards horse, but I believe he is up know so I feel a little better. I wasn’t really confident in our fella at the start, he worked himself up a bit, but he has battled away nicely in the end.’ 

Improvement possibly need for this nice looking gelding, the plan would possibly be a nice race at Kempton in the Autumn, so well worth a sharpen of the note book pencil on this one.

The Champ did not have to wait that long for his third winner of the evening, the fourth race a two mile five furlong handicap Dickie Johnson bought home the top weight Pied Du Roi out of the Charlie Longsdon yard a length in front of Richie McLernon on Wyndcrest. 

‘This horse is a big sort that has needed time, to be fair to the owners they have given him that time and he has rewarded them this evening.’ 

The horse a good second to Definite Future at Worcester in a very competitive race a month back still seemed to make mistakes and had to be hard driven by the jockey to claim his prize. 

‘Fontwell wouldn’t really be the course he would prefer really, but he would be a horse with improvement that could be nice.’

Pied Du Roi,Wyndcrest

Not many options for the six-year-old this time of year, has caused the trainer to think hard on his entries for this one, but the right race and the right night has given the horse a chance. One to follow if the improvement continues.

‘Fontwell wouldn’t really be the course he would prefer really, but he would be a horse with improvement that could be nice.'

The two mile one furlong handicap chase saw seven go to post, 6/4 fav Spring steel trained by Alexandra Dunn in Taunton and ridden by Rhys Flint win the race by two and a half lengths from Vexillum out of the Neil Mulholland yard, with creditable ease. 

‘He has been a little lucky here today, made mistakes and struggled a little with his wind makes me feel he may need further, he may need a bit more of a galloping track really so he can get into his rhythm.'

Spring steel 

Jake Hodson on David Bridgewater’s The Yank seemed to fall on the flat just after jumping the second last after running a positive sort of race, on asking Rhys if he saw how the horse fell, that could have given him a race towards the end. 

‘Fences this time of year need jumping really, they are a little stiff, and it seems he has crumpled on landing.’ Jumping the name of the game, the yank would be one to watch.

The trainer from Taunton with twenty six horses in training who often graces the West Sussex course mentioned, ‘he is lovely horse to have, he has won three times for us and we are lucky to have him.’ Non-committal on the seven-year-olds future the trainer who describes her yard as a boutique yard, small and select with top class facilities is certainly one to note at her lucky track Fontwell.

Non-committal on the seven-year-olds future the trainer who describes her yard as a boutique yard, small and select with top class facilities is certainly one to note at her lucky track Fontwell.

With all equestrian fans one eye was surly on Rio for the Olympic games, already gold in the dressage,and Show jumping that was extremely successful in London 2012, one-man Nick Skelton who is on form for gold in Rio is eagerly being watched by his sons, on form themselves with a winner in the two mile one furlong handicap hurdle.

 Excellent team, aptly named in the circumstances led well at the last, driven out by Harry Skelton to take the win from Ben Pauling’s Itsnowcato.

The well suited four-year-old on his first win after a string of seconds seemed to relish the fast ground the jockey mentioning, ‘he has very good attitude and is as tough as old boots, he is now a type that could do well with a small penalty in handicaps, but he has given his owners some great fun which it’s all about.’

 Excellent team

Certainly this gelding could turn gold for the siblings, Dan and Harry Skelton.
 All eyes on Rio Friday that certainly would be leading to a positive start to the weekend for the family.

The well suited four-year-old on his first win after a string of seconds seemed to relish the fast ground.

The penultimate race, and last over obstacles for the well attended meeting at Fontwell came in the shape of the two mile five furlongs’ handicap hurdle for four year olds and upwards.

Again a family affair, Gary Moore saddling 5/2 shot Royal Battalion to take on a six runner field. Son Jamie Moore in the saddle,the five-year-old by sea the stars made mistakes three out but was ridden firmly by Moore to take the race by a length and a half from the favourite Breaking Bits trained by Jamie Snowden.

