13:50 Windsor 17 Jan 2025
Fitzdares Lightning Novices' Chase
Grade 2 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner £42,712 - 4 ran
led, joined for lead 3 out, soon ridden and sustained duel with runner-up, kept on and led outright before last, won going away run-in
prominent, headway to dispute lead 3 out, soon ridden, every chance 2 out, soon headed, outpaced by winner run-in
prominent, not fluent 4th, headway before 9th, ridden and outpaced by leaders before 2 out, no impression before last
always in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden and went left 3 out, no impression before 2 out
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £13.84 (2, 1) |
| Win | £9.00 (2) |
| Exacta | £16.90 (2, 1) |
| Trifecta | £31.50 (2, 1, 3) |
Expert Analysis
A race that used to be run at Doncaster, and then at Lingfield in 2024 only, and which succeeded in bolstering the first Winter Millions over three days at this course and Ascot.
Despite the small field, it is probably best to view the performance of the winner positively, his overall time looking smart and his final 4f, on ground that was more like “good to soft” than “soft” on the chase course, of 58.56s equal to a finishing speed of 101.2% and indicative of a well-run affair.
GIDLEIGH PARK (c150 here, ? previously) reportedly suffered from an irregular heartbeat when pulled up on his only previous start over fences but showed no ill effects here and achieved the sort of form he promised as a novice hurdler, making all and several lengths clear at halfway, standing off too far at the 6th (otherwise jumped quite well), steadied before 4 out and joined at the next but staying on strongly thereafter and going clear again on the run-in, ridden then pushed out.
He may need plenty of use made of him at this trip but is not the stayer some imagined. This puts him sixth among British-trained novice chasers at this stage and joint-tenth for Britain and Ireland combined.
CALDWELL POTTER (c144 here, 140 previously) had no excuses unless it is that he needs really testing ground (on which he had been very smart as a novice hurdler), racing in second and shaken up to challenger 3 out but one paced thereafter while the winner finished off strongly.
PERSONAL AMBITION (c118 here, 137 previously) jumped less than fluently (and not always straight) and was below form, closing up again before 4 out then finding little.
YOU WEAR IT WELL (C107 here, 130 previously) trailed around in last, not unduly knocked bout in the end but less than fluent and not one to be making many excuses for on the day.
Video Highlights
-
Replay: 13:50 Windsor 17th Jan 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 17th Jan 2025 -
Post-Race Reaction: 17th Jan 2025
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Soft | 5 | JPR One | 7 | 11 2 | - | 515-1U3 | 43 days | J Tizzard (106 miles) | Brendan Powell | 6/ 1 | 3:55.37 | |
| 2023 | Good | 5 | Tommy's Oscar | 8 | 11 2 | - | 18-1252 | 21 days | Mrs A Hamilton (288 miles) | Danny McMenamin | 7/ 4 | 3:59.42 | |
| 2022 | Good | 3 | Third Time Lucki | 7 | 11 5 | - | 464-113 | 56 days | D Skelton (88 miles) | Harry Skelton | 8/ 15 | 3:58.10 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 4 | Shishkin | 7 | 11 5 | - | F111-11 | 34 days | N J Henderson (49 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 1/ 7 | 4:02.37 | |
| 2020 | Good to Soft | 4 | Mister Fisher | 6 | 11 3 | - | 118-721 | 42 days | N J Henderson (49 miles) | James Bowen | 6/ 5 | 3:59.45 | |
| 2019 | Good | 4 | Dynamite Dollars | 6 | 11 5 | - | 54-1211 | 30 days | P F Nicholls (103 miles) | Harry Cobden | 1/ 4 | 3:57.40 | |
| 2018 | Soft | 4 | Sceau Royal | 6 | 11 5 | - | 69-1211 | 49 days | A King (61 miles) | Wayne Hutchinson | 1/ 2 | 4:03.64 | |
| 2017 | Good | 4 | Forest Bihan | 6 | 11 4 | - | 36-U121 | 21 days | B Ellison (220 miles) | Aidan Coleman | 7/ 2 | 4:05.81 | |
| 2016 | Good | 5 | Vaniteux | 7 | 11 0 | - | 2285-12 | 34 days | N J Henderson (49 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 6/ 4 | 4:00.40 | |
| 2015 | Good to Soft | 4 | Three Kingdoms | 6 | 11 4 | - | 110-112 | 28 days | J P Ferguson | A P McCoy | 4/ 6 | 4:04.70 | |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 5 | Valdez | 7 | 11 4 | - | 1302-11 | 56 days | A King (61 miles) | R Thornton | 15/ 8 | 4:08.40 | |
| 2012 | Good to Soft | 3 | Kid Cassidy | 6 | 11 0 | - | 132-1F1 | 9 days | N J Henderson (49 miles) | A P McCoy | 2/ 1 | 3:54.70 | |
| 2010 | Good to Soft | 5 | Woolcombe Folly | 7 | 11 0 | - | 12-1111 | 475 days | P F Nicholls (103 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 7/ 2 | 4:08.50 | |
| 2009 | Good to Soft | 6 | Panjo Bere | 6 | 11 4 | - | 822-113 | 29 days | G & J Moore (41 miles) | Jamie Moore | 16/ 1 | 4:17.80 | |
| 2008 | Soft | 6 | Wee Robbie | 8 | 11 0 | - | P34238 | 266 days | N J Gifford (54 miles) | Noel Fehily | 7/ 2 | 4:21.60 | |
| 2006 | Soft | 4 | Foreman | 8 | 11 3 | - | 4722-69 | 50 days | T Doumen | A P McCoy | 11/ 8 | 4:07.80 | |
| 2005 | Heavy | 6 | My Will | 5 | 11 2 | - | 1U1321 | 21 days | P F Nicholls (103 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 11/ 4 | 4:10.80 |
