The concluding day of the Berkshire Winter Million from Windsor on Sunday, 19 January is a bumper eight-race card. This is because the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase that couldn’t be staged at Warwick last weekend has been rearranged for this fixture.
That adds extra intrigue to a meeting where the feature race is the Fleur De Lys Chase. As with Friday’s card, Windsor has a mix of handicaps and conditions races on this return of jumps action.
One of the chief supporting events on Sunday is the Great Park Handicap Chase. There is also a staying handicap hurdle and chase with a valuable bumper closing the Berkshire Winter Million card.
Sifting through all the form and odds on horse racing betting sites are our experts seeking value. Any important meeting like this in the sport always grabs their attention, because they know it matters to punters.
ITV Racing again provides a platform for Windsor showcasing National Hunt racing. The track’s sole use for Flat action in recent times ignores a past tradition of jumpers coming to the “Royal” racecourse. Let’s see who our experts like on Sunday.
Berkshire Winter Million Sunday Preview
12:10 – 3m Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase
Jingko Blue can only improve for his chase debut too. Lowry’s Bar has progressed from handicaps for in-form Philip Hobbs, meanwhile, and also steps up in distance. He is also a potential improver and certainly going the right way in this sphere. Whether Lowry’s Bar has the class of Jingko Blue is another matter.
Johnnywho defects from a novices’ limited handicap chase over course and distance for a run here instead. Jonjo O’Neill and sons have only got wins out of JP McManus’ horse first time out each season so far.
12:45 – 2m Class 2 Mares’ Novice Hurdle
Paul Nicholls’ Jubilee Alpha concedes weight all-round for her Listed success around Taunton last time. Despite that, she ran out a comfortable winner the last day and gained revenged on Listentoyourheart. Jubilee Alpha clearly learned plenty from her hurdling debut and is a threat to Khrisma.
Bluey bids to follow-up on Wincanton success here for Emma Lavelle, but has more on her plate now. Other last time out scorers Barrabool and Siog Geal recorded their victories on good ground, so a softer surface poses questions. Everest and Katira Du Mestivel must also make major strides to have any say in the finish.
1:20 – 2m 4f Class 3 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (0-125)
Four novices that finished second last time out could end up battling it out for this Berkshire Winter Million prize. Three are still maidens over hurdles, but ONEWAYWEST caught the eye having a sighter for this when runner-up over course and distance last month. Ben Pauling’s runner previously chased home the now 144-rated Lump Sum.
That one has since landed the Welsh Champion Hurdle and finished second in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth. Off a revised mark of 113, going up 4lb for defeat the last day, Onewaywest may still be chucked in. Fellow hurdling maidens Zanndabad over from Ireland and Fasol, a French import to Ditcheat could also have a pot in them.
The former steps down in trip for Tony Martin after not staying 2m 6f up at Newcastle. Fasol, meanwhile, also keeps knocking on the door after seconds around both Sandown and Ascot before Christmas. Of those with a win under their belts, Hartington drops in grade from Listed company for Joe Tizzard and should stay this trip no problem.
1:55 – 2m Class 2 Great Park Handicap Chase
🟢 MATATA puts them to the sword and wins Three Counties Christmas Handicap Chase… but what could have happened?
Gunsight Ridge up ok pic.twitter.com/k00Zxelnj3
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 17, 2024
If ever a track should play to the strengths of a frontrunner like topweight MATATA, then Windsor is the place. Nigel Twiston-Davies runner has owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede’s new retained jockey JJ Slevin coming over from Ireland for the ride at the Berkshire Winter Million.
Matata is 5lb higher than when landing a handicap on the more undulating course at Cheltenham, but could be difficult to catch. Martator, meanwhile, looks set to run as his beloved Ascot instead of taking up entry here. Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party drops in the weights and class with Dan Skelton running three.
Brother Harry rides Etalon, but Castleford Chase scorer Harper’s Brook might be the one from the yard best suited by the track. Red Rum hero Sans Bruit could also capitalise on the return to a sharp course for Nicholls and Harry Cobden. Out of form trio Editeur Du Gite, Crebilly whose jumping is suspect, and Arctic Bresil make little appeal.
