The Winter Million Festival 2024 sees 329 entries from both the UK and Ireland across three days, over the Jumps and on the All-Weather. The Winter Million Festival is due to take place on Friday 19 - Sun 21 January, with both Jumps fixtures taking place on the Friday and Sunday set to be the first of ARC's Premier Racing fixtures taking place in 2024.
Friday - Premier Racing - National Hunt
The three feature races to kickstart the Winter Million Festival on Friday include the 2:25pm Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Steeple Chase, the 3pm Weatherby's Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle and the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at 3:35pm.
Supermare Love Envoi is entered for the £100,000 Weatherby's Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle, after a valiant second in the Betfair Fighting Fifth, with sights set on the Cheltenham Festival in March, holding entries for both the Mares' Hurdle and Champion Hurdle for Harry Fry. She is due to line up against 2022's victor; Olly Murphy's 11 year-old and multiple Graded winner, Brewin'upastorm, alongside Middleham Park's Marie's Rock for Nicky Henderson, who narrowly missed out on another Grade 2 Relkeel hurdle to Bob Olinger on New Year's Day.
The Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Steeple Chase worth £75,000 which was previously run at Doncaster, sees Grade 2 winners Djelo and Master Chewy entered for Venentia Williams and Nigel Twiston-Davies respectively, amongst 6 others engaged.
Twenty entries were received for the £110,000 Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle, four of which are from the Dan Skelton yard. Headlining the entries is Doddiethegreat, the lightly raced 8-year-old trained by Nicky Henderson who broke an unbeaten spell when second last time out at Cheltenham to Go Dante, who also lines up. Local trainer Gary Moore has entered Spirit D'Aunou who has five wins from seven runs on his CV for the feature race, whilst Charlie Longsdon could run Rare Edition, a winner just two days ago at Kempton under Harry Cobden.
The second day of the Winter Million Festival sees a switch to the All-Weather and features the £100,000 BetMGM Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap, won in 2023 by Simon & Ed Crisford's Al Agaila. The father and son duo are looking for a repeat victory in the race with the Winter Oaks Trial winner Oh So Grand, owned by Mohammed Al Nabouda. Runner-up in the trials, which took place at the same track in December, Prince Regent looks to go one better for Qatar Racing and John & Thady Gosden. George Boughey holds three of the ten entries for Saturday's feature, with All-Weather Bonus winner Queen Of Ipanema alongside Storymaker and Yasmina.
Elsewhere on Saturday's card is the valuable £50,000 Class 2 Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap Stakes and £35,000 Class 3 Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap, all with strong contenders. In total, 107 entries were received across the seven race card.
Sunday - Premier Racing - National Hunt
The final day of the Winter Million Festival is set to be a cracker with the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase Stakes the star attraction. Featuring Grade 1 winners; L'Homme Presse and Protektorat head the 9 entries for the £165,000 highlight on the third and final day of the Winter Million, Sunday, January 21.
L'Homme Presse is on track to make his reappearance in the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase, with future sights set on the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The dual Grade 1 winner was last seen out in December 2022 after sustaining an injury in the King George. Due to clash with L'Homme Presse is Dan Skelton's stable star Protektorat. The 2022 Betfair Chase winner will be aiming to rediscover his best form after trailing home last of the four runners in his repeat bid at Haydock in November.
Other big hitters among the entries include the Sam Thomas trained and 2021 Welsh Grand National winner Iwilldoit who was last seen third in the same race just three weeks ago, alongside Ascot Grade 2 winner Does He Know, for Kim Bailey.
Looking to join us?
The Winter Million takes place over three days and features both Jumps and All-Weather racing from Friday 19 - Sunday 21 January. Tickets are still available online, including the incredible value 3-day pass for just £20. Don't miss out on three epic days of premier racing, book tickets here.
Please note The Winter Million is now The Berkshire Winter Million taking place at Windsor Racecourse and Ascot.
