October 17 / 14.53 Wincanton

14.53

Good

Fitzdares Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 3m 1f 30y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 56-431 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Never headed and strolled home ahead by 16l in a 3m3f handicap hurdle at Sedgefield; has competitive chase form off much higher marks than this (including here) and latest start should have done his confidence some good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

Lord Accord

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival a fortnight ago when back from a break; this 11yo is back in much calmer waters today and he's a player if rediscovering the good front-running form he was showing on good/good to soft ground in the autumn when these blinkers first went on.

15/2

24

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Lord Accord

10st 10lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: Neil Mulholland

Course winner who scored in first-time blinkers (retained since) at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October before 11l second at Ascot (3m5f, good); this 11yo returns from a break today and may find this too competitive.

50/1

100/30

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 541111 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has rocketed up the weights for winning four of his five chases but it was again convincing last time at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) and a 5lb rise for that is fair; might well bring up the five-timer; good and good to soft is looking ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

26th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:42 Uttoxeter

Hold Your Fort

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Debra Hamer

Multiple chase winner who did well last season but he failed to fire behind Imperial Alex in last month's Summer Cup here and was no better returned to hurdles 16 days ago.

20/1

5th

1

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

21:00 Worcester

Hold Your Fort

12st 0lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Debra Hamer

Seven-time chase winner who developed into a useful performer last season; below form at Uttoxeter recently and tricky to weigh up over hurdles but still looks tempting, given he's 27lb lower in this sphere.

5/1

9th

7

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

15:27 Uttoxeter

Hold Your Fort

10st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Chase record is 7-20, the most recent success in veterans' contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March; couple of sound efforts since demonstrate that he remains in form aged ten; faces a tougher assignment off current mark in this field, however.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2P-171 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner who exploited his lower hurdle mark with a typically tenacious all-the-way win at Newton Abbot (3m2f, soft); on a realistic mark back over fences and should give his running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Investment Manager

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Didn't run badly when third of five in Newton Abbot chase (3m2f, good) in May and today's switch back to hurdling won't be a problem but his record in recent years is mixed; others preferred.

14/1

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

Form: 0/623-

Last run: 292 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Back from a break with his yard in terrific nick and this 9yo returned to form with a second at Ludlow (3m1f, soft) before not getting home over 3m4f on heavy; well handicapped and much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, headed 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

10/1

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

No win since January 2022; shaped reasonably well when third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in December but lesser efforts at Haydock and Plumpton since temper enthusiasm; first run since January.

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Fantastikas

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in early December but failed to really build on that when a well-held fourth at Haydock three weeks later, albeit in a higher grade; hasn't won for three years but he's plied his trade at a higher level for some time and could find life easier contesting a class 4 with a capable 7lb-claiming amateur booked.

9/2

Form: 23331- CD

Last run: 179 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Consistency rewarded with a breakthrough success over C&D (good) in first-time cheekpieces back in the spring and that was to the tune of 5l; 7lb higher for this but all ground seems fine and he's only a 6yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Inflexible

11st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Right back to form on last month's second start after 16 months out, just holding on in a Uttoxeter Class 4 (3m, good to soft); form of that win remains untested, but 4lb rise probably fair; effective on good also.

7/2

1st

5

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:45 Uttoxeter

Inflexible

11st 12lb

J: David Bass

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Won over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, good) in April 2024 but he's had only two runs since and was pulled up back from a long absence on recent stable debut at Haydock; overall record is now 1-14 and others are preferred.

20/1

2

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Inflexible

11st 12lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Made the breakthrough when scoring over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in April 2024 but not seen since falling two out (was second and closing) over that C&D six months later; has since switched stables (same owners) and market might help on this reversion to hurdles after 504 days away.

12/1

Non-runners

Stratagem

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.50
Straight Forecast £8.56
Trifecta £29.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Hold Your Fort

RP RATINGS:

Lord Accord

SPOTLIGHT:

Fantastikas

The Times:

Inflexible

Telegraph:

Investment Manager

Daily Mirror:

Hold Your Fort

The Sun:

Hold Your Fort

Daily Record:

Hold Your Fort

Daily Mail:

Fantastikas

The Star:

Fantastikas

POSTDATA:

Lord Accord

The Guardian:

Lord Accord

D Express:

Lord Accord