The Windsor Castle Stakes is a Listed flat race in open to two-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 5 furlongs and was first run in 1839. Fillies won the race five times in a row from 1996 to 2000 but only one has been placed in the last ten years. I’ve looked through the runners and their Royal Ascot odds ahead of this final race of the day on Wednesday to give my tips below.
Action Point
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Enjoyed a spin over this course and distance and finished runner-up to the re-opposing Maximum Impact. He made a successful winning debut over this minimum trip at Kempton back in April and the form has been franked since. The trainer has a decent record at this meeting and Hollie Doyle is a major asset as she knows this horse so well. Not without a chance in a wide-open contest.
Alabama
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Seems to have a mountain to climb based on what we have seen from his two starts at the Curragh and at Cork. It would take a serious amount of improvement to see him get involved despite his lofty connections. He is also unproven at this five-furlong trip.
Barnwell Boy
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Made the perfect start to his career when making all at Goodwood on his debut last month. The form of the race has been franked by the runner-up since so his four-and-a-half-length win looks even better now. Oisin Murphy has retained the ride on this son of Starspangledbanner and they have to be high on any shortlist.
Big Evs
Trainer: Michael Appleby
Jockey: Jason Hart
Has form to find with Hala Emaraaty who beat him by half a length on debut at Redcar last month. Fully entitled to improve for that experience, but history suggests that you need to have at least won one race to take this. Could surprise but unlikely to.
Bombay Bazaar
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Oisin Orr
Has won his last two races at Beverley in good fashion and beat the re-opposing Fusterlandia quite comfortably. Richard Fahey often has his juveniles in good form for this meeting so foolish to dismiss. He looks to be one of the more consistent types in the field, so he commands respect.
Fandom
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr
Found six furlongs too far here yesterday and is unlikely to line up here again today. He won as he liked on their debut at Keeneland. This looks like a big ask given his exertions yesterday and he could not be recommended on that basis.
Fusterlandia
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Still a maiden after two starts and was a disappointing favourite when beaten by the re-opposing Bombay Bazaar at Beverley last time. Others look more unexposed and are preferred. The Hannons usually have such good juveniles but this race has evaded them. Fusterlandia looks to have a lot on his plate here.
Ganesha
Trainer: Phillip Makin
Jockey: Rowan Scott
Made the perfect start to his career by winning on debut at Hamilton just a few weeks ago. The form of the race has been given a nice boost by the fifth-placed Professor Tickle who won next time out at Brighton. If he was based with the likes of Aidan O’Brien or Charlie Appleby, he would be a much smaller price. He could well give a good account at big odds.
Hackman
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: James Doyle
Hackman was beaten six lengths in a listed race last time out suggesting that this is a good bit above his pay grade. Prior to that, he won at Chester and regular pilot James Doyle is back on board. He is starting to look exposed now and there should be others who can improve past him.
Hala Emaraaty
Trainer: Alice Haynes
Jockey: Kieren O’Neill
Is two from two at this trip and has done nothing wrong. This is a major leap in grade though and he would have to run the race of his life to get involved. It is not impossible that he could improve further and the ground will certainly suit. He is only this price as he hails from an unfashionable yard and he could well surprise a few.
Inquisitively
Trainer: Oliver Sangster
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Found only Chief Mankato too strong on his debut at Windsor just a few weeks ago. Interestingly there has been a bit of money about for him in the last few days so connections are clearly hopeful of a big run. Again history suggests you usually need to have at least won a race to even be considered a contender for this race and on that basis, he is passed over but he will still improve for his debut.
Johannes Brahms
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Justified favouritism when landing the odds at Naas on debut last month. The form of the race has been let down on a few occasions but Aidan O’Brien has won this race three times in the last decade, so he knows exactly what type of horse it takes to win this. Unlikely to be too far away on that basis.
Lieutenant Rascal
Trainer: George Scott
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
Completely exposed and still a maiden after three starts. Looks well out of his depth.
Magnificent Match
Trainer: Richard Eddery
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
An unraced maiden who is thrown in at the deep end by his trainer. Unlikely to know what to do on their racecourse debut for a trainer who struggles at the best of times. Easily passed over.
