Weather dominates Royal Windsor

Robert Smith hit top form on Saturday at Royal Windsor when he rode the Dutch-bred grey, Kalusha, to victory in the major class, the Land Rover Castle Speed Stakes.

After more heavy rain overnight, the going was holding and riders found the time tight. But Robert, Britain’s current number one rider, set off at a good speed and a smooth performance saw him take the lead from the in-form Billy Twomey on the stallion Give Me Remus.

Only Michael Whitaker threatened Robert’s lead, but, despite taking a stride out to the final parallel on Wales Whisper – the full-sister to his Sydney Olympic ride, Prince Of Wales – the Yorkshireman finished 0.48sec in arrears.

The Whitaker family was in good form today, as John and Robert jumped the only first-round clears to fight out the A and B class in the Thames ring.

Experience told in the jump off when an unhurried looking round from John and Carmen delighted a big crowd and was good enough to defeat his son on the bouncy little Revel.

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