After a quieter few weeks thanks to the weather, it’s great to be heading into an action-packed weekend of racing, writes HARRY SKELTON.

With busy days across Windsor and Ascot, and Windsor again, the Berkshire Winter Million Festival brings strong prize money and plenty of entries, giving us several live chances to look forward to.

WINDSOR

FRIDAY

MONEYGARROW – 12.40pm Windsor

I kick things off with Moneygarrow, who did it well last time out at Warwick. We’re stepping him up to three miles, which I don’t think will cause him any problems. He’s clearly got some nice form in the book and comes into the race in good form. I think the ground is going to be pretty testing, but he should be fine on that. He’s got a good attitude, stays well, and although he’s got a few pounds to find with Olly Murphy’s horse [They Call Me Hugo], he should be bang there with every chance.

BE AWARE – 1.50pm Windsor

He looks to have a good chance in the Lightning Novices’ Chase. He’s in top form coming into this and I think the track at Windsor will suit. He’s another who will go on the ground. If he runs as he has been doing, he should take a lot of beating.

TAKE NO CHANCES & ROYAL INFANTRY – 3.00pm Windsor

We run two in the Conditions Hurdle. I ride Take No Chances, who looks to have a favourable chance here at the weights. I think she’ll handle the ground here with no problem. She stays well, so two-and-a-half miles is a good trip for her. She’s a very versatile filly in good form, so hopefully she’ll be there with every chance. Nemean Lion is probably the one she has to beat.

We also run Royal Infantry, who we’re taking back over hurdles, as we feel it’s best to keep him a novice over fences next year. He should handle the ground and the trip should be fine. He’s got a bit to find on the figures but got some good form. Towards the back end of last year he ran well at Perth and ran very well in the Silver Trophy, so if he brings his best form to the race, he’s got a chance of picking up some good money.

LIVE CONTI, GREAT FLEET, KNICKERBOCKERGLORY & LISTENTOYOURHEART – 3.35pm Windsor

We’re mob-handed in the big handicap hurdle over two miles and I ride Live Conti. He was rather keen last time out at Ascot, so he’ll need to settle a bit better here. We’ve put the hood on him this time. I think his run at Ascot has done him the world of good. It’s going to be hard to win carrying 12 stone, but he’s a bit of a work in progress going into the spring. He’s got Grade 1 form and hopefully we’ll see an improvement from his run at Ascot.

We also run Great Fleet, who’s been running really well. He didn’t quite stay over two miles five furlongs at Cheltenham, but he did run well over three miles behind Conman John the time before. Most recently there was a good opportunity to get his head in front at Kelso in a handicap. This is a different ball game but dropping him back to two miles should suit given the way he travels. Although his form is a bit of a mixed bag, he has a nice racing weight, so hopefully he’s in with a good chance.

We’ve also decided to run Knickerbockerglory. Harry Atkins takes seven pounds off, which puts him right in with a chance, being only a pound above his last winning mark. He ran in this race last year, when it was probably a deeper contest than it is this year. He loves the ground and has acted well on the track before, which means he could be bang there with every chance.

Listentoyourheart got the job done a couple of weeks ago in a valuable handicap, which was probably her big day, but with plenty of money in this race we’ll roll the dice again. Heidi Palin takes seven pounds off her, which gives her a chance. She wouldn’t want the ground to go really testing, but hopefully she’ll run like she did last time – you certainly can’t write her off.

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