Many will know that Windsor was known for not only flat racing but the home of Monday Night Racing through the Spring and Summer months, but in the middle of December it opened its doors for National Hunt horses for the first time in 20 years!
The Berkshire track saw support from some top trainers with the likes of Nicky Henderson, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Venita Williams and Alan King having runners on the opening fixture. The figure of eight course welcomes the ITV crew for the first time when they stage some top quality racing on Friday 17th January 2025.
We are going to preview the first of them, 1.50pm Fitzdares Lightning Novice Chase which is a Grade 2 event. Heading the entries is L’Eau du Sud trained by Dan Skelton. This 7yo gelding is progressing nicely winning 3/3 since tackling the larger obstacles, first of all winning a handicap at Stratford before taking a Grade 2 Novice at Cheltenham and more recently a Grade 1 at Sandown at the beginning of December. He looks likely to continue racing over the minimum trip of two miles and his long term targets will be Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in the spring. He is currently 18/1 for the Arkle with gambling sites that accept credit cards.
Another noticeable entry for this race is the Paul Nicholls trained Caldwell Potter who has the same connections as L’Eau du Sud so it will be interesting to see if they run two in the same race. Caldwell Potter is also a 7yo who was an expensive purchase being brought out of the Gordon Elliott stable. A Grade 1 Novice Hurdler last season this gelding looked a top quality Novice Chase prospect for this season, he won his first outing at Carlisle before a somewhat disappointing 3rd of five horses stepped up in class at Cheltenham in December. The second of that race Springwell Boy went back and won a Grade 3 handicap on New Year’s Day so it may turn out to be not as bad of a performance from the Nicholls horse as first thought.
Other noticeable entries are You Wear it Well for Jamie Snowden and Gilleigh Park for Harry Fry who was pulled up last time out as if something was amiss. Connections had high hopes for this gelding after winning a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle in January 2024 but after coming 6th in the Albert Bartlet at Cheltenham we didn’t see him due to injury. If we put a line through his debut over fences this is a horse to keep an eye on this season.
Current Betting:
Non UK Casinos: L’Eau du Sud 4/6, Caldwell Potter 5/2, You Wear it Well 7/1, Gidleigh Park 15/2 and 8/1 bar.
No Verification Gambling Sites: L’Eau du Sud 8/13, Caldwell Potter 11/4, You Wear it Well 7/1, Gidleigh Park 15/2 and 8/1 bar.
US Betting Sites: L’Eau du Sud 8/13, Caldwell Potter 12/5, You Wear it Well 8/1, Gidleigh Park 15/2 and 8/1 bar.
If you’re watching at home or going for a day out we wish you the best of luck and please remember to gamble responsibly.