Maximum Impact
Trainer: Alice Haynes
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Showed a liking for this course when successful at the trip when last seen out at the beginning of May. He got the better of the re-opposing Action Point on that occasion and looks to be a colt with a serious future. There is no denying that previous course and distance-winning experience is a powerful asset to have on your side in a race like this and he should be involved in the finish.
Mayo Neighs
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Rob Hornby
The form of his win at Bath has been franked subsequently by Dapperling who won over a furlong further at the same venue next time out. The yard is in red hot form at the moment though and has sent out no fewer than thirteen winners inside the last month. He is still open to any amount of improvement and a big run could well be on the cards.
Muqtahem
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Will Buick
Improved for the step up to six furlongs at Pontefract last time having finished third on debut at Hamilton back just a week earlier. The return to five furlongs is somewhat off-putting. Despite the positive jockey booking of Will Buick, this is another rise in grade and he will need to improve again.
Myconian
Trainer: Amy Murphy
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Has shown nothing since winning on debut at Saint-Cloud back in March. Looking more than exposed now and looks to have no chance against the best of these rivals.
Scoops Ahoy
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Jason Watson
Has progressed with each run and finally got off the mark at the third attempt last time out. He got up to beat Riverview Lane at Hamilton Park just last week, but this is a massive step up in class. Others look less exposed and seem to have better chances.
Sergeant Wilko
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Tom Eaves
Kevin Ryan has been in blistering form of late so no surprise to see Sergeant Wilko in the winner’s enclosure at Thirsk last time out. The form of the race has worked out very well with the likes of Bombay Bazaar and Arc Shadowfax boosting the form on multiple occasions since. The only negative is that he has been away from the track for a couple of months but he should be able to still make his presence felt.
Seven Questions
Trainer: George Scott
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
A maiden after two starts and although he went close at Yarmouth last time he was still a disappointing favourite. Perhaps he needs further than this now and it would be surprising if he were to go close. Easier races will come his way in time.
Sir Bolton
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench-Davis
Jockey: David Egan
Won on debut in soft ground at Yarmouth back in April. The form of the race has disappointingly not worked out so far and this looks a step too far in all honesty. Others preferred.
Supersonic Man
Trainer: Jessie Harrington
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Won on his most recent start at Tipperary when beating Tiger Belle by just over a length. Ronan Whelan replaces Shane Foley in the saddle which is somewhat disappointing as the pair had built up an exciting partnership. As with any horse that Jessie Harrington brings over to the UK, he commands respect and is open to further improvement.
Two Tribes
Trainer: Richard Spencer
Jockey: Hayley Turner
Still a maiden after two starts and ought to find this far too competitive. The booking of Hayley Turner looks the only positive for this chestnut colt and he looks to be in for a rough race.
Up the Manor
Trainer: J Jones
Jockey: Colin Keane
Won on debut at Doncaster seeing off the attentions of Sankari by a length. To date, the form is nothing special but the booking of Colin Keane is notable. He bids to emulate his sire who won this very race back in 2018 for Archie Watson. Hard to see him getting involved but if genetics are anything to go by he will have an alternative opinion.
World of Darcy
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Was beaten by Elite Status by five lengths in a listed race at Sandown racecourse last time having previously won on debut at Pontefract. The form of the Sandown race was boosted yesterday following the good run of his previous conqueror. There could well be more to come and impossible to ignore.
Windsor Castle Stakes Betting Tips
Bombay Bazaar looks sure to run a big race here for an in-form Richard Fahey team. He seems to be tough and consistent and being drawn in the middle of the track, his jockey will judge which is the better side to go down.
Barnwell Boy was impressive last time out at Goodwood but the Johnston horses historically run well there. He should still run a big race here. Sergeant Wilko represents another in form yard and has done nothing wrong in two previous starts and he completes the shortlist.
1. Bombay Bazaar e/w @ 10/1 with Paddy Power promo code
2. Barnwell Boy @ 10/3 with Betfair promo code
3. Sergeant Wilko @ 18/1 with William Hill promo code
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