Breaking Bits,First Avenue,Royal Battalion 

The horse owned by the ever popular Heart of the South Racing has given the syndicate ownership some great fun winning two from eighteen starts. 

‘It was a moderate race won by a moderate horse,’, mentioned the jockey. ‘It’s great to give something back to the owners who have been good supporters of us in the past, and win a local track is as big of a winner as if at Cheltenham.’

 A brother to fame and glory and costing £450’000 as a yearling the horse may not have scored the heights as hoped, but a win early doors of the season should not be sniffed at and maybe one you would see at the track in the near future.

The final race of the evening, the two mile one furlong national hunt flat race, four runners went to post, taken along at a good pace by Phil York on Kabanga Bay, the race coming around the bend opened up to be very competitive, unusually so for races that are in most cases sown up from three furlongs out.

Deise Diamond ridden by Trevor Whelan and trained by Neil King stayed on well in the end to take the race by half a length from the Moore’s Jezzebelle.

Deise Diamond , Jezzebelle

‘This fella has had good standing with a nice placing at Galway, the pace was good for us but the lead horse fell away slightly before I would have liked really so I have been made to take it up before I could get him to gallop.’

The five-year-old gelding looked a little green at the finish and would surly come on for his run, the race one of the classiest bumpers you would find this season at Fontwell, and would not surprise if it threw up a few nice horse from the field as the season progresses. 

The winner though untried over a hurdles certainly looks the type with some time, the jockey mentioning that the horse would be crying out for a trip.

 'I have been made to take it up before I could get him to gallop.’

A tough type, and certainly one to add to the notebooks for later in the season, as with the rest  Jezzebelle, Kabanga Bay and Pull the Trigger.

Music on ladies evening to finish,

With Live music from Abba Revival, Waterloo to Mamma Mia at Fontwell Park the Winner takes it all.

As if you were not aware,at the time of publish, Nick Skelton won his individual gold in Rio o Big Star.

A massive congratulations to the Skelton family, who have given so much to the equestrian industry.

LAST OF THE EVENING SUMMER WINE AT WINDSOR

It’s true, some people gauge their summer on the lengths of the Windsor evening meetings that are held. If that true, summer ended for them this Monday evening as the conclusion of the Berkshire racecourses twilight meetings came to an end with six races, one of them a type two race and final of the six-furlong sprint championships.

The main race of the evening, the Skybet Windsor sprint series finale saw fourteen runners go to post, all runners qualifying with a run in any of the series races held at each of the meetings held at Windsor throughout the year.

Michael Blanshard’s Stellarta a five-year-old with thirty five runs under her belt, seven of those with trips to the winners enclosure, took her chances from a furlong out, ridden by the top  young jockey of Tom Marquand and duly held on well to  beat John Jenkins’s Pretty Bubbles by three lengths.

Stellarta 

The mare by Sakhee’s Secret looked a game sort, and was greeted with great enthusiasm by its connections as she entered the enclosures. ‘She is such a consistent sort of horse,’ mentioned the trainer in his thirty sixth year of training. ‘She is a type that does not come along too often, seven wins, twenty four times not out of the first four, she makes a big difference to the yard.’ The owner Vincent Ward ever too eager to sing lyric about the trainer’s abilities. 

And last season’s champion apprentice ever too grateful of a big race win mentioned, ‘she has come here today with some fair form under her belt and well deserves the win,she is never one to be hard on the bridle but as the gaps come she comes into herself, and she did that tonight.’ 

A good gallop throughout played into the mare’s hands well and like her nature as the race went on the quality improved to take her share of the £75’000 prize fund.

She is a type that does not come along too often, seven wins, twenty four times not out of the first four, she makes a big difference to the yard.’

