December 04 / 13.45 Huntingdon

13.45

Good

Fitzdares Wishes Everyone A Merry Christmas Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 7f 129y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Wishes Everyone A Merry Christmas Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: F1-F23 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Two falls in five chase starts but there was nothing wrong with his jumping when a strong-travelling third at Bangor (3m, good to soft); ran as though that race was needed and, while the form has taken some knocks, he probably has a lot more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

20:50 Stratford

Great DAnge

10st 10lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Alexander Gibbons

Has four wins over fences but yet to score in this sphere; has shown nothing in his three runs for current yard.

50/1

3

29th Sep 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:41 Newton Abbot

Great DAnge

11st 4lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Alexander Gibbons

Won over fences here (3m2f, good) for Barry Brennan last summer and has posted a couple of good efforts in that sphere this season; reverts to hurdling off lower mark for new stable here; could have a say.

5/1

2

15th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Worcester

Great DAnge

11st 11lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Alexander Gibbons

Won over fences for Barry Brennan last summer and has posted a couple of good efforts in that sphere this season; reverts to hurdling off lower mark for new stable here; could have a say.

12/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 36-343 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on the best of his hurdle form but he's not beaten a rival in either chase start, both handicaps (2m7f/3m1f); reservations for now in this discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

4th

6

2nd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:08 Wetherby

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Well beaten over hurdles at Worcester in September but was returning from a 104-day break and chasing is his game nowadays; won two in a row over fences at Southwell (3m, good) in the spring and he's a strong contender if back on song today.

6/1

20/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 28P-46

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Two handicap chase wins at about 2m4f in early 2021; back on a good mark but has looked cold as ice this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

14th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

19:10 Fontwell

Counteract

10st 2lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Chris Gordon

Dual chase winner for Suzy Smith in 2021; returned from 881-day absence with heavy defeat over hurdles here (3m2f, good) for new stable three weeks ago but ran well to a point and may benefit from this drop back in trip; 2lb wrong but worth a second look.

8/1

8th

6

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

18:50 Fontwell

Counteract

10st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Dual chase winner in the spring of 2021 but he'd lost his form when last seen in November 2023; impossible to predict what this stable debut will produce but he's on a dangerous mark and the market should give firm indications.

6/1

Form: 924233 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 5lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner who won't mind returning to further after recent defeats at about 2m5f, but turns 13 in a few weeks and he's probably vulnerable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

9th Oct 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:45 Stratford

Steel Wave

11st 8lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Gary Hanmer

in touch with leaders, headway from 9th, went third before 4 out, outpaced after 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/2

1st

1

9th Sep 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:50 Stratford

Steel Wave

12st 0lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Gary Hanmer

prominent, went second after 11th, led after 2 out, kept on run-in, pushed out

4/1

8th

9

4th Aug 2023

Good

3m 0f 5y

Class 3

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Steel Wave

10st 11lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Gary Hanmer

Enjoying a fine summer with two Stratford wins and shade unfortunate (slipping saddle) when second at Southwell latest; another 6lb rise in stronger company asks a lot from this 13yo, however.

12/1

Form: 232513

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Jumped well when going in at the first time of asking over fences in 3m1f handicap at Plumpton and perhaps found 2m4f too sharp when beaten 5l at Lingfield off this 3lb higher mark; had a wind op since; entitled to go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

Art Of Illusion

12st 2lb

J: Dylan Kitts

T: Warren Greatrex

took keen hold, prominent, went second before 8th, disputed lead before 12th, led clearly 13th, niggled along briefly 3 out, ridden and faced challenge run-in, kept on well final 110yds

3/1

5th

3

14th Feb 2023

Good

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

16:10 Lingfield

Art Of Illusion

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

led, pushed along and increased tempo after 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out

11/4

2nd

4

30th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Art Of Illusion

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Kitts

T: Warren Greatrex

prominent, led 7th, went clear before 13th, reduced lead 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, stayed on

9/4

Form: 81/4/2

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Just 4lb higher than for his Doncaster win in March 2020 (2m4f, good) and went down by only a length on his return from a long absence at Stratford (2m6f, good) last month; remains to be seen whether he can build on that but clearly needs respecting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th Oct 2023

Good

3m 2f 202y

Class 5

16:05 Sedgefield

Top Decision

11st 8lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

midfield, some headway before 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on and went third run-in

13/2

5th

4

6th Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:18 Hexham

Top Decision

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Hasn't been seen since February but last October's Stratford close second (off this mark) came after two years away; appears to stay 3m but both wins at shorter and this isn't the track for those with suspect stamina.

10/1

4th

1

9th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 5

14:15 Doncaster

Top Decision

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

2m4f course winner who returned from a long absence with a good second at Stratford (extended 2m6f, good) in October; below par next time and he's since unseated (six out) over this C&D, but he was going okay at the time and is not ruled out in first-time cheekpieces.

15/2

Form: 64383- D

Last run: 230 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Left Lucy Wadham under a cloud and, although bred for chasing, this is a belated first run over fences; would also prefer much softer ground, so despite his good mark a watching brief seems best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

31st Dec 2022

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

13:35 Warwick

Potters Hedger

11st 4lb

J: Bradley Roberts

T: Charlie Longsdon

led, headed 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out

20/1

1

4th Dec 2022

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

Potters Hedger

12st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Charlie Longsdon

raced wide, slowly into stride, in touch with leaders 1st, slow jump 4th, not fluent 8th, slow jump 10th, pushed along 11th, mistake and ridden 12th, struggling 5 out

8/1

Form: /254-4

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Confined to just two runs since finishing a close fifth in this 12 months ago when favourite; his Wetherby return was encouraging given he returned with a wound to his leg; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

21st Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:20 Fakenham

Aki Bomaye

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jack Jones

Lost his way over fences for Joe Tizzard, and debut effort returned to hurdles for new connections extended his run of non-completions to four; likely hopes rest more on wind surgery than a further 3lb drop.

14/1

0

5

29th Aug 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:55 Worcester

Aki Bomaye

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jack Jones

Point winner who went 0-9 under rules for Joe Tizzard (in same ownership) and failed to complete in his last three chases; placed in two novice hurdles earlier in career and on a dangerous mark if new trainer can get him going again.

8/1

2

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:25 Huntingdon

Aki Bomaye

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

took keen hold, midfield, pushed along briefly before 7th, pushed along, ridden and no impression before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £40.20
Straight Forecast £47.98
Tricast £737.15
Trifecta £391.80

Selections

RP Ratings:

Art Of Illusion

SPOTLIGHT:

Great D'Ange

WEST COUNTRY:

Aki Bomaye

The Sun:

Taste The Fear

D Express:

Top Decision

TOPSPEED:

Art Of Illusion

LAMBOURN:

Art Of Illusion

The Times:

Art Of Illusion

Daily Mail:

Art Of Illusion

Daily Record:

Art Of Illusion

POSTDATA:

Great D'Ange

Telegraph:

Great D'Ange

The Star:

Great D'Ange

Daily Mirror:

Aki Bomaye