January 18 / 15.00 Windsor

15.00

Soft

Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £85849.5
  • 2m 6f 50y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
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Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2142-3 CD BF

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
Bolted up in this race last year (soft); reappeared with very creditable third off a lofty mark in handicap at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft) in November; wind surgery since; this 11yo holds stand-out claims on today's terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Protektorat

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

11yo whose last Grade 1 win came in March 2024 but he showed strong form when keeping on for second of four to Jonbon in the Melling Chase here (2m4f, good) 12 months ago and has won at Windsor (2m6f, soft; warm conditions race) and Kelso (extended 2m7f, good to soft; Listed) on his two runs this year; he should still be fine at this sort of trip and could be a contender.

15/2

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Tremendous campaigner who has netted connections over £1m in prize-money; jumped right on occasions but was still firmly on top at finish in valuable conditions chase at Windsor (2m6f, soft) six weeks ago; usually races up with the pace; the clear pick on form and very much the one to beat.

1/8

1st

6

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Protektorat

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bolted up in this race last year (soft); reappeared with very creditable third off a lofty mark in handicap at Cheltenham (3m3f, soft) in November; wind surgery since; this 11yo holds stand-out claims on today's terms.

8/11

10/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 441-10

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4f, good) last April and reappeared with Listed Intermediate win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground; however, soundly beaten in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last time and has something to find today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race (good ground) last year in first-time cheekpieces off a 10lb lower mark; first and second in two small fields this season, alongside two heavy defeats in top handicaps; tried blinkers when fading right out of it at the Cheltenham Festival last time and now reverts to cheekpieces; also back on firmer ground but a new career best is needed.

12/1

15th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April in first-time cheekpieces and returned to form when second at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; his jumping can sometimes lack fluency but, with first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he has an each-way chance if minimising the mistakes; fourth of 18 in the NH Chase here (3m6f, good to soft) last March.

16/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Resplendent Grey

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4f, good) last April and reappeared with Listed Intermediate win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground; however, soundly beaten in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last time and has something to find today.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11P-24

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Concedes weight all round and he hasn't been able to recapture last season's abundant novice chase promise on his two outings this season; however, he's had wind surgery since last time, which may have helped, and he could be a contender if rediscovering the form shown when winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last February (2m4f, heavy; made all).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Handstands

11st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

2m4f Grade 1 novice chase winner last February; a couple of good runs in defeat this term, last time third of five at Windsor (2m6f, soft; first run after wind surgery), but he needs something extra today and there's a suspicion a shorter trip may be preferable; well beaten (over hurdles) on sole run here; cheekpieces go on.

11/1

3rd

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Handstands

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Concedes weight all round and he hasn't been able to recapture last season's abundant novice chase promise on his two outings this season; however, he's had wind surgery since last time, which may have helped, and he could be a contender if rediscovering the form shown when winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last February (2m4f, heavy; made all).

4/1

2nd

1

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

14:37 Carlisle

Handstands

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Lost touch after being hampered when one of the favourites for a 3m1f Grade 1 at the Grand National meeting; had won all his completed starts over fences, the pick when edging out subsequent Arkle winner Jango Baie in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f, heavy; versatile ground-wise); these terms are favourable despite top weight and he will be tough to conquer if on his game.

8/15

Form: 705-13 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Three-time Grade 2 chase winner who snapped long losing sequence to land veterans' handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in November; ran okay when third next time; however, this 12yo looks vulnerable in today's company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Eldorado Allen

10st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

12yo who staged a renaissance when winning a veterans' chase at Cheltenham in November and has continued in pretty good heart; however, it's likely he'll be vulnerable today; soundly beaten in this race 12 months ago.

66/1

4th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Eldorado Allen

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Form over shorter this term features a reappearance success in veterans' race at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft; beat Mister Coffey); record at Newbury includes a success in 2m7f Grade 2 in 2022 and respectable effort in major 3m2f handicap in 2023; solid claims.

9/2

4th

4

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Eldorado Allen

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Three-time Grade 2 chase winner who snapped long losing sequence to land veterans' handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in November; ran okay when third next time; however, this 12yo looks vulnerable in today's company.

50/1

Form: 3-7331 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Confined to about 2m for the vast majority of his rules career but he won a 3m point in 2022 and looked better than ever when winning a competitive handicap over an extended 2m4f at stiff Cheltenham on New Year's Day (good; versatile ground-wise); there's every chance today's distance will be within range and he won on this card 12 months ago; entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 1

13:10 Ayr

Matata

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Something to prove regarding current form although he didn't take to the National fences when pulled up mid-race in the Topham at Aintree last week; this is a lower grade than he's used to contesting and he's capable of playing a big role if back on song now returned to conventional fences.

14/1

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Matata

11st 13lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Better than ever when easily winning at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day and on that evidence this 5lb higher mark isn't necessarily beyond him; however, two lesser runs have followed; has to get back on track.

25/1

5th

9

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Matata

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Nearly all races at around 2m1f and the step up to 2m4f was clearly a stretch behind Jonbon in an Aintree Grade 1 last April; coped better with the trip when a convincing winner of a C&D handicap (good; has won on soft) in January but a lesser effort followed at Windsor and he aims a lot higher here.

33/1

Non-runners

Jungle Boogie

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.60
Straight Forecast £8.85
Trifecta £27.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

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D Express:

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Telegraph:

Matata

The Star:

Handstands

Daily Record:

Handstands

Daily Mirror:

Matata

RP RATINGS:

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TOPSPEED:

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POSTDATA:

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The Times:

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The Sun:

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