October 17 / 13.43 Wincanton

13.43

Good

Fitzdares Season Opener At Wincanton Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Season Opener At Wincanton Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.40
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 131- C

Last run: 179 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressed in a soft-ground Ascot bumper first time out and third in a Listed race there; made heavy weather of justifying short odds here in April (good) but the runner-up could be useful and they pulled clear; could develop into a smart hurdler and reappears with his yard going well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:17 Chepstow

Celtic Dino

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

A very useful novice hurdler last season and ran big race when third of 17 on handicap debut at Aintree festival (2m, good) in April, having been badly hampered in early stages and made up considerable ground from the rear; 5lb higher here but still has more to offer.

15/8

3rd

4

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Celtic Dino

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds

15/2

3rd

4

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Celtic Dino

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds

15/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 310- D

Last run: 187 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £120,000 after third in an Irish bumper and looked nice when easily winning on soft ground at Huntingdon in March, after which he was highly tried in a Grade 2 at Aintree (finished last at 7-1); brings plenty of potential to hurdling and his yard won this last year with one who had shown promise in bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Two handicap wins here this season (3m, good) and he took the rise in grade in his stride to win the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D (soft) in January; the 7l runner-up Impose Toi was giving him 6lb and perhaps wasn't at his best, but this highly progressive 7yo was impressive nevertheless; his profile is not dissimilar to that of Paisley Park, who won the Cleeve for this yard in 2019 before landing this race; very much one to be interested in.

6/1

1st

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Won big-field handicap here (3m, good) in October and bounced back from lesser run at Haydock to win handicap over this C&D (good) on New Year's Day; won a bumper on soft ground; further improvement needed now up in grade but trainer enjoyed lots of success in this race with Paisley Park and this progressive 7yo is an each-way possible at a track he obviously relishes.

5/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 3/479-

Last run: 181 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Placed in bumpers and again on hurdling debut in late 2022; hasn't gone on from there and was tailed off in both his runs following wind surgery (and tongue tied); has time on his side to come good again but perhaps best watched on this occasion.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

American Land

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Prolific between November 2024 and June 2025, with his four wins in that spell including two here; his progress seemed to stall subsequently but he ran well when second of five to a progressive winner at Chepstow (2m, good) last time and could be in the mix; effective on good to soft.

4/1

2nd

4

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

19:07 Chepstow

American Land

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Taunton win this time last year was the first leg of an eventual hat-trick (2m1f-2m3f) all recorded on good or quicker surfaces, so drying forecast is all to the good; chance, assuming he's not goaded into making the same sorts of errors as on his recent return here.

6/1

4th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

American Land

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has won five of his last seven races and he might be high in the weights now having come up well short (beaten 13l) on final sighting at Newton Abbot in October (2m1f); on the plus side, he's back at Class 4 level and has won over this far; others are preferred.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Record of 3-14 for the Gosdens and was not only decidedly useful but a strong stayer at up to 2m; bought for 65,000gns at the sales in July; could be an above-average recruit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(2)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Vaguely Royal

8st 12lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ian Williams

Third in his last three starts, but may not have achieved that much and remains without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; others more compelling.

9/1

3rd

5

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Vaguely Royal

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ian Williams

Comes here on the back of two third-place finishes but the latest was behind Trojan Soldier and there is no obvious reason why the placings would be reversed.

10/1

3rd

5

(7)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

Vaguely Royal

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

There was some restoration of his Flat fortunes when third of five at Southwell (1m6f, AW; stays 2m) on latest start but he's without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; has another career-low mark but it's hard to know when he will take advantage.

7/1

Form: P-6

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a minor Flat race in France but has stopped quickly in his two British starts; Vaguely Royal looks the yard's main hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Ugo Bingo

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has slipped to his last winning mark but he's proving difficult to win with and was well held at Wincanton in April last time; cheekpieces return and, while he copes with most ground, he's likely to be playing for minor honours at best.

13/2

7th

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

17:00 Wincanton

Ugo Bingo

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has slipped to a good mark but didn't really find any improvement (based on early-season form) for this new headgear combination when a wilting fourth here last month; needs to find extra.

4/1

4th

3

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:07 Wincanton

Ugo Bingo

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Needs to rebound quickly from heavy defeat here (2m5f, heavy) a fortnight ago but made the frame over C&D (good to soft/soft) on consecutive outings beforehand and has slipped to a good mark; player if back on song in first-time blinkers.

7/1

Form: 45-U

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Inferior in bumpers to some of these and this looks a better race than at Sedgefield (200-1) last month where he was going okay when unseating two out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Jingle Jangle Jet

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Held on well to make all in Newcastle handicap (2m4f, good) in March, his seventh hurdle run for Philip Kirby, and is open to further improvement if fully tuned up for this stable debut (same owners); shortlisted.

7/2

1st

6

3rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:55 Newcastle

Jingle Jangle Jet

11st 5lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

made all

11/4

2nd

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

13:10 Market Rasen

Jingle Jangle Jet

11st 3lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

prominent, challenging after 2 out, weakened final 110yds

9/2

Form: 1/309-

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won his only bumper but was pretty much tailed off in his three hurdle races last season, at about 2m; needs to up his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:45 Uttoxeter

Diesel Line

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Both wins over hurdles have been over C&D, the latest in September off 6lb lower; will have benefited from his recent pipe-opener when fourth at Market Rasen (2m,good) and should run well.

11/2

4th

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:33 Market Rasen

Diesel Line

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Dual winner on good ground at Uttoxeter last summer; still in good form when last seen in the autumn and probably still on a workable mark but has fitness to prove after four months off and recent rain reduces his appeal.

7/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in three Flat runs (7f-1m) but that was in 2019 and he makes hurdling/stable debut after a mammoth absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

17th Oct 2024

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

13:43 Wincanton

Reggino

11st 4lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

Showed some ability in three Flat runs (7f-1m) but that was in 2019 and he makes hurdling/stable debut after a mammoth absence.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.60
Straight Forecast £2.05
Trifecta £6.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Celtic Dino

The Guardian:

Vaguely Royal

The Times:

Diesel Line

POSTDATA:

Celtic Dino

Telegraph:

Celtic Dino

Daily Mail:

Celtic Dino

D Express:

Celtic Dino

Daily Mirror:

Celtic Dino

The Sun:

Celtic Dino

Daily Record:

Celtic Dino

The Star:

Vaguely Royal