The Winter Million is set to return in early 2025, with Ascot and Windsor announced as the racecourses scheduled to host the three-day meeting. A total of £1.2 million in prize money will be on offer across the three days for one of the highlights of the calendar in the sport.
Racing fans from Henley will be delighted that two of their closest racecourses have been selected for this meeting. It will be the opportunity for many horses to have their final appearance before the 2025 Cheltenham Festival just a couple of months later.
Clarence House Chase the Feature Race of The Weekend
The highlight of the Winter Million is the Clarence House Chase. It is a Grade One contest over two miles that attracts some of the best chasers in the UK and Ireland. The roll of honour for the race includes Master Minded, Un de Sceaux, Altior and Shishkin.
This year’s contest will likely include star two-mile chaser Jonbon, as he bids to enhance his reputation ahead of a shot at the Queen Mother Champion Chase later in the campaign. Nicky Henderson’s runner made a winning return to action on his seasonal reappearance in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham.
Last year’s renewal of the Clarence House Chase produced a thrilling finish for those in attendance. Elixir De Nutz got the better of Jonbon in the final strides of the race in what was one of the highlights of the 2023/24 Jump season.
Windsor Set for Two Days of Action
The 2025 Winter Million will begin at Windsor, just a short journey away from Henley. The Sovereign Hurdle is the feature race on the opening day of the meeting. It is a Class Two handicap hurdle over two miles.
Like all races during the Winter Million, prize money has been boosted for the Sovereign Hurdle, with over £100,000 in the prize pot. It is a big boost to owners who have runners across the three days, including those involved in racehorse syndicates in the sport. With shares available from as little as £34, syndicate members can experience many of the benefits of owning a horse at meetings like the Winter Million without all the costs involved with owning alone.
Windsor will also take centre stage on day three of the Winter Million, with the Fleur De Lys Chase. The last renewal of the race was won by L’Homme Presse when it was staged at Lingfield Park.
Run over 2m6f, the Fleur De Lys Chase attracts many of the Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders each year. The race at Windsor could be under consideration for Grey Dawning and Ahoy Senor, two of the highest rated British 3m chasers. Their connections will want to give their horses the best possible warm-up race before they take on the stars from Ireland in the Blue Riband event at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tickets remain available for all three days of the Winter Million, and they can be purchased at Ascot and Windsor’s official website.
