ROYAL Ascot may have grabbed the headlines in the past week but racegoers were treated to a number of quality contests at Windsor on Monday.

A six furlong maiden for two-year-olds got the card under way. Despite being given a serious bump coming out of the stalls, Andrea Atzeni soon had Flying Empress (5-1) running in fourth place on the outside.

From there she quickened into the lead two furlongs out and, though hanging over to the stands side, she was in command and value for more than the half length she finished in front of Clever Bob (25-1).

Stormy Antarctic (3-1) made good progress from the rear to finish third.

Henry Candy enhanced his good recent record at Windsor with a win for Tunnel Creek,<em> pictured above</em>, (7-4) in the one-mile maiden.

On the leader’s quarters for most of the race, he was driven along by Dane O’Neill, hit the front two furlongs out and ran on strongly for a convincing win.

Burmese (20-1) came out of the pack to finish a length and a half away in second.

In the third race, also over a mile, Adam Kirby rode the winner for Berkshire trainer Clive Cox.

Laidback Romeo (a well supported 5-2 favourite) needed strong driving for a couple of furlongs before edging into the lead with a 100 yards to go.

From there he swiftly went almost three lengths clear of the triple course and distance winner Divine Law (7-2).

Mullionheir (11-4 joint-favourite) has been successful three times this year and finishing third last time out. He returned to winning ways when taking the six-furlong handicap.

He disputed the lead throughout with Upstaging (7-2) until taking a narrow advantage with half a furlong left.

The other joint favourite, Acolyte, ran on to be a one length second without really threatening the winner, who was ridden by Kieren Fox.

A one and a quarter mile fillies handicap went to Dalmarella Dancer (11-2), another to run prominently until being nudged into the lead by Jordan Vaughan.

Karl Burke’s filly won by three quarters of a length.

The nine-year-old mare Choral Festival (4-1), running for the 37th time at Windsor, harried the winner all the way to the line, finishing an honourable second.

Bringing the evening to a close was the one and a half mile handicap, which was won by Akavit (10-1). Ed de Giles’s gelding had won three in a row before disappointing slightly last time out.

His jockey William Twiston-Davies took him into the lead from the outset and went for home at the intersection. Only Bold Appeal (8-1) could go with him and the pair were seven lengths at one point.

ROYAL Ascot may have grabbed the headlines in the past week but racegoers were treated to a number of quality contests at Windsor on Monday.

A six furlong maiden for two-year-olds got the card under way. Despite being given a serious bump coming out of the stalls, Andrea Atzeni soon had Flying Empress (5-1) running in fourth place on the outside.

From there she quickened into the lead two furlongs out and, though hanging over to the stands side, she was in command and value for more than the half length she finished in front of Clever Bob (25-1).

Stormy Antarctic (3-1) made good progress from the rear to finish third.

Henry Candy enhanced his good recent record at Windsor with a win for Tunnel Creek,<em> pictured above</em>, (7-4) in the one-mile maiden.

On the leader’s quarters for most of the race, he was driven along by Dane O’Neill, hit the front two furlongs out and ran on strongly for a convincing win.

Burmese (20-1) came out of the pack to finish a length and a half away in second.

In the third race, also over a mile, Adam Kirby rode the winner for Berkshire trainer Clive Cox.

Laidback Romeo (a well supported 5-2 favourite) needed strong driving for a couple of furlongs before edging into the lead with a 100 yards to go.

From there he swiftly went almost three lengths clear of the triple course and distance winner Divine Law (7-2).

Mullionheir (11-4 joint-favourite) has been successful three times this year and finishing third last time out. He returned to winning ways when taking the six-furlong handicap.

He disputed the lead throughout with Upstaging (7-2) until taking a narrow advantage with half a furlong left.

The other joint favourite, Acolyte, ran on to be a one length second without really threatening the winner, who was ridden by Kieren Fox.

A one and a quarter mile fillies handicap went to Dalmarella Dancer (11-2), another to run prominently until being nudged into the lead by Jordan Vaughan.

Karl Burke’s filly won by three quarters of a length.

The nine-year-old mare Choral Festival (4-1), running for the 37th time at Windsor, harried the winner all the way to the line, finishing an honourable second.

Bringing the evening to a close was the one and a half mile handicap, which was won by Akavit (10-1). Ed de Giles’s gelding had won three in a row before disappointing slightly last time out.

His jockey William Twiston-Davies took him into the lead from the outset and went for home at the intersection. Only Bold Appeal (8-1) could go with him and the pair were seven lengths at one point.

But Akavit kept pulling out more and the chasing pack, headed by Al (9-4 favourite), could not reduce the deficit to less than three lengths.

Racing returns to Royal Windsor Racecourse for the three-day Best of British Festival this weekend (June 27-29).

The festival gets under way with Gentlemen’s Day on Saturday (seven races, 1.35pm start), followed by Family fun day on Sunday (seven races 2.20pm start), and then Ronnie Scott’s live on Monday (six races, 6pm start).

Highlights on the track include the listed, Midsummer Stakes, as well as competitive handicaps over six furlongs and a mile and a half on Saturday.

PICK up a copy of <em>The Observer</em>, out now, for all the latest sports news and action including pictures from Windsor races.

FOLLOW <em>The Observer</em> on Twitter at @Observer_sports.