The winter Meeting will feature a competitive eight-race National Hunt programme at Windsor Racecourse on Sunday, 18 January with total prize money exceeding £400,000, adding depth and importance to the fixture. Racing will run from 12:20pm to 4:05pm, combining novice hurdles, graded steeple chases and demanding staying handicaps across the afternoon.
The card will open at 12:20pm with the TDJ Williams Waste Limited Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2) over two miles, offering prize money of £37,500. Anariza, Lau And Shaz, Getawhisky and Hornica are among the six runners expected to contest the opener, providing an early test for progressive mares.
At 12:50pm, the Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) will follow over two miles and four furlongs, with £20,000 on offer. A field of ten is set to line up, including Top Jimmy, Scorpio Rising, Lisbane Park and Harry Lowes, in a race likely to reward improving novice hurdlers stepping into handicap company.
The first major highlight will arrive at 1:20pm with the Hampton Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 2) over three miles and 60 yards. Carrying prize money of £50,000, the six-runner contest is expected to feature Salver, Wade Out, Doyen Quest and Jeriko du Reponet, serving as an important staying novice test for the season ahead.
At 1:50pm, attention will turn to the Great Park Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) over two miles and 37 yards, also worth £50,000. Nells Son, Mirabad, Sans Bruit and Mighty Bandit are among the eight runners expected, with accurate jumping and tactical speed likely to be decisive.
Stamina will be central to the Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) at 2:25pm, run over three miles for prize money of £65,000. A maximum field of fifteen is expected, led by Botox Has, Captain Teague, Lud’or and Nab Wood making this one of the most competitive races on the card.
The afternoon’s richest contest will follow at 3:00pm with the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Steeple Chase (Class 2) over two miles, six furlongs and 50 yards. With £165,000 in prize money, the six-runner race is set to feature Handstands, Matata, Resplendent Grey and Eldorado Allen, bringing proven chasers together in a high-quality conditions event.
At 3:35pm, the Fitzdares Personal Service Stayers’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 3) will test endurance over three miles, four furlongs and 162 yards, with £30,000 on offer. Holokea, Yes Day, Jupiter des Bordes and Hudson de Grugy are among the sixteen runners expected in a searching late-afternoon contest.
The programme will conclude at 4:05pm with the Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 2) over two miles. Worth £40,000, the bumper is set to include Canty’s Cove, Old Clayesmorian and Eustace Grenier, Lil Fortune providing a closing stage for emerging talent.
With strong prize money across all levels, the Windsor Race Cards 18 January will present a well-balanced Sunday fixture that blends development opportunities with established staying races, underlining Windsor’s role on the mid-winter National Hunt calendar.
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