The race is sure to find a small gem in the horse behind the winner, that being so it must be mentioned that the three horses able to get in the race from the Oxfordshire based yard of Eve Johnson Houghton, Ice age, Cool Bahamian and Goring, finished third, fourth and fifth respectively, no more than a length between them. As mentioned last week by the trainer she had her eye on the prize.

The main race of the evening out of the way, it must be said that other races from the final throws of the 2016 Windsor evening meeting campaign threw up some hidden gems to sparkle at the end of a summer campaign of flat racing.

David Evans whose horse have not been firing on full power of lately sent out 6/4 fav Smokey Lane to take the six furlongs two-year-old maiden by two lengths from Henry Candy’s Sun Angel.

Smokey Lane

Ridden by Shane Kelly the chestnut colt by Zebedee ran on well after getting to the front a furlong out. 

‘He was just a little too keen at Newbury and has a drop nose band on today which has made it a little easier to place him in the race and take on the second placed horse, he just had that bit of speed in the final part.’

The two-year-old in his fourth run seemed to enjoy the good to firm ground on offer and looks off a rating of 96 to be off to the York meeting and a weeks’ time.

The trainer ever too grateful of a win at present was thrilled to get a win, ‘a few of mine have had dirty noses, what a lot of people don’t realise that this time of year when the harvest is being bought in and the rape seed is out, a lot of horses get effected by the spores in the air constantly, and if you live anywhere near these distractions you can’t get away from it.'

A frustrating time for the trainer who always sends his horses to the races with a fighting chance, this colt, fingers crossed being now the catalyst of things to come for the trainer from Abergavenny.

The two-year-old in his fourth run seemed to enjoy the good to firm ground on offer and looks off a rating of 96 to be off to the York meeting and a weeks’ time.

Gary Moore sent out the winner of the five runner selling race over the long distance one mile three furlongs.

 Gaelic Silver ridden by Hector Crouch who over the past three seasons as been the jockey to take this race on with a winner, last season riding for the Moore yard on Nebula Storm. 

The trainer having the first and second in the race, the 5 lbs claimer was pleased to get on top of his stable mate, especially when George Baker is in the saddle. 

‘This horse was rated highly a few seasons back and has done that nicely this evening, he had just lost his way a little and now with building is confidence up, hopefully we can get back to winning ways.’ 

The nice big looking sort by Lando had no takers in the auction at the end of the race so the ten-year-old was taken back to the Horsham yard of Gary Moore.

Gaelic Silver ridden by Hector Crouch who over the past three seasons as been the jockey to take this race on with a winner,

Newmarket’s John Gosden took the next race, the three to four year olds maidens race over one mile two furlongs, Stratum ridden by Nicky Mackay, who took the 8/13 fav to the front two furlongs out,eased well on the line to beat again another of the Henry Candy’s runners Capton by eight lengths. 

‘The race wasn’t the greatest of contests for him, but he has his handicap mark know, the distance he won this evening won’t really affect him, he will probably get the mile and a half in time and for a time tonight I was a little worried he wouldn’t get home, he doesn’t quicken but more lengthens his stride so a further distance would allow him to do that with a little more comfort.’

Stratum

Mackay on his seventh winner of the season was very optimistic and level headed about his lot, 

'You just never know what’s around the corner, I have had some nice maiden seconds and you just have to keep on plugging on.’ 

Plugging on is what the jockey will do, as well as this Dansili colt that would be one to note for sure as a four-year-old.

'He doesn’t quicken but more lengthens his stride so a further distance would allow him to do that with a little more comfort.’

The classiest horse of the evening came in the shape of a three-year-old Oasis Dream filly trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Adam Kirby.

 Materialistic seemed a very strong and progressive sort as she won nicely the four runner fillies handicap over the Windsor Mile.

The Newmarket premier trainer with not his best of seasons so far seems to be finding form and this very nice filly on two wins from two starts seemed to justify the 4/5 favouritism in a small but classy fillies handicap.

