THE valuable Berkshire Winter Millions meeting opened at Windsor on Friday, the biggest meeting since jumps racing returned to the track last month.

Day 2 takes place at Ascot, before returning to Windsor, where the feature race on Sunday is the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Journey With Me is the sole Irish raider of eight runners declared for the £165,000 contest over two miles.

The Robcour-owned nine-year-old last scored in a Grade 2 novice chase on heavy ground at Fairyhouse, and returned to finish sixth of seven finishers in a vintage renewal of the John Durkan Chase.

Windsor’s previously unique figure-of-eight course is now run without a crossover, the newly-configured jumps course now a continuous left-handed circuit.

In preparing for National Hunt’s return to the track, Windsor utilised previously dormant turfed areas, widening of the back straight to allow space for both hurdles and fences.

Henderson weighs in

In order to gain feedback from trainers and jockeys on the new course, Windsor hosted a gallops morning in November. On the day, Nicky Henderson commented: “It’s going to be different because it’s not going to be the traditional figure of eight. The back straight will be lovely, and a bit like going down the back at Newbury.”

Since then, Clerk of the course Charlie Rees divulged that changes had been made, based on feedback received. “Specifically, the top bend beyond the winning post will now be shared by both hurdlers and chasers,” Rees explained.

“Also, the chase fences down the home straight have been moved to the far side of the track to offer horses racing on that course a more sweeping bend out of the dog leg turn.

“These moves on the chase course have resulted in some minor distance amendments to those previously advertised, whilst the hurdle course remains unaltered.”

Windsor hosted a regular jumps programme until 1998, and welcomed a return in 2004 and 2005, during redevelopment at nearby Ascot. That first year, Baracouda starred in the Long Walk Hurdle – his fourth win in the Grade 1 and the final win of his career.