Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)

THE most significant factor in the Windsor Castle Stakes was that while the field initially split into two groups, all the jockeys elected to come toward the stands’ side as the race reached its climax. That conferred some advantage on those able to take a position from high draws, while two of those drawn low were inconvenienced by general bunching after the start, and are worth marking up heavily as a result.

In the end, the race panned out beautifully for Queen Elizabeth’s Tactical (Andrew Balding/James Doyle), who was drawn in stall 20, and the well-supported 7/2 favourite was afforded a clear run throughout. He sat just off the pace and was produced to challenge the strong-travelling Muker (Phil Makin/Paul Mulrennan), before going on to win by one and a quarter lengths from the strong-finishing Yazaman (William Haggas/Tom Marquand), who denied Muker second on the post.

The winner had been fancied by his trainer to make a winning start at Newmarket, but could only finish third having had a gap close in his face a furlong from home. That could have made a big difference, and he showed that by taking the step up to listed class with a professional performance, albeit one where bad luck befell others.

That is notably true of the runner-up, whose race looked over after 50 yards when he got squeezed out and dropped right to the rear of the field. Given he was drawn on the wrong flank as well, this was a mighty performance from Yazaman to pass all but the winner, and must have left William Haggas frustrated, coming so soon on the heels of another silver medal in Sheikh Ahmed’s colours.

Quick turnaround

Aidan O’Brien’s Chief Little Hawk had been favourite for this until just before the off, but failed to build on a winning debut in finishing only seventh although it’s possible to excuse the run given he was drawn in stall two and was left isolated in comparison to the winner.

On the other hand, stablemate Hyde Park Barracks, third to Chief Little Hawk at Navan, was well drawn but finished even further back. It’s possible that the seven-day turnaround was just too quick for both colts in the circumstances.