Increased prize money up for grabs ahead of Christmas

Tonight sees Monmore Green begin a new initiative designed to attract quality Open race entries in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Monmore 1000 Winter Series kicks off this evening with a 480m Category Three event featuring boosted prize money, with heats worth £400 to the winner and £110 for others while the final will be worth £1,000 to the victor and £200 to others.

That is up significantly from the usual prize money for Category Three events at Monmore (£300 & £65 heats, £500 and £100 finals) and will be in place until December 12.

Three heats are on tonight’s card with seven away trainers bringing their charges to Monmore while home handlers Nathan Hunt, Richie Taberner, David Page and Kim Billingham-Hine are also involved.

Monmore deputy racing manager Jake Pain said: “Having also ran the Monmore Open Championship earlier this year, we’re excited to start the Monmore 1000 Winter Series which will see a new Category Three event start each week.

“There is greater prize money on offer, and hopefully we’ll see some quality races over the next several weeks.

“It’s a nice card tonight with the three heats in this 480m competition, two minor Opens over the six-bend trip and strong graded action.

“Hopefully, the Monmore 1000 Winter Series proves to be a success, and we see some real top-drawer racing as we approach what should be a busy festive season at the track.”

The improving Ballymac Kandoo looks to impress for Hunt in the first heat of the Monmore 1000 Winter Series 480 (6.54pm) but will have a tough test against a field including experienced campaigners Naochra (John Flaherty, Newcastle) and Ballymac Blanco (Maxine Locke, Central Park).

Fresh from an impressive run at Dunstall Park last weekend and finishing second in the Steel City Cup at Sheffield the week prior, Moanteen Hatton goes for glory in the second heat for Taberner. Vampire Bob (Page) and Droopys Poker (Billingham-Hine) are the other home hopes in the race.

Hunt then takes both Anglesey Milo and Whyaye Mister into the third and final heat against the likes of Ladbrokes Gold Cup 2026 finalist Headford Cian (Locke) and Darcys Dude (Craig Morris, Yarmouth) who won one of Monmore’s supporting races on that gala night back in August.