{"id":698405,"date":"2026-01-15T20:35:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698405\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T20:35:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T20:35:19","slug":"windsor-friday-football-racing-news-star-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/698405\/","title":{"rendered":"Windsor Friday \u2013 Football & Racing News \u2013 Star Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t \"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

After a quieter few weeks thanks to the weather,<\/strong> it\u2019s great to be heading into an action-packed weekend of racing, writes HARRY SKELTON.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

WINDSOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

FRIDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

MONEYGARROW<\/strong> \u2013 12.40pm Windsor<\/p>\n

I kick things off with Moneygarrow, who did it well last time out at Warwick. We\u2019re stepping him up to three miles, which I don\u2019t think will cause him any problems. He\u2019s 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\u2019s got a good attitude, stays well, and although he\u2019s got a few pounds to find with Olly Murphy\u2019s horse [They Call Me Hugo], he should be bang there with every chance.<\/p>\n

BE AWARE<\/strong> \u2013 1.50pm Windsor<\/p>\n

He looks to have a good chance in the Lightning Novices\u2019 Chase. He\u2019s in top form coming into this and I think the track at Windsor will suit. He\u2019s another who will go on the ground. If he runs as he has been doing, he should take a lot of beating.<\/p>\n

TAKE NO CHANCES & ROYAL INFANTRY<\/strong> \u2013 3.00pm Windsor<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll handle the ground here with no problem. She stays well, so two-and-a-half miles is a good trip for her. She\u2019s a very versatile filly in good form, so hopefully she\u2019ll be there with every chance. Nemean Lion is probably the one she has to beat.<\/p>\n

We also run Royal Infantry, who we\u2019re taking back over hurdles, as we feel it\u2019s best to keep him a novice over fences next year. He should handle the ground and the trip should be fine. He\u2019s 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\u2019s got a chance of picking up some good money.<\/p>\n

LIVE CONTI, GREAT FLEET, KNICKERBOCKERGLORY & LISTENTOYOURHEART<\/strong> \u2013 3.35pm Windsor<\/p>\n

We\u2019re 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\u2019ll need to settle a bit better here. We\u2019ve put the hood on him this time. I think his run at Ascot has done him the world of good. It\u2019s going to be hard to win carrying 12 stone, but he\u2019s a bit of a work in progress going into the spring. He\u2019s got Grade 1 form and hopefully we\u2019ll see an improvement from his run at Ascot.<\/p>\n

We also run Great Fleet, who\u2019s been running really well. He didn\u2019t 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\u2019s in with a good chance.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll roll the dice again. Heidi Palin takes seven pounds off her, which gives her a chance. She wouldn\u2019t want the ground to go really testing, but hopefully she\u2019ll run like she did last time \u2013 you certainly can\u2019t write her off.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

STAR PROMOTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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