© Photo Healy Racing
A strong list of entries have been put forward for the first Jumps fixture at Windsor for over 20 years on Sunday.
The Fitzdares-sponsored seven-race card offers over £100,000 in prize money and has attracted support from leading trainers, including Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton.
There have been 171 horses entered for the meeting, which will be the first National Hunt fixture held at the track for two decades and takes place following an educational gallops morning there last month.
Clerk of the course Charlie Rees said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the number of entries and thank all of the owners and trainers that are supporting the return of jumps racing at Windsor.
“Like most of the UK, we suffered the storm over the weekend and that dropped nine millimetres of rain, which has left us soft, good to soft in places.
“However, it’s a more settled week this week, with calmer weather and it looks to be a dry week, so hopefully the ground may dry slightly.
“There’s a huge bunch of trainers in the south with entries but we’re also delighted to see the likes of Christian Williams and Sam Thomas enter horses from Wales. We’re really looking forward to it.”
He added: “Following the feedback after our gallops morning in November, we have been able to make a few amendments to the lay-out of the course. Specifically, the top bend beyond the winning post will now be shared by both hurdlers and chasers.
“Also, the chase fences down the home straight have been moved to the far side of the track to offer horses racing on that course a more sweeping bend out of the dog-leg turn.
“These moves on the chase course have resulted in some minor distance amendments to those previously advertised, whist the hurdles course remains unaltered.”
Henderson, who has 10 horses entered, said: “It’s great to be back and it’s a great incentive. It’s going to be different because it’s not going to be the traditional figure of eight.
“The back-straight will be lovely, and a bit like going down the back at Newbury. It’s an exciting and welcome new addition for racing.”
