December 15 / 13.55 Windsor

13.55

Good To Soft

Fitzdares Thames Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £11618.2
  • 3m 0f 53y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Fitzdares Thames Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 222-53 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent record over fences features two wins at about 2m4f last winter; respectable third off this mark at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; stays 3m and holds solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Ballycamus

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Rather in and out, and followed a Ludlow win (3m, good to soft) in December with a listless fourth over the same C&D three weeks ago; needs first-time headgear to inject some sparkle.

6/1

4th

2

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Ballycamus

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned to form with hard-fought C&D (good to soft) win in December, his second C&D success, and was nudged up only 1lb for that; obvious contender if in similar mood again.

3/1

16

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Ballycamus

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Went up 5lb for winning a 3m handicap that fell apart at Ludlow (good to soft) in February and that was under a 3lb claimer; probably has no margin for error off this mark and that spells danger in this warm a race; that said, his Chepstow run after a break was encouraging.

12/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 692-65

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Point/hurdle winner; couple of modest efforts since switched to chasing and effectively has something to prove; however, return to best form would give him a good chance off current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Minella Blueway

10st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won the 3m novice handicap chase on this card 12 months ago (good to soft) when 5lb lower and he produced a similar effort to finish second at Plumpton in January (3m1f, soft); however, this race demands a career best and on the back of a laboured display at Ludlow.

50/1

7th

4

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Minella Blueway

11st 4lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won this race in first-time cheekpieces a year ago (soft ground) and followed up in valuable event at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) last March; made disappointing start to current campaign but last month's second of four at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) was much better and his current mark ought to be workable; respected.

4/1

2nd

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Minella Blueway

11st 11lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won two in a row when cheekpieces first fitted (3m; soft and good to soft) last spring; hard to judge current wellbeing as he's been running in better races since back from a break but he was soundly beaten in his only completion and fell early at Ascot only nine days ago.

11/4

Form: 221/2- BF

Last run: 581 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Chase record reads 22212, most recently hindered by late errors but otherwise not disgraced behind sole rival at Ludlow (3m) in May 2023; fighting chance provided the consistency is maintained on belated reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st May 2026

Good

4m 0f 218y

Class 4

19:25 Warwick

Jefferys Cross

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Beaten under 1l in this race last year (Myth Buster pulled up); won't mind the move from Cheltenham given his strong body of work around sharp tracks (including 2-2 in hurdles races here, albeit losing one for interference), and nice break since hard-fought Newbury win; ground fine.

Evs

1st

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

17:16 Newbury

Jefferys Cross

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Has a solid record in hunter chases and he chased home last week's Cheltenham hero Barton Snow (did win by 12l) before making light work of Java Point at Southwell (3m, soft; cheekpieces returned); in the mix.

9/2

1st

4

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:15 Southwell

Jefferys Cross

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Consistent sort whose record in hunter chases (3m-4m) reads 1232; beaten by main market rival at Ludlow returned to this sphere last time (treated for post-race ataxia); solid and leading claims.

5/4

Form: F130-5 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Recorded last two hurdles wins at about 3m; ran promisingly, despite 2m4f looking inadequate, at Bangor on the switch to fences and that form has received a couple of boosts since; interesting with this step back up in distance ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Tanganyika

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Up in class and up in trip (by some way) having never gone beyond an extended 3m; however, he's got low mileage as a chaser and won eased down last time at Carlisle (good to soft); handicapper saw fit to raise him 9lb for that but if his stamina reserves can stretch this far then he might not be far away.

8/1

1st

4

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:50 Carlisle

Tanganyika

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Four-time hurdle winner (heavy/good to soft; including here) who scored at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) a fortnight ago on his third chase start; led close home having been outpaced and today's stiffer test should be right up his street; firmly in calculations up 4lb.

3/1

1st

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Tanganyika

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and rallied after 2 out, good jump last, led final 110yds, kept on well

7/2

Form: 310784 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Successful in notable 3m handicap chases in 2022 and 2023; registered his most recent win off this mark in July; out of form since, however, and this veteran needs to stage a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

21st Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

17:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Cap Du Nord

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Not quite a year since he won off a 20lb higher mark at Perth (3m, good); insufficient encouragement on last two stasrts, even allowing for the inadequacy of the trip, and hopes rest with the return of the cheekpieces worn for last four wins.

8/1

4th

6

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:23 Worcester

Cap Du Nord

10st 13lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Has won plenty during his career but now on the downgrade and has struggled this year; needs further as well.

10/1

4th

6

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:23 Worcester

Cap Du Nord

10st 13lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Has won plenty during his career but now on the downgrade and has struggled this year; needs further as well.

10/1

Non-runners

Gold Clermont

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.90
Straight Forecast £26.00
Trifecta £69.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tanganyika

WEST COUNTRY:

Ballycamus

RP RATINGS:

Jeffery's Cross

TOPSPEED:

Cap Du Nord

POSTDATA:

Tanganyika

The Times:

Tanganyika

Telegraph:

Tanganyika

The Guardian:

Tanganyika

D Express:

Tanganyika

The Sun:

Tanganyika

The Star:

Tanganyika

Daily Record:

Tanganyika

Daily Mirror:

Ballycamus