Materialistic 

‘she is a well bred strong type of filly,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘a nice type that would possibly have a good future. Not listed company straight away, probably another handicap, but wouldn’t be surprised if she picks up a good race before the season ends.’ 

By Oasis Dream out of a Barathea mare this three-year-old has class and staying blood within her veins. The trainer opting on a patient campaign with her, that would signify he likes what he sees.

Rumour from the camp of the unusually quite Cumani yard is there are some nice two-year-old on the way, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Luca Cumani’s name in the winner’s enclosure more often as the season closes. 

‘a nice type that would possibly have a good future. Not listed company straight away, probably another handicap, but wouldn’t be surprised if she picks up a good race before the season ends.’ 

The final race of the 2016 evening meeting campaign at Windsor, came in the shape of another fillies’ race, this time over one mile two furlongs for four year olds and upwards.

Icymasho ridden by George Baker and trained in Lambourn by Jonathan Portman was sent to post the 6/4 fav and showed the faith in the punters selection by winning easily the race by two lengths from Sahara and Ted Durcan.

Icymasho

‘She is a very straight forward sort of filly, she took a bit of a hold early on but when she dictates a race like she did tonight she is hard to beat.’

The four-year-old by Multiplex out of a Mark of Esteem mare now on five wins from seventeen starts came into the enclosure lame, quickly noticed that the front off shoe had been lost during the race which caused the filly to be a bit foot sore, would surly shows that this filly whose name translated from the Japanese is ‘Let’s Go’ is a tough type that would  go again before the season ends.

The filly whose name translated from the Japanese is ‘Let’s Go’ is a tough type that would surly go again before the season ends

Again another nice race with class horses attached, looking through the placed horse all should be noted, especially Starlit Cantata, back in third spot, out of the inform Johnson Houghton yard.

Many more blog reports and images from Windsor and other race meetings can be seen at

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PENULTAMATE MONDAY NIGHT RACING AT WINDSOR

As the final bell tolls on the Berkshire course for its Monday evening racing and with one more week of twilight sport including the £75’000 sprint final to come, six small fielded races closed a two day run for Windsor racecourse.

The first race a six furlong apprentice Handicap over six furlongs saw Epsom trainer Jim Boyle saddle Perfect pastime at 14/1 to land the race beating his neighbour Simon Dow’s Straits of Malacca by half a length.

The strong looking five-year-old on his seventy sixth run of his career, nine of those runs resulting in a trip to the winners enclosure.

Ridden by 5lbs claimer Paddy Bradley the horse had to be ridden but stayed on well only to get the better of his challengers near the line.

Perfect pastime

‘I was a little worried the field were going to get away from me, but they have come back and he has run on well, in the end he has taken the race nicely for me’ mentioned the jockey.

The trainer mentioning the horse always carries his condition and is a horse he has known for a long time. 

‘He likes to get his toe in the ground a bit and the conditions here tonight were perfect for him, he is the type that only dose what he has to, but Paddy had given him a lovely ride.  We have to run race to race with him these late summer conditions are what he wants so we have to place him where we can, on this ground he may take a week to turn around but we would look at getting him out sooner rather than later.’

‘He likes to get his toe in the ground a bit and the conditions here tonight were perfect for him.'

The maiden six furlongs’ event went to the stables of Richard Hannon, a rare occurrence this season at the Berkshire track that the Hannon yard usually dominates.

Himself a two-year-old colt by High Chaparral out of a Medicean mare was driven home hard by Tom Marquand to take the race by a length from Lovely Acclamation. The colt on his third outing finally getting the hand of the Berkshire course from his maiden outing at the track in June.

Himself

‘I ride this one out every day at home, and on the gallops he has shown plenty of speed, we put him over the seven furlongs but he seemed to come and take his race and fade so dropped him back to six today and it has come right. I’m please for the owners and the boss as they have put a lot of faith in him and myself so it’s good to get the win.’

