Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Live chances on a competitive day at Windsor

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies gives updates on key horses and previews his rides on Friday at Windsor.

The Berkshire Winter Million is an exciting addition to the racing calendar, and I’m excited to be part of it as we kick things off at Windsor on Friday. Returning to Windsor for the last meet was a refreshing change, and it’s fantastic to see this historic venue hosting again this weekend, with action on both Friday and Sunday.

What really sets this event apart is the exceptional prize money on offer across all three days at Windsor and Ascot. Not only does it attract top talent but also guarantees highly competitive racing, which is exactly what the sport thrives on.

The recent spate of weather-related cancellations has created a backlog of runners, meaning the competition is even stronger than usual. For spectators, that leads to some thrilling races without a single ‘easy’ run in sight.

Windsor, Friday

I’m kicking things off at Windsor with Dameofthecotswolds (12.40pm) in the opener, a competitive five-runner novices’ hurdle. The step up to three miles is exactly what she needs and should play to her strengths. She’s been incredibly consistent this season, finishing in the top two every time out, with three wins and two seconds to her name. That level of form speaks for itself, and with limited options available for her recently, this race feels like a perfect fit—especially with such valuable prize money on offer.

This is the first of four rides I have over the weekend that I’d call a live chance, and I’m feeling optimistic about her prospects. If she performs like she has been, she’s going to give us every reason to be confident.

My next ride is Kyntara (1:15pm), who put in a solid performance on his return last time out after 250 days off the track. I was particularly impressed with his jumping—he found a nice rhythm and travelled strongly throughout. That first run back was likely needed to sharpen him up, and there were plenty of positives to take away from it.

He’s a versatile horse, so I’m not concerned about the ground, whatever the conditions. The aim will be to recapture the winning form he showed during his first, highly productive season with Mel Rowley. With that experience under his belt and the promise he’s already shown, I’m positive about his chances in this competitive field.

My next ride is Ilovethenightlife (2.25pm) in the mares’ handicap chase for Joe Tizzard. This is another valuable race on a competitive card, with some excellent prize money up for grabs.

She ran a strong race last time out at Warwick in Listed company, holding her own against some proven graded winners. What impressed me most was the way she finished the race—showing plenty of determination and staying power to close out well.

Yet again, you can only feel optimistic heading into this one as she looks primed to take advantage of this opportunity. If she puts in a performance like she did at Warwick, she’ll have every chance to make a big impact here at Windsor.

My final ride of the day is Ballycamus (4.08pm), who will be looking to secure back-to-back wins at this track. Having already tasted success here in December, he returns in great form and full of confidence. He’s gone up the handicap again to a mark of 123, which will naturally make things a bit tougher, but I believe he has what it takes to remain highly competitive even after the rise.