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

3rd

4

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hold Your Fort

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Debra Hamer

Made all in three-runner contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March and arguably bettered that form when close/clear second at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) last month; might be a shade vulnerable off new mark but at least we know he's in excellent nick.

5/2

2nd

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hold Your Fort

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Did well in the autumn and won again last month at Ascot (3m, good) where he dominated his two rivals from the front; there's a suspicion that his two rivals underperformed and he's 5lb higher here, but still considered.

7/2

1st

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Hold Your Fort

10st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Won at Ludlow (3m) in October and creditable fourth off this mark at Chepstow (3m2f, again good to firm) four days later, both under Callum Pritchard; recent Taunton run ended in an unseat before push came to shove but he's a big player judged on that autumn form.

4/1

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