December 15 / 12.12 Windsor

12.12

Good To Soft

Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back @ Royal Windsor EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qual) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
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Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back @ Royal Windsor EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qual) (GBB)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88

Form: 310-21

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Only 7-1 for Aintree Grade 2 bumper in April (ran as if something was amiss); solid second at Wincanton (1m7f; form has substance) on the switch to hurdles, then went one better at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) where he won easily; respected with further improvement on the cards.
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

Form: 310P-2

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Dual winner over fences and sets a useful standard on his best form in that sphere, namely Ascot success last December; went very close at same venue (2m5f, good) last month returned to hurdles and even that effort gives him a leading chance on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

30

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Excello

10st 2lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

4lb out of the handicap today and his losing sequence is up to 12 races; however, he ran pretty well when outstayed in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3m2f, good) last month and is racing off just 2lb higher than when third of 17 over C&D (good to soft) in the Grand Sefton in November; yard has won this five times and he holds each-way possibilities back down in trip.

25/1

9th

15

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Excello

11st 1lb

J: Mr Henry Main

T: Nicky Henderson

Very close fourth of six at Sandown last March (3m, good; albeit lost three places close home) and good third over the National fences at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft) in November; however, tailed off there (3m2f, soft) in December and there's a suspicion he'll again be lacking the necessary stamina.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: U12

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has a consistent record in his completed starts in points and over hurdles, most recently second at Ascot (1m7f, good); scored at Plumpton (2m) the time before; only third-best on ratings in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 3

13:30 Fontwell

Illegal dAinay

10st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a maiden hurdle (2m, good) in May 2024 but was well held in a Plumpton handicap (2m4f) in his final run last season; still lightly raced but this looks a tough starting point over fences and he has stamina to prove at this new trip.

11/2

7th

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 2

15:45 Plumpton

Illegal dAinay

11st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a 2m maiden on good ground here last May and ran another good race to be fourth on handicap debut at Windsor three months ago (2m4f, soft); he doesn't look ahead of his mark but he's not had a lot of racing.

33/1

7th

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 2

15:45 Plumpton

Illegal dAinay

11st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a 2m maiden on good ground here last May and ran another good race to be fourth on handicap debut at Windsor three months ago (2m4f, soft); he doesn't look ahead of his mark but he's not had a lot of racing.

33/1

Form: 8

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hurdles debutante who has easily the worst chance on form, having failed to figure in point/rules bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.80
Straight Forecast £3.35
Trifecta £2.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ma Shantou

RP RATINGS:

Excello

TOPSPEED:

Ma Shantou

POSTDATA:

Ma Shantou

Telegraph:

Ma Shantou

Daily Mirror:

Ma Shantou

Daily Record:

Ma Shantou

LAMBOURN:

Excello

The Times:

Excello

D Express:

Excello

The Sun:

Excello

The Star:

Excello