January 16 / 13.50 Windsor

13.50

Soft

Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £42712.5
  • 2m 0f 37y
  • Class 1
  • 3 runners
ITV4
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Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 3 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50

Form: 10-123 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Won a handicap at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November on chase debut and has continued in good form in Grade 2 chases on next two starts (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/soft), shaping as though this drop back in trip is well worth a go; could have a big part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

No Questions Asked

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Useful over hurdles and even better over fences; found a bit more improvement when coming from behind to beat Be Aware 1l in three-runner Grade 2 novice at Windsor (2m, soft; handles good) in January; well beaten next time in 2m4f handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, lack of stamina probably a factor; this drop back in trip looks a plus and he wears cheekpieces for the first time (has won when hooded); not ruled out.

12/1

17th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

No Questions Asked

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Three hurdle wins at up to 2m1f last season but he was the last to finish in the Martin Pipe here (about 2m4f) last March; has proved his worth in small-field chases since, winning two from four starts, over 2m3f (good) and 2m (soft); he can raise his game further but a strongly run race on a track with a steep uphill finish raises a question.

14/1

1st

4

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

No Questions Asked

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won a handicap at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November on chase debut and has continued in good form in Grade 2 chases on next two starts (2m4f/2m3f, good to soft/soft), shaping as though this drop back in trip is well worth a go; could have a big part to play.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 88-122 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Won on chase debut at Stratford (2m3f, good to soft) in October and runner-up in hot races on next two starts, namely the Grade 2 Arkle Trial at Cheltenham (2m, soft) and the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft); this will take less winning than last time; leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Be Aware

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Smart form but has won only twice (runner-up seven times); rallied when beaten 1l by No Questions Asked in Grade 2 novice at Windsor (2m, soft; handles good) in January; raced freely and faded in Grand Annual Handicap at Cheltenham last time; the hood is back on today, a tongue-strap is fitted and he may well bounce back to form; if so, he has each-way possibilities.

10/1

12th

4

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Be Aware

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Improved form when winning on chase debut at Stratford (2m3f, good to soft) in October and strong performances when runner-up in Graded races on his three starts since, including over C&D (soft); this lightly raced 7yo is in top hands and has the potential to be better than this mark now back in a handicap; the hood is left off today, but he ran well without it in December.

5/1

2nd

2

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

Be Aware

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won on chase debut at Stratford (2m3f, good to soft) in October and runner-up in hot races on next two starts, namely the Grade 2 Arkle Trial at Cheltenham (2m, soft) and the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft); this will take less winning than last time; leading claims.

11/10

9/1

Form: 5-11P4 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; won on soft ground over hurdles; carries a 3lb penalty today and his progress has stalled on his last two starts, but he's made mistakes each time and could make a bold bid if cutting out the blunders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Alnilam

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; however, his limitations seem to have been exposed since and he finished well adrift of No Questions Asked and Be Aware at Windsor last time; has had wind surgery but still hard to recommend.

33/1

3rd

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

Alnilam

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; won on soft ground over hurdles; carries a 3lb penalty today and his progress has stalled on his last two starts, but he's made mistakes each time and could make a bold bid if cutting out the blunders.

9/1

Non-runners

Hansard, Roadlesstravelled

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £6.02
Trifecta £5.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Be Aware

The Star:

No Questions Asked

Telegraph:

Hansard

RP RATINGS:

Be Aware

TOPSPEED:

Be Aware

POSTDATA:

Be Aware

The Times:

Be Aware

The Guardian:

Be Aware

Daily Mail:

Be Aware

D Express:

Be Aware

Daily Mirror:

Be Aware

The Sun:

Be Aware

Daily Record:

Be Aware