Windsor latest reports and reaction on day three of Berkshire Winter Million

Salver shows class in Hampton

Salver enhanced his position to become the new flag-bearer at the yard of Gary and Josh Moore after getting his career back on track in the rearranged LSL Racing Auctions Hampton Novices’ Chase.

Just hours after the pair retired the admirable Goshen, the father-and-son team celebrated another success with the progressive six-year-old who bagged a second Grade Two win in the three-mile contest, which was saved from the card that fell victim to the weather at Warwick last Saturday.

Victory could have gone the way of any one of the five runners given the changing fortunes of the race, which saw the majority of the field take turns at leading the £50,000 contest.

Much of the early work was cut out by Doyen Quest, who was bidding for a third win over fences, alongside Moon Rocket, before the eventual winner, sporting first time cheekpieces, took the field out onto their final circuit.

Laurens Bay was the next to try and take command after briefly moving up close to the leaders midway through the final circuit but his attempts amounted to very little, before Wade Out, who for large parts of the race was off the bridle, joined the party four out.

But it was to be Doyen Quest and Salver, who finished fourth in the Grade One Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, that would fight out the finish. And after jumping the last three fences, there was little to separate the pair before they locked horns to slug it out up the run-in.

It was at that point Salver took command of matters under Caoilin Quinn, with the 7/5 favourite pulling out plenty close home to score by four and a quarter lengths and add to his victory at the same level in the Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase.

Gary Moore said: “The surface was perfect. He has done well to win the horse as it has been a rush job to come here. It just proved what a big-hearted horse he is. He is very genuine and he tries hard. I’m not knocking Windsor, but I don’t think he suited the track. He was out the back then up making the running, I thought what is he doing as he is a hold-up horse really.

"He has had three runs in the race and he has still won so fair play to him. It was the ground at Kempton Park which beat him last time as he likes to get his toe in. I shouldn’t have run him at Kempton Park. I just felt he raced behind the bridle at Kempton so I just put the cheekpieces on, he just races lazily."

Although Salver was trimmed into 25/1 from 40/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, connections hinted he would only appear at the Cheltenham Festival if conditions were suitable.

Moore added: “There will be a few people that will want him to go to Cheltenham, but he won’t go there unless it is soft ground, or good to soft at the best, but it can turn overnight that place so you never know."

Drinks are on the Skeltons!

Dan and Harry Skelton, who also won the feature Fleur De Lys Chase for the second year courtesy of stable star Protektorat, enjoyed a double elsewhere on the card and six winners on the day in total thanks to a Fakenham treble.

Getawhisky kept the ball rolling after making amends for a fall last time out when proving a cut above her rivals in the TDJ Williams Waste Limited Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Windsor.

The daughter of Getaway looked like giving odds-on favourite Doctor Blue plenty to think about on her last start at Ascot before taking a tumble at three out, however there was no such drama on this occasion for the six-year-old mare.

Always travelling well in the hands of Harry Skelton the 13/8 favourite breezed into the lead in the two mile prize approaching the last before running on well to defeat Hornica by three and a quarter lengths.

Tom Messenger, assistant trainer, said: “It was a bit speculative to say she would have won at Ascot as there was still a way to go, but she was still going very well.

"Harry said that did her a good bit of confidence today. He said he could feel early on in the race it took a bit of warming into it as she was just thinking about it (the last day) a little bit, as some fillies do, but it was brilliant really and a good confidence booster for her.

“She will get further and she is probably a progressive filly. There are no exciting plans, but we will see where we end up. If you are looking for improvement when stepping her in grade you might go further with her. She would get away with two miles at a lower grade, but if you are stepping her up in class you are probably going to have a look at going a bit further."

Stable companion St James's Finest opened his account in the Dave Marley RIP You Legend Open NH Flat Race in near-darkness at odds of 12/1.

The gelded son of Jukebox Jury completed a treble for the brothers as he built on a solid fourth at Chepstow 58 days ago with victory in the £40,000 contest.

Messenger said: “The first winner today, Getawhisky, made Harry and Dan the winning-most jockey and trainer combination over jumps, beating Richard Johnson and Philip Hobbs which is a fantastic achievement.

"We’ve had thirty-seven runners out over the past three days. Logistically, that takes a bit of organising, but we have got a good team and these results today are a testament of their hard work in keeping the show on the road.”

As for St James’s Finest he added: “He was overpriced this morning, but it was a warm race. We’ve always liked the horse. He ran very well at Chepstow and I thought today a long straight would suit. He has obviously come forward for that first run and it was not a surprise.

