January 17 / 12.40 Windsor

12.40

Soft

Fitzdares Berkshire Winter Million Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15843
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Fitzdares Berkshire Winter Million Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 10-21

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery prior to this season; second on hurdle debut at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) on reappearance and made all when 4-6 in a five-runner Listed novice race at Sandown (2m, soft) six weeks ago; his dam was a 2m7f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner, so this big step up in trip is plausible, but marked improvement is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 10P-22 BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won over fences in 2023 at Auteuil and Ascot, and the latter (2m5f, good) sets a lofty standard; lost his form in two good handicap chases at Cheltenham later last season and has found one too good for him in two novice hurdles this term, but the hurdles form still puts him in the picture and he looks worth this second attempt at about 3m.
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

Form: 14

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
£150,000 buy last February after Irish point win; asserted in clearcut style in 2m7f novice hurdle at Worcester (soft) in October and 11l fourth of six in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) five weeks ago confirmed he has the stamina and plenty of ability; in serious contention.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out

11/4

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out, went modest fourth run-in

11/4

Form: 421211

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Took a while to open her hurdling account but scored three times in a seriously progressive campaign in maiden/novice events this autumn; did it impressively by 8l at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) and Doncaster (2m3f, good) on last two occasions; unraced beyond 2m5f but now looks worth the attempt and probably acts on soft; has had far more racing than three of today's rivals but she's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 1

14:05 Doncaster

Dameofthecotswolds

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Big improver this season in winning three times, the latest over 2m3f here on good (handles softer); another good run last time in a Listed race at Warwick (2m5f, soft) and her form is right up there in this company; the nagging concern is that she was keen and didn't get home over 3m at Windsor two runs back, although the ground was soft.

9/2

5th

2

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Warwick

Dameofthecotswolds

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Others have a lot more substance to their form but she impressed when winning three mares' novice hurdles in the autumn (2m3f-2m5f, good/good to soft; also effective on soft) and failed to settle when fading over 3m last time; retains potential now back down in trip and none of the form horses arrive with rock-solid credentials; interesting contender.

12/1

5th

2

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Warwick

Dameofthecotswolds

11st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Others have a lot more substance to their form but she impressed when winning three mares' novice hurdles in the autumn (2m3f-2m5f, good/good to soft; also effective on soft) and failed to settle when fading over 3m last time; retains potential now back down in trip and none of the form horses arrive with rock-solid credentials; interesting contender.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-1

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2-2 last season on heavy ground in an Irish maiden point and Ayr bumper; made all in the latter and again justified favouritism when reappearing in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in November, this time travelling best to lead two out and repelling what had looked a strong challenge; tongue tied this term; likely to stay and appears to have a bright future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

26th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Derryhassen Paddy

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Successful in heavy-ground Irish point 11 weeks ago, beating a rival who has since gone very close in a bumper; granddam scored in this sphere; wears tongue-tie; interesting contender.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.60
Straight Forecast £11.94
Trifecta £31.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Excello

RP RATINGS:

Clondaw General

SPOTLIGHT:

Derryhassen Paddy

WEST COUNTRY:

Dameofthecotswolds

TOPSPEED:

Clondaw General

The Guardian:

Clondaw General

Daily Mail:

Clondaw General

The Times:

Derryhassen Paddy

Daily Record:

Derryhassen Paddy

Daily Mirror:

Dameofthecotswolds

LAMBOURN:

Excello

Telegraph:

Excello

D Express:

Excello

The Star:

Excello