Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back At Royal Windsor EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:12 | Winning time: 5m 5.66s

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Selected odds by:

Illegal D'ainay⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 117

14/1

Runner-up both starts in Irish points in spring 2023 and opened his hurdling account at Plumpton in May. Solid second at Ascot next time but a couple of these rivals look more talented

Form: 22/U12

Ma Shantou²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121

15/8

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 1 win from 2 runs this season. Career best when winning 5-runner novice hurdle at Warwick (21f, soft, 4/5) 25 days ago, soon clear. Should progress.

Form: 310-21

Excello²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

1/2

Useful form over hurdles and fences at up to 2¾m in France. Second outing for Nicky Henderson when winning a 21f course graduation chase last December. Came unstuck in very strong Cheltenham handicaps but returned to hurdling with good second in a novice at Ascot. Should go one better.

Form: 2/310P-2

Lyness Dancer²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: D J S Ffrench Davis

150/1

Behind in a couple of point bumpers and similar story at Warwick on first Rules outing. Up against it on first try at hurdling.

Form: 66-8

Forecasts

Excello (1/2), Ma Shantou (15/8), Illegal D'ainay (14/1), Lyness Dancer (150/1)

EXCELLO is a useful chaser and, given he's getting weight from his two main rivals, a reproduction of his recent second in an Ascot noice hurdle will likely be enough for him to go one better. Ma Shantou is open to further progress as he gains experience in this sphere and Illegal d'Ainay isn't a forlorn hope.