“There is no rush with him. I wouldn’t think he is a Champion Bumper horse, but I think he might run in something better than just going again under a penalty."

Legacy digs deep for win

Highlands Legacy gained compensation for a couple of near-misses to move closer to an outing at one of the spring festivals when toughing it out in the Fitzdares Extra Places Every Day Great Park Handicap Chase.

Since making a winning debut over fences at Worcester, the lightly-raced seven-year-old has since occupied the runner-up berth at Aintree, when chasing home subsequent Grade Two winner Mambonumberfive, and last time out at Newbury.

But after showing a more than willing resolve, the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Kayf Tara gelding rewarded favourite-backers when getting the better of Torneo close home in the two mile contest to score by a head.

Jonjo O’Neill said of the 11/8 favourite: “He is a tough little horse. He is a fun horse and he is doing his bit as he is going along.

"They are in good form at the moment and that is the main thing. It was a good run at Newbury and his race at Aintree was good, and that has worked out well. He has done well.”

Although William Hill made Highlands Legacy a 14/1 chance for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, O’Neill outlined that a return to Aintree in April could be a more suitable target.

He added: “I hope we can get into a nice race in the spring off a low weight. He would need to improve though as he is kind of at his limits.

“You could look at the Red Rum (at Aintree) hopefully further down the road. You would probably be targeting that, but I would have to ask AJ!"

Rising up to the task under Bowen

Olly Murphy enjoyed a change of fortune at the Berkshire track after Scorpio Rising completed a hat-trick of wins for the season with victory in the Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Arriving on the back of wins at Perth and Lingfield the Jukebox Jury gelding added to those successes when coming with a well timed late run under champion jockey Sean Bowen to clinch victory in the two and a half mile test.

In a race few truly got into, the 3/1 chance joined long-time leader Top Jimmy over the last before pulling out plenty up the run-in to score by a length and three quarters much to the delight of Murphy, who endured several near misses at the track on Friday.

Murphy said: “He is a big improver and he is only going to carry on improving. It was a good performance and it hasn’t surprised me in the slightest. He is a nice horse.

“He is a very unassuming horse as he has taken a bit of time to come to himself. He was still novicey out there. He jumped fine without jumping exceptionally well. I think he will improve plenty.

“It is nice to get a winner on a weekend like this as we hit the crossbar a few times on Friday. I don’t know if we will get up to a type of mark for a Cheltenham Festival handicap. He could be made for an EBF Final."

War makes all the running

Nico de Boinville came in for plenty of plaudits after giving Go To War an enterprising ride from the front to secure victory in the Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle.

Although out of form in two starts over fences this season the eight-year-old showed that the fire still burns bright when making a successful switch back to the smaller obstacles. And despite being momentarily headed after the last in the three mile test the 20/1 chance rallied back in game fashion to edge out Doughmore Bay by half a length.

Henderson said: “I think Nico enjoyed that and I enjoyed it too. He was just happier seeing what was going on out in front. That was really encouraging.

"He had been chasing and he wasn’t enjoying it and I think we know why now as he loved that. I got him all wrong so far, but luckily we have been reprieved.

"He really enjoyed that and he was jumping with his ears pricked. Fair play as it was a great ride too. He has come down in the weights, not intentionally. I’m thrilled for Grant (Leon, owner) as it has taken a bit of time to get the hang of him, but that was great."

Patient approach pays off for Jones

Evan Williams ticked off training a winner at every current jumps track in operation in Britain after Neo King stayed on best of them all to land the Fitzdares Personal Betting Service Stayers Handicap Chase.

Having been touched off in the Southern National at Fontwell before finishing sixth last time out in the Borders National at Kelso the gelded son of Coastal Path enjoyed his moment centre stage under an inspired ride from Ben Jones.

The extended three and a half mile test appeared to be going the way of fellow Welsh handler Mickey Bowen after Holokea had fought off the attentions of Havaila, who was making his first start in 273 days.

But as the line loomed large the 16/1 chance, sporting first time cheekpieces, came with a good head of steam to get up in the dying strides before going on to score by a length and a half.

Williams said: “He has run very well in defeat. It just came right today as it sometimes happens with these stayers. He ran very well at Kelso last time. He was in the same position today, but it just panned out better for him.

“I was never confident as you can never be confident with him. They just got racing early didn’t they and that probably helped us. The way the race panned out was fortuitous to us.

"I would say the Midlands Grand National, and those types of races are for him, as it would be silly not to go for them. We will keep taking a punt and keep trying to scrape in."

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