13:20 Windsor

Sunday 19 January 2025

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

Winter Million Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 4.79s

Reallyntruthfully³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 120

10/1

Runner-up sole outing in points last spring and showed promise in a Huntingdon bumper/maiden hurdle before opening his account at Warwick last time. Handicapper has handed him a stiff mark but there should be more to come.

Form: 2/4-31

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Zanndabad^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR: 119

5/1

Useful on Flat and, while he is yet to reproduce that level of form, he has shaped better than the result on numerous occasions over hurdles and he's likely to get involved returning to handicaps.

Form: 45/022-2

Guard Duty^h³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 118

11/2

Hooded when landing 2m Uttoxeter novice in July and best effort since (improved) when runner-up in a Lingfield handicap last month, clear of the remainder. May remain on a fair mark.

Form: 3/413U2

Hartington⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 117

7/1

Landed a decent novice at Newbury before a good second to Honky Tonