The News Desk take a look back at what we learnt from last week.
Nicky Henderson holds the two-mile Cheltenham cards
After Jonbon's emphatic success in Saturday's Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot, Nicky Henderson holds a strong hand heading into the Cheltenham Festival. Alongside Champion Chase hopeful Jonbon, Henderson will be dreaming of Grade 1 glory with Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and Sir Gino in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. With the Seven Barrows team forced to withdraw the majority of their runners from last year's Festival due to an unknown virus affecting the yard, it will be a tense two-month countdown in Lambourn.
Berkshire Millions offers value for racegoers
New for 2025, the Berkshire Millions fixture encompassing both Windsor and Ascot Racecourses offered real value for money at only £40 for the three days. It was clear that different crowds had been attracted to Windsor - from the hard-core National Hunt fans on Friday to a more family-orientated feel on Sunday. With ticket holders rewarded by an excellent three days of racing, including a blockbuster Clarence House Chase on Saturday, it would be no surprise to see the fixture going on more 'to-do' lists in 2026.
Coolmore commended for welcoming crowds
With the cold snap across UK and Ireland forcing Coolmore to close their doors during the annual Irish Stallion Trail, racing fans and breeders alike had to wait until Saturday to be introduced to the three new stallions– Breeders' Cup hero Auguste Rodin, Derby winner City Of Troy and the impeccably bred Henry Longfellow. An important opportunity for people to visit the hallowed ground of Coolmore, the team should be commended for choosing to reschedule the open day rather than remaining behind closed doors.
Windsor is working
The Berkshire Millions weekend marked the second and third jumps fixture for Windsor, who re-introduced National Hunt racing in the 2024/25 season for the first time in twenty years. An unusual 'kidney-shaped' track had raised some concerns for jockeys and connections during the test day, but the course is proving very rideable – even if the ground was reported as a little deep in places.
