January 17 / 13.15 Windsor

13.15

Soft

Fitzdares Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 3m 0f 53y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Fitzdares Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 442-21 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Won three successive handicap hurdles last winter (2m3f-2m5f) and has continued to progress; justified favouritism at Newbury (extended 2m7f) one month ago in his second chase, with the first two in that six-runner affair finishing miles clear; up another 7lb but lots to like.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Herakles Westwood

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Second-season chaser who took his form to new levels over about 3m1f-3m2f at Cheltenham initially this season but, after wind surgery, faded badly from three out when 10-1 for the Kim Muir there last month; needs to bounce back with another career best and he has more to prove on this third attempt at a marathon trip.

20/1

13th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Herakles Westwood

11st 6lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Warren Greatrex

Second-season chaser who has run well here on his last three starts, finishing second of 16 under Finian Maguire (3m1f, heavy) then fourth over this C&D (good to soft; lost a shoe) before winning here (3m1f, good) on New Year's Day; has had wind surgery since and he's a solid contender.

9/1

5th

13

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Herakles Westwood

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

in touch with leaders, dropped to midfield 9th

16/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.50

Form: /11-34

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Maiden point winner who's had just five races under rules; won over an extended 2m5f and 2m4f in his novice hurdle days, latterly staying on best in a Grade 2 on heavy ground; back from a second lengthy layoff with a creditable show on chase debut in November but he was beaten 40l at Cheltenham next time; that has to be a concern but he now moves up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Deafening Silence

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Sole win in eight chases came in a three-runner novice but he was racing beyond 3m for the first time when not beaten far in the Welsh National and again he was very competitive in the Grand National Trial at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft; could prove even better on soft); handicap mark hasn't really gone anywhere and he appeals as a likely type for this.

8/1

4th

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Deafening Silence

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 9yo who was suited by the step up in trip when third of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) in December; he's won on soft and heavy ground and may well have more to offer over marathon trips; key player.

7/2

5th

1

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Deafening Silence

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear but in touch with leaders, jumped right 1st, jumped right and bumped rival 5th, slow jump 7th, some headway after 11th

11/4

Form: 22/53/

Last run: 783 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
0-6 over fences but that includes his seconds in the 3m5f Classic at Warwick and 3m1f Ultima at Cheltenham, along with third in the 3m2f Coral Cup at Newbury in November 2022 when last seen; he'd win this (off a reduced mark) on that form but the 783 days off has to be a worry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

20

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Gericault Roque

10st 12lb

J: Mr B Lawless

T: David Pipe

10yo who has been lightly raced, with mixed results, since finishing second in the 2022 Ultima here (3m1f, good to soft); however, he returned to form when second at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained) and can be in the mix if backing up that effort.

20/1

2nd

11

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Gericault Roque

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Very lightly raced since 2022; soundly beaten in last two appearances, taking chase record to 0-9, and needs to prove he retains peak ability; 4lb out of weights; cheekpieces added.

14/1

8th

3

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Gericault Roque

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: David Pipe

Ran pretty well when third of six on this card last year (3m, soft) after mammoth absence; this 10yo was well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival on sole run since but is not ruled out now 5lb lower than 12 months ago.

7/1

Form: 222F-4 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Had an excellent hurdles campaign last term, going agonisingly close in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (3m, soft); his first go at fences under rules was in 2022 and the second was at Newbury one month ago when he made most, jumping safely, but ended up 32l behind Herakles Westwood; can build on that but others are higher up the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Kyntara

12st 2lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

Useful staying handicap hurdler in his prime; fair run at Cheltenham on first two starts this season but not been at his best on last three starts.

12/1

5th

4

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Kyntara

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Big improver during the 2023-24 season but chasing didn't go well last campaign; this one started well back over hurdles but he's been back in the doldrums in his last two races.

10/1

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

13:35 Newbury

Kyntara

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Highly progressive staying hurdler in the 2023-24 campaign, including on heavy ground, and chasing didn't work out for him last season; ran pretty well over hurdles on first two starts this term but needs to bounce back from a poor show at Haydock three weeks ago; player if he does.

13/2

Form: 41-21P

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Won a four-runner race at Ascot (2m3f; stays 2m5f) on chase debut in November, sometimes jumping to his right; reverted to hurdling and upped to 3m for handicap at Cheltenham five weeks ago, running poorly, but he's interesting if tapping into the Ascot promise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Bhaloo

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Seemingly boosted by first-time cheekpieces when placed in Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) last year but looked out of sorts when pulled up twice in November and it's hard to predict whether this will be a going day.

14/1

8

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Bhaloo

11st 3lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Won the novice handicap chase on this card 12 months ago when also returning from a break; has pulled up in his two previous races over 3m but he wasn't stopping when tried in cheekpieces and finishing third in Market Rasen's 2m5f Summer Plate in July (just behind Courtland); there's stamina in his pedigree; considered.

8/1

Form: 2F1-51

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
2022 Irish point winner; scored in a maiden hurdle at Kelso (2m5f, soft) last March and by another wide margin at Wetherby (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago on his second run over fences; had only two rivals in the latter and one of them crashed out four from home, but he's up just 2lb, looks an appealing prospect for 3m and brings clear potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Myretown

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Prone to making a bad blunder and arrives with something to prove following heavy defeats on his last two starts; however, he hasn't been devoid of promise this season and he'll be a major player if tapping back into the promise shown when romping to victory at last season's Cheltenham Festival.

11/1

13th

14

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Myretown

10st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Mistakes were costly on first two runs this term and he was pulled up at Haydock (extended 3m4f, good to soft) 24 days ago; not easy to fancy on the back of that but stamina may well have been an issue and he was hugely impressive when making all by 11l in this race last March (good to soft); might take plenty of catching, even now 15lb higher, if rediscovering that same dominant form.

10/1

Non-runners

Johnnywho

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.50
Straight Forecast £11.26
Trifecta £99.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Herakles Westwood

TOPSPEED:

Myretown

Telegraph:

Johnnywho

Daily Mail:

Deafening Silence

RP RATINGS:

Herakles Westwood

LAMBOURN:

Herakles Westwood

D Express:

Herakles Westwood

The Star:

Herakles Westwood

POSTDATA:

Myretown

The Times:

Myretown

The Guardian:

Myretown

Daily Mirror:

Myretown

Daily Record:

Myretown