History will be made this Sunday in Berkshire as National Hunt racing returns to Windsor racecourse for the first time since 2005.
A total of 56 horses have been declared from stables including the likes of Nicky Henderson, Dan Skelton and Ben Pauling on a card where there are two Class 3 Handicap Chases which catch the eye, both worth over £20,000.
Helnwein will attempt to go one better on his second start over fences in the Fitzdares Royal Windsor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at 12:45pm. The Alan King-trained 6yo was above average as a Novice Hurdler, winning the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown and could have a bright future over fences ahead of him.
Later on the card, the Christian Williams veteran Cap Du Nord is back down to his last winning mark and heads a field of six in the Fitzdares Thames Handicap Chase which will be run over 3m at 1:55pm.
Charlie Moore, ARC’s head of group racing, said: “The level of support has been fantastic and it’s been great hearing trainers planning for the Berkshire Winter Million meeting. We are all really looking forward to racing on Sunday and welcoming back our colleagues from the jump racing world. Our thanks, of course, also go to Fitzdares for their sponsorship and support ahead of Sunday and for Royal Windsor generally.”
After a racecourse gallops morning was held recently, officials have taken onboard feedback from jockeys and trainers who attended including the likes of Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
He added: “Everybody was very happy with the course and on the feedback from the jockeys, we’ve agreed to race on common bends. Everyone will go round the top bend off the winning post and the bottom bend before they come back past the marina.”
The action will kick off at 12:40pm with the ‘Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back @ Royal Windsor EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle’ set to be run over 2m4f. Racing will conclude at 3:40pm with The Fitzdares Windsor Christmas Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f. The going is currently described as Good To Soft (Soft In Places).
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.