A nice stamp of a horse to look at, this two-year-old for sure will be placed well by the absent trainer  for his next run, and would be one to note.

‘I ride this one out every day at home, and on the gallops he has shown plenty of speed.'

The five furlong dash for four and five-year-old maidens was taken by the evens money favourite May Rose. 

Trained by Charlie Hills, ridden by Andrea Atzeni the three-year-old filly was eased at the line after running on well to beat the fast front running, William Haggas trained Sirajiah by a length.

‘She has settled well in her race today, and would possibly get the six, last time out finishing second she was probably a little too fresh to see the six out, so dropped her back to 5 furlongs today and it’s worked out well for her.

The five furlong dash for four and five-year-old maidens was taken by the evens money favourite May Rose.

Atzeni who rides the entered Postponed in the Juddmonte International at the Ebor meeting mentioned,’ I have sat on him a few days ago and all is well with him, we are happy with his progress and hope for a run.’

The race gearing up to be a race of quality for the end of the season, the jockey ever confident in his ride.

The mile nursery for two year olds came up with a very nice colt by Teofilo out of a Mark of Esteem mare, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by William Buick Permian now with two wins from three runs looks a good type for the future, taking the race with ease from the inform yard of Sylvester Kirk and his runner Challow, who on form should also be one to watch.

Permian 

‘This horse is still a big baby, and I have had to get hold of him a bit to get his attention, but he is nice horse in the making, and would improve on better ground.’ Tight lipped about this one from the Johnston team usually means there is something about this youngster and should be one to watch.

Buick who partners Hawk Bill in the Juddmonte in a few weeks’ time mentioned also his mount was well, ‘It was always the plan for him to go for the race and is improving all the time,’ a horse to be wary of, the trainer Charlie Appleby reported to be sending out good vibes of his work so far.

The mile two furlongs’ handicap saw a tight close finish in a six runner field.

 Landwade Lad out of the James Fanshawe yard, ridden by Oisin Murphy. Roger Charlton’s Rock Steady ridden by William Twiston-Davies and Prendergast hill from the Ed De Giles yard ridden by Josephine Gordon all going for the line.

Landwade Lad getting his head to the line in front of the Roger Charlton’s horse immediately required the attention of the stewards, the representatives of both camps keeping tight lipped as they entered the enclosure, the second placed horse owners though obliviously thinking that the interference from the winner cost their charge the race.

Though interference was defiantly apparent, the stewards deemed it not necessary to take the race from the top weight who was giving a stone away in weight to the close second placed horse.

But did deem Murphy in breach of not doing enough to keep the winner off the Twiston- Davies mount, and subsequently gave him a two day suspension from the 22^nd of August.

Nothing should be though taken away from the gelding by Dansili with a handicap of 10 stone, ran well to record his second win from fifteen starts.

Landwade Lad getting his head to the line in front of the Roger Charlton’s horse immediately required the attention of the stewards,

The yard also in form at present Eve Johnson Houghton sought out another winner in the last race of the evening. 

Off the back of her double at the Berkshire course seven days previous the trainer sent Reaver off 3/5  fav in the three runner mile handicap.

Ridden by Charles Bishop the three-year-old switched to the far side from two out to rally home well by a length from second placed Blushes from the Ed Dunlop yard and ridden by champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

Reaver

The gelding on two wins from eight starts seems to be an improving sort, and a type that will make a very nice handicapper. The trainer mentioning that the horse is just a little green at the moment so the win in a nice easy race will improve and bring on the horse no end. 

‘The yard is a good place to be at the moment, every winner is a good winner whatever they are.’

The trainer reported that her winning two-year-old filly from last week Bahamadam has come out of her race well and would possibly run in a novice or conditions race soon,and Goring that ran in the sprint race qualifier, ground permitting may take his chances in the final. 

‘I have three qualified but I suppose it will depend on the handicap band in the race who will get in, but I have my eye on the prize.’

The gelding on two wins from eight starts seems to be an improving sort, and a type that will make a very nice handicapper. 

The race in a weeks’ time certainly looking on being a good type and with the weekend supposed to be in midst of a heat wave, the ground is sure to be quick.

The curtain closing on the evening meetings at the Berkshire course but not without one final big bang flourish.

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SUNDAY RACING AT WINDSOR, GETTING THE KIDS INVOLVED

Blue skies, and ice creams, mixed in with cuddly mascots and something for the kids to shout about, Windsor Racecourse opened its gates for two days of racing in the late summer sunshine. 

Seven races on offer, good to firm racing ground that was described by the jockeys as perfect,

Chatting to Clerk of the Course Jeff Green who mentioned.

'I watered during the week, and the ground is riding well, I will put another 4 mm of water on the course for Monday night’s racing so it is safe racing ground for the horses, but we are still offering fresh racing ground for the horses at this time of the season which is good, and also I’m looking forward to the Sprint final in a few weeks’ time when I again I would like to offer some untouched ground.’

A busy time for the racecourse, a busy time still for the flat racing fraternity.

Wantage trainer Henry Candy saddled the winner of the first, 5/4 fav Angle down winning the maiden auction stakes for two year olds over six furlongs. 

Oisin Murphy on board mentioned. ‘He gets every yard of the trip, but needs positive riding, he is a horse that has improved with each run.’

 The two-year-old colt by Kyllachy a possible runner next time out in the Goffs Premier yearling stakes at York in a few weeks’ time and could be one to watch, his form certainly on the improve.

Angle down winning the maiden auction stakes for two year olds over six furlongs.

Keeping on a local front, Lambourn trainer Sylvester Kirk had a good afternoons work in the Berkshire sunshine. Two winners for the afternoon, both ridden by George Baker who is as he mentioned, ‘is in good form at the moment, and long may it continue.’

The first being Salouen in the two-year-old maiden stakes over a mile. The well bred colt by Canford Cliffs out of a Galileo mare on his fifth outing has ran over the six to seven furlong mark, but good ground, and a mile has seen this nice type win well, beating star archer by three lengths. 

‘You are going to get an easy mile here more than anywhere, and the race seemed to be run at a good pace,’ mentioned the trainer.'I have nothing in the plan for him, but he would be a type that would get further due to his breeding and he could be a nice horse for us, he has broken the track record over a mile for two year olds today so possibly could be a black type sort of horse we will have to see.’

Salouen

The down to earth trainer, softly spoken trainer,chanted passionately about his charges without a hint of whoop and woo, and again could be said has his second winner of the afternoon Pink Ribbon who won the one mile two furlongs’ handicap for three year olds and upwards again ridden by George baker who mentioned,

'Sylvester’s horses are in good form at present, and it makes for a easier time of it when they are, I think he has had about seven winners in the last week, so it's great to be a part of.’

Pink Ribbon

The trainer in a ‘purple patch’ as he mentioned at present reported. 

'To go out on the gallops and see the horses at present dose your heart good, and it is certainly showing in the way they are all running, this horse has been consistent in his level, and would make a lovely jumping horse, so would be hard to place onwards, but a lovely horse no doubt.’

The four-year-old on four wins from twenty eight runs had to be motivated to take his race, but in the end beating the 11/4 fav Zephyros three and a half lengths back in third.

The Lambourn trainer mentioned,’ what’s helped us this season is we have a nice lot of two year olds in, we have had about ten winning two year olds from about twenty in the stables, so with a small string compared to the bigger stables we have to take these purple patches and make them count, the bigger yards can be more consistent.’

A yard to watch and take note at the moment, the trainer places his charges well, and would be one to follow.

'I have nothing in the plan for him, but he would be a type that would get further due to his breeding and he could be a nice horse for us, he has broken the track record over a mile for two year olds today so possibly could be a black type sort of horse we will have to see.’

'To go out on the gallops and see the horses at present dose your heart good, and it is certainly showing in the way they are all running, this horse has been consistent in his level, and would make a lovely jumping horse, so would be hard to place onwards, but a lovely horse no doubt

The long distance race of the afternoon, the one mile three furlong handicap for three year olds, went to the national hunt training establishment of John Jenkins.

Tasty Ginger ridden by Adam Kirby another jockey on a double for the afternoon, kept the gelding up to his work in the final furlong to beat Mister Showman by two lengths.

 ‘He has had a little wander to the centre of the track, but that was understandable, he’s a horse that hasn’t won before and continues to improve, he probably could do with going a little further.’

Tasty Ginger

The gelding running in blinkers is a new addition to the Royston yard of Mr Jenkins who mentioned, ‘I don’t think he needs the head gear really, but he has had them on running in Ireland for Paul Deegan so I thought I’d better keep them on, I’ll probably run him a few more times on the flat and then over hurdles, we have schooled him over a hurdle and he jumps well, Davy Russell has schooled him and he went well, and he stays so possibly two miles over hurdles would be his target.’

'I’ll probably run him a few more times on the flat and then over hurdles, we have schooled him over a hurdle and he jumps well.'

Adam Kirby’s second winner of the afternoon came in the shape of the Clive Cox trained Laidback Romeo in the four runner mile handicap. 

The 6/4fav ran on under pressure well, though running a little to the left to record his fourth win from fifteen runs.

The jockey mentioned, ‘the race was run to suit him, a good gallop throughout, you couldn’t ask anymore of him.’

Laidback Romeo 

The trainer who again like Sylvester Kirk training out of Lambourn is like the fore mentioned in his ‘purple patch.’ 

‘With top weight Adam has given this horse a lovely ride in a small field, he is a horse that has progressed, but seems to love this summer ground, he wants a stiff mile or a mile and a half, but he is a type we would take one step at a time.’

Note should be taken that the four-year-old by Kodiac was giving weight all round and to run on well to take the race by a length from Raising Sand is no mean feat.

‘With top weight Adam has given this horse a lovely ride in a small field, he is a horse that has progressed.'

The William Haggas trained Gravity Flow won the fillies three-year-old handicap over the straight six furlongs at Windsor, ridden by Pat Cosgrove the 2/1 joint fav ran on well to beat Battlement and George Baker looking for his treble by two lengths. 

‘She is a type of filly with plenty of speed and loves the fast ground, and is going the right way,’ mentioned the jockey who took the three year old by Exceed and Excel to her third win from five starts.

The next step for this William Haggas charge would be a step up in contest the Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum horse would be one for the note books and one to watch at present, but on a fast track with good summer ground could throw up a nice black type sort of race.

The final race of the afternoon a one mile three furlong amateur race saw another eventful contest. Last week’s amateur event at Monday nights racing  the Berkshire course saw two horses loose on the track. 

Seven days later the winner from that race Jersey Jewel was badly hampered approaching the intersection of the figure of eight track giving young jockey Charlotte Greenway no chance of staying on the race favourite.

Charlotte Greenway no chance of staying on the race favourite.

This left the race open and another young jockey, nineteen-year-old Molly King with an easy victory on the Peter Hiatt trained Shirataki.

Shirataki.

‘I couldn’t believe  how well he was going at the end, it’s his first win on turf for ages, and after a month off he has come back well, he is such a lovely horse.’ 

The young amateur on her third winner has just finished her A levels and is another jockey on her way to University.

‘I’m riding out for Peter Hiatt in the summer holidays before University so it’s lovely to get a winner for him.’

‘I couldn’t believe  how well he was going at the end, it’s his first win on turf for ages, and after a month off he has come back well, he is such a lovely horse.’ 

A quick turnaround now for the Windsor racecourse staff for the following days racing, who knows what it will bring for Monday night at Windsor races.

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