December 15 / 12.45 Windsor

12.45

Good To Soft

Fitzdares Royal Windsor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £11618.2
  • 2m 0f 33y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Fitzdares Royal Windsor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 431-36 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Gained only hurdling win from eight attempts in an uncompetitive maiden but has posted some good efforts in defeat, most recently when third in Chepstow Grade 2 (2m3f, soft) in October; dropped out rather tamely after making the running last time but still looks interesting on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Vincenzo

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Ran well in this race last year and similarly notable handicaps at Cheltenham in November/December; confirmed his reliability by justifying favouritism at Ascot (2m5f, soft) most recently, taking chase record to 1212221; rock-solid contender who again looks sure to be involved.

11/4

1st

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Vincenzo

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Reliable sort, runner-up in competitive events on last three starts; followed fine effort behind a thriving Panic Attack in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) with another good run there five weeks ago when a mistake at the last didn't help; has notably solid form and high on the list again.

2/1

2nd

8

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Vincenzo

10st 10lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

All wins at about 2m; has form figures of 121 since switched to fences, winning at Sandown (soft) most recently; connections landed the big handicap chase at Kempton last Saturday with a similar type; interesting contender, assuming he's as effective back up in distance.

7/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 351122 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Launched chasing career with two wins this autumn (2m/2m3f) and ran well in defeat on both subsequent outings, latterly when close second to highly regarding rival at Newbury (2m, good to soft) 16 days ago; went up another 4lb for that but ought to make his presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Tedley

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance.

6/1

5th

3

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Tedley

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance.

6/1

5th

2

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Tedley

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Has done well since switched to this discipline (winning twice) and his blowouts have come in strong races, latterly in the 2m4f Greatwood Gold Cup here three weeks ago; more exposed than some in here and he's unraced past 2m5f, but can be competitive off this mark.

6/1

Form: 3411-7 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Struck form over hurdles and comfortably won two slow-ground handicaps (1m7f/2m) in early part of this year; not discredited when reappearing in very competitive Newbury race a fortnight ago and it will be interesting to see how well he takes to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

The Famous Five

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Having dropped back down to his last winning mark he returned to form when third in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; he's a contender if backing up that effort.

13/2

3rd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

The Famous Five

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Back on his last winning mark of Christmas 2024 but too little about either start this term suggests he'll capitalise, and not obviously crying out for this new trip of late either; cheekpieces added.

5/1

7th

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

The Famous Five

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Let down by his jumping over fences at times but still a capable performer in that sphere, although his reappearance last month was laboured; needs to be forgiven that effort but reverts to hurdles on a fair mark and is 2-7 in this discipline.

9/1

OUR TIP

5/4

Form: 2421-2 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Beat 19 rivals to win hot novices' handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m, good) in April and made good start to chasing career when clear second to bang-in-form mare at Warwick (2m, good to soft) last month; nudged up only 1lb for that recent run and remains a very good prospect for fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Helnwein

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Often gives his running in strong handicaps (second in this event 12 months ago) but losing sequence is up to 11 and he looked held when falling two out in the Plumpton race won by Indemnity last time; cheekpieces left off today; opposable off unchanged mark.

10/1

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Helnwein

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had strong handicap form even before finishing second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime (well in with fourth-placed Mondo Man); failed favourite backers in a lower grade at Newbury but this strong traveller might have won had he not been left in front two out (then idled); every chance should this pan out more favourably; all ground seems fine.

13/2

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Helnwein

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had some very strong handicap form even before his last two runs when second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime; must have every chance in this lower grade; drying ground won't bother him.

13/8

Form: 2/146-

Last run: 326 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Delivered on promise shown in bumpers when winning on hurdle debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) last autumn; both subsequent runs last season were underwhelming but he remains unexposed, and his impressive point win in 2022 bodes well for his chasing prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Doc McCoy

11st 11lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Five-time hurdle winner but 0-6 over fences; hasn't had much go his way since scoring in October but he was still in contention when unseating three out over fences last time in a race won by Dunkerque; now 10lb better off with that rival and he should be competitive given a change in fortune; forecast rain is a concern though.

11/8

2

11th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:12 Southwell

Doc McCoy

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Strike-rate of 5-13 over hurdles and he's rated 10lb lower as a chaser (0-5); however, hasn't offered a lot in this discipline and it's over a year since he last went chasing.

8/1

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

Doc McCoy

11st 11lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Strike-rate of 5-12 over hurdles and won easily at Warwick (2m5f, good) before pulling up at Ascot in October; he does have a bit to prove off this mark even if returning in good order.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.80
Straight Forecast £16.61
Trifecta £46.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Helnwein

RP RATINGS:

Tedley

LAMBOURN:

Doc McCoy

D Express:

The Famous Five

POSTDATA:

Tedley

WEST COUNTRY:

Tedley

Telegraph:

Tedley

Daily Mirror:

Tedley

TOPSPEED:

Helnwein

The Times:

Helnwein

The Sun:

Helnwein

The Star:

Helnwein

Daily Record:

Helnwein