Monday’s racing schedule promises a full day of flat action across three venues – Ripon, Southwell and Windsor – all broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. The highlight of the Windsor card is the Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap, where a field of fourteen sprinters will line up behind the standout Amazonian Dream.
Amazonian Dream, trained by the seasoned Rod Milman, is a proven course specialist who secured his first victory of the season just a week ago, his first win since 2024. That triumph came under a five‑pound penalty, indicating the horse has already stepped up in class. The manner of his win – a decisive, front‑running effort – suggests he still possesses the speed and stamina to be competitive at this higher level.
Also worth watching is Regional Rock, a lightly‑raced contender who narrowly missed out on victory at Doncaster, finishing a neck behind the winner. He will be looking to reverse that near‑miss and claim his first win of the season.
Sudden Flight, returning to the track with a newly fitted cheekpiece, is another horse to keep an eye on. The equipment change appears to have sharpened his focus, and he could be among the early pace setters as the season gets under way. Four‑year‑old Sharp Move makes a highly anticipated comeback in the First Aid Training Novice Stakes, where he will clash with the talented Humphrey. Sharp Move is a son of Frankel and impressed on debut by winning by seven lengths at Newcastle in November.
At four, he is expected to develop rapidly, and many pundits view him as the horse to beat in this race. Humphrey, however, is not to be dismissed.
He ran a green, odds‑on defeat at Sandown last time out, but he is a half‑brother to Gregory, the Royal Ascot winner, and still has much potential to unlock now that he has gained a race‑day experience. Another notable entry is Turrent, a Kingman‑sired colt who produced a strong performance at Carlisle last month, finishing second and showing a turn of foot that impressed observers.
He will be matched against Kokbastau, a Wootton Bassett‑sired runner who looked impressive on his reappearance at Yarmouth. Turrent’s recent experience could prove valuable in a tightly contested sprint. Racing fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest news, interviews and feature stories via the Sky Sports Racing app, ensuring they never miss a beat of the action.
In the City of Ripon Handicap, the lightly‑raced Masked Warrior will face a field of five in a tricky renewal. Trained by William Haggas, the three‑year‑old has already shown class by winning convincingly at Kempton and then placing a creditable third in a competitive Class 2 handicap at Chester. Dropped in class for today’s race, he will aim to capitalize on his recent form.
Opposing him is the revitalised Beyond The Bar, who bounced back with a solid win at Catterick in his most recent outing. Their presence adds another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a close finish.
Enchanted, owned by Wathnan, could improve when asked to race over a longer distance on his handicap debut, while the previously unexposed Noelan Star hopes to put his brief Royal Ascot appearance behind him and perform well from a mark of 90. The day’s schedule also includes several supporting races: - 6:30 am at Ripon – Towelontheterrace will attempt to overcome a penalty and secure a win.
- 7:05 am at Ripon – Prosperity, a half‑sister to Native Warrior, makes her racecourse debut. - 4:30 pm at Southwell – Rising Tiger, a well‑thought‑of contender, aims to break his maiden.
- 5:00 pm at Southwell – Spaceman, an unexposed runner, headlines a competitive handicap. - 6:20 pm at Windsor – Harry Knows arrives with solid recent form and will look to add another victory to his record. Overall, Monday’s card offers a blend of proven performers, promising newcomers, and horses stepping up or down in class, ensuring a day of exciting, unpredictable racing for fans and punters alike.