2:30 – 3m Class 2 Handicap Hurdle
Another for Freddie Mitchell! ✌️
Hermino AA holds them off in the Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” And Win Handicap Hurdle 🥇
#ITVRacing | @NewburyRacing | @fgmitchell1994 | @gl_racing pic.twitter.com/mYO618kj7U— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 29, 2024
A trappy stayers event at the Berkshire Winter Million where topweight HERMINO AA should appreciate stepping back up in trip. Going down in distance around Kempton didn’t suit the last day, but the form of his previous Newbury success has been franked by both the runner-up and fifth home scoring since.
Hermino AA has Freddie Mitchell aboard again claiming 5lb for Gary & Josh Moore. Gwennie May Boy notched up a sequence in the spring including on sharp tracks like Bangor and Aintree, so could find Windsor to his tastes for Team Skelton. If Minella Missile hadn’t had such a lengthy lay-off, then Evan Williams’ runner would be a big danger, but he will surely need this.
The yard also has veteran Dans Le Vent lower in the weights, but again nudged up a couple of lbs for placing. In Excelsis Deo, Push The Button, Deep Cave and Samuel Spade are all in the difficult to catch right pile. Jipcot goes up in trip again, but has an 8lb hike for his ready Newbury success.
3:05 – 2m 6f Class 2 Fleur De Lys Chase
A key piece of form for this is the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon where Djelo defeated Protektorat. The latter meets Venetia Williams’ horse off 4lb better terms and with over a quarter of a mile further distance wise to reel him in. This is a step into the unknown stamina wise for Djelo, but Protektorat stays this trip and finished second in this race when held at Lingfield 12 months ago.
Ahoy Senor makes the lengthy trip down from Scotland, while Journey With Me crosses the Irish Sea. Both are tricky to catch on a going day. The O’Neill family have ex-Willie Mullins dark horse Indiana Dream making his British bow here, meanwhile. Like Le Patron and Tommie Beau, he is some way short of the market principals on ratings.
3:40 – 3m 4.5f Class 3 Stayers Handicap Chase (0-125)
Another trappy-looking race at the Berkshire Winter Million, but MINELLA BLUEWAY stayed on into second over 3m here in December and now goes up in trip beyond that for the first time. Evan Williams’ seven-year-old has often shaped like greater tests of stamina such as this will suit him. Minella Blueway is up just 2lb for last month’s runner-up effort.
First-time cheekpieces could help Aintree Boxing Day scorer Fortunate Man eke more improvement off a 5lb higher mark for the O’Neill family and McManus, meanwhile. Last year’s placed horses in the Surrey National from Lingfield, Animal and Not Sure, could go well again.
Stepping bottom weight Planned Paradise back up in trip should suit Christian Williams’ runner. Zertakt could also have more to offer over longer distances with his German breeding for Venetia Williams. Topweight Art Decco is a regular in these staying handicap chases, but doesn’t exactly look chucked in carrying 12st 2lb and up 5lb for defeat around Exeter.
Nicholls continues his experimentation with hunter chase Regatta De Blanc with the mare now up markedly in trip. Charles Byrnes brings From The Ashes over from Ireland, but it’s difficult to make much of a case for him on current form. Just Over Land is the youngest in the line-up for Sam Thomas and Dylan Johnston, but he hasn’t shown much so far.
4:10 – 2m Class 2 Berkshire Winter Million Open National Hunt Flat Race
Supreme Malinas still receives 7lb from the geldings carrying a penalty. Just a short-head separated her and re-opposing rival Idaho Sun around Newton Abbot previously; so, off the same terms, the mare doesn’t have much to find to improve past Harry Fry’s horse. Convincing Chepstow winner Sinnatra and Southwell scorer One Knight should go well again.
Amateur jockey David Maxwell also has a potentially useful horse in easy Newbury victor El Cairos. Ben Pauling’s Legal Weapon only just did enough to land the spoils at Warwick, so must step up on that. Ralph Beckett runs four-year-old Gnomon on an easier track and receives weight all-round after struggling with Cheltenham.
