Today on Sky Sports Racing: Classy Windsor card kicks off Berkshire Winter Million | Race News
Wilful, Great Fleet and Listentoyourheart collide in Windsor as Berkshire Winter Million Festival gets underway – live Sky Sports Racing.
3.35 Windsor – Wilful, Great Fleet and Listentoyourheart is a key competition for Sovereign
A highly competitive field of 16 heads to be sent to Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdlewith The Great Fleet again listen to your heart who may be fighting for the Skelton team.
The last horse scored over two miles and four furlongs here on New Year’s Day and is to be feared as he drops back to two miles with Heidi Palin looking for a useful 7lb. He has recorded four wins from nine starts and looks like a horse with a lot to offer.
Stablemate Great Fleet broke his maiden with an approved success at Kelso last month and rated an interesting runner, starting with a handicap from 126 marks.
On purpose took a significant handicap hurdle at Ascot before Christmas and given way to that success he is one to approach from his 7lb top mark.
Go Dante again Live Conti complete a long shortlist, with the latter aiming to bounce back from a disappointing run at Ascot on the final day.
3.00 Windsor – The Nemean Lion looks set to bounce back
Another important award recognizes the winner of the previous year Nemean Lion want to follow this Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Hurdle.
Kerry Lee’s star stable produced a great effort to see Salver in action last season and he earned it with a career-best third when added to the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. The contacts report that he has a dirty life, and he will like to enter again.
The Potters Charm rated the biggest threat in the yard of Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies. Weighted 2lb below the top horse, he is yet to win at three starts this winter but should appreciate the drop in distance by failing to see three miles last time out.
Dan Skelton’s Don’t Take Chances It’s worth mentioning, as you finished a creditable third behind Impose Toi at Newbury. That piece of form could give her a leading claim in these terms and the mare has played in the Winter Million weekend before, after turning the odds on favorite Kargese on Clarence House day last term.
1.50 Windsor – Be Careful and No Questions Asked Lock horns
Awesome update for Grade 2 Lightning rush for beginners in Windsor sees the Beware and No Questions Asked title of five runners.
Be careful went well to the wire, winning a handicap at Stratford before finishing second at Cheltenham and chasing the Grade 1 Lulamba Henry VIII at Sandown. He should find this more to his liking and it may be difficult to get through.
Dan Skelton’s Be Aware returns to work on Friday
Ben Pauling-trained No Questions Asked he is one who has shown a strong stance over fences. A winner at first, he followed Wendigo home over this distance at Newbury but failed to fire when favorite at Ascot. That gives him little evidence as he drops back down to two miles.
Double winner Olly Murphy Alnilam he must bear the penalty, while Hansard cannot be discounted based on his excellent second at Kempton at Christmas.
The best of the rest
And in Windsor, Moneygarrow again They call me Hugo looks set to fight an exciting renewal of the Thorn Plant Hire Novices’ Hurdle at 12.40pm. The last horse, trained by Olly Murphy, was only beaten a neck by Grade 2 Carlenrig in December and managed to win it all.
After seeing the well-loved Moon Rocket for the last time, Gamers Guy will be popular in Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at 1.15pm, but will face a challenge in terms of The King of Answers again Watch the Moon.
The Sam Thomas yard has had an excellent season so far and will be aiming to improve its fortunes when Alfie’s Princess is sent in as a replacement. Fitzdares Telephone And Text Betting Service Mares’ Handicap Chase at 2.25pm, alongside the likes of Bluey again Largy Force.
Newcastle, Mollie Foster again Bela Sonata feature title in the Class 2 BetMGM AWC Fillies & Mares Trial Fillies’ Handicap (1.40pm) earlier Blazeon Five again Duke of Oxford go to field 12 for the Midnite AWC Marathon Trial Handicap (2.15pm).
The formidable combination of Tom Marquand and William Haggas met and about Time Loop at 2.50pm Midnite AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap before Pocklington face The Berkshire Whisper of Midnight AWC Sprint Trial Handicap (3.20pm).
