The inaugural Berkshire Winter Million kicks off at Windsor races on Friday, 17 January after the fixture transferred from Lingfield Park. Horse racing fans can get a three-day ticket across the meeting, which also includes entry to the Clarence House Chase card at Ascot on Saturday, for just £40.
Our focus here is on the action at nearby Royal Windsor Racecourse, however. The return of jumps racing to the track in this high-profile way can only help launch the meeting with a bang. The Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase is an opening day highlight.
Later on the card, the Sovereign Handicap Hurdle attracts the biggest field on the ITV Racing broadcast with 14 runners. Supporting races include a mares’ handicap chase and conditions hurdle. With all that and more happening at the start of a busy few days for the sport after the cold snap thawed out, we turn to our experts.
They look at the racecard, study all the form and prices on horse racing betting sites in search of value and winners. Let’s see what they think about the action taking place as this interesting and valuable meeting gets underway. Four of the seven races are live on ITV too.
Windsor Races Preview for 2025 Berkshire Winter Million Day 1
12:40 – 3m Class 2 Novice Hurdle
Dameofthecotswolds easily scored over 2m 5f around Ludlow previously and stepping back up in trip promises to suit. While she doesn’t have the full mares’ allowance, she still gets 4lb from Clondaw General and Derryhassen Paddy. Of those, the latter appeals more despite the long trek down from Scotland and Lucinda Russell’s Perthshire yard.
Clondaw General didn’t stay this trip at local track Cheltenham, so Kim Bailey’s runner has stamina to prove albeit on an easier course. Sandown specialist Honky Tonk Highway goes markedly up in distance after her Listed 2m success before Christmas. Excello is just one from six since joining Nicky Henderson, meanwhile, and that came over fences.
1:15 – 3m 53y Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
It might pay to look at the bottom two in the weights at Windsor races here. HERAKLES WESTWOOD is up 7lb for his Newbury success, but Warren Greatrex runners often improve more when tackling fences. He readily accounted for a useful horse in re-opposing fourth Kyntara, who was some 30+ lengths behind in fourth.
Despite the lengthy round trip, Scottish raider Myretown looks a danger to Herakles Westwood here. Given his Irish Point background and the fact that the Russell yard’s MO is staying chasers, he could also progress in this sphere off just 2lb higher from a small-field Wetherby win.
Bhaloo looked far from a natural when just doing enough over fences at Ascot on his penultimate start, while Gericault Roque must belie a racecourse absence of 783 days. Topweight Johnnywho and Deafening Silence must put disappointing recent efforts behind them up in trip.
1:50 – 2m 33y Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase
Caldwell Potter also tops official ratings despite a reduced mark of 148. Personal Ambition, meanwhile, is a 2m 2f Grade 2 novice hurdle winner who lost his race over fences at that level over 2m 3f around Ascot last time because of a final fence mistake. Such errors will be punished even more severely on this tight track.
Gidleigh Park is on the comeback trail after pulling up at Kempton on his chase debut for Harry Fry. Nothing about him suggests this sharp course and distance will suit. The mare You Wear It Well gets weight all-round, but didn’t shape like she had the pace for two miles when third in Listed company over further at Warwick last time.
2:25 – 2m 4f 42y Class 2 Mares’ Handicap Chase (0-145)
Party Vibes toughs it out in the Southwest Rail Solutions Mares’ Novices’ Chase, plugging away in the hands of David Bass to deny Sunday Soldier 🏇 pic.twitter.com/FuehjllMeW
— Exeter Racecourse (@ExeterRaces) December 19, 2024
PARTY VIBES was best caught over hurdles last winter and makes her handicap chase debut following a cosy win at Exeter. She now heads to Windsor Races for the Berkshire Winter Million off an unchanged mark of 125 for the Henry Daly stable. Party Vibes needed the run when previously third in Listed company around Bangor behind You Wear It Well.
Gavin Cromwell has his yard in fine form with seven winners and counting in 2025 already. Topweight Law Ella looks a threat, if judged on her Listed Thurles second to Marsh Wren last spring. She is only 2lb above her Irish mark and drops in class after a staying on third at Limerick over Christmas.
There are three nine-year-olds in the line-up and, of those more mature mares, Game On For Glory appeals most. Lucy Wadham’s charge has 5lb more on her back here than when scoring at Cheltenham’s December Meeting. Dan Skelton runs two, but Sacre Coeur needs a sound surface and Panic Attack hasn’t jumped a fence since 2023.
Better going also seems to suit Ilovethenightlife for Joe Tizzard’s yard. Mayhem Mya could have a pot in her off bottom weight, if treated on the pick of her novice chase form, but Chris Honour’s mare needs to recapture that. She may be able to it after scoring over hurdles around Exeter the last day.
3:00 – 2m 4f Class 2 Conditions Hurdle
You can make a case for all five runners in this £100,000 event at Windsor races, but SALVER still looked as though he was travelling well when coming to grief at the final flight in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day. Gary & Josh Moore quickly turn him out, so he shouldn’t be any worse for the fall.
Salver shaped like a stayer when third in the Triumph Hurdle last spring and again in fourth in the Gerry Feilden on reappearance. He may well gain compensation for his Cheltenham tumble here. Nemean Lion also has claims for Kerry Lee, however, and runs in this instead of off topweight in a seniors race at Taunton on Saturday.
Blueking D’Oroux doesn’t get 3m, but should have no problem back down at this trip. Nicholls’ runner came second in the Ascot Hurdle on reappearance and has since seen the winner, Lucky Place, land the Relkeel. Iberico Lord reverts to hurdling here after falling over fences, while the enigmatic Langer Dan tops official ratings but only seems to come alive in springtime.
3:35 – 2m Class 2 Sovereign Handicap Hurdle
What a finish in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at @Ascot!
Fiercely Proud gets the better of Kabral Du Mathan in a photo…@benpauling1 @kielanwoods pic.twitter.com/vkp0aozbBi
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 21, 2024
Lots of chances in the most valuable of Windsor races on day 1 of the Berkshire Winter Million. SECRET SQUIRREL might find the track suitable if no worse for his own fall in the Ladbroke Hurdle before Christmas. Hughie Morrison books Nico de Boinville for the ride and that catches the eye.
The assessor has also been kind to Secret Squirrel by leaving him on an unchanged mark of 126. His final flight tumble when in third place at Ascot could’ve easily seen him nudged up a couple of lbs. Previous wins around sharp tracks like Kempton and Taunton give Secret Squirrel hope of acting here.
Kabral Du Mathan has an 8lb hike from handicapper in contrast for just losing out in the Ladbroke. That makes life tougher for the talented young Ditcheat inmate. He might find this track too tight, and similar comments apply to Beat The Bat and Wreckless Eric.
Navajo Indy is a progressive hurdler for Tom Symonds and took his form to a new level with Gerry Feilden success. Like Kabral Du Mathan, he has an 8lb rise to contend with now. Frontrunning Sandown scorer Knickerbockerglory has 7lb more on his back, but his style of racing could work out here for Team Skelton.
At bigger odds, Scottish raider Cracking Rhapsody could go well if he translates his Kelso form to Windsor. Topweight Brentford Hope will be worthy of his Champion Hurdle entry if he wins this. Trainer Harry Derham also runs Court In The Act and Givemefive. Hansard has no respite from the handicapper either.
4:08 – 2m 6f 43y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)
A slight drop back in trip and easier track could be just what JUPITER DU GITE needs. The concluding contest at Windsor races gives the Moore family’s six-year-old less of a test than Sandown. Jupiter Du Gite previously went close around Fontwell off his current mark of 126, and Freddie Mitchell again takes the ride and 5lb off.
Those with course experience are obvious dangers, meanwhile. Hasthing is up 7lb for his 2m 4f victory here in December. He will need to brush up his jumping, but the O’Neill family runner is well worth trying over further. Ballycamus drops down in distance for the Twiston-Davies’ after leading from three out.
As he turned away challengers, an extra 3lb over a shorter trip might not be any problem. Ballycamus finished second to Martator off this mark in the spring and tried in vain to give 5lb to that horse now rated in the 150s. If first-time cheekpieces buck up Es Perfecto, then he could bounce back for Alan King.
Hugos New Horse goes chasing relatively late in his career, but can surely only improve for a close debut second around Plumpton. Jeremy Scott veteran Stormy Flight bumped into a next time out winner the last day and the fourth home has since finished second in a Grade 2, so that form looks decent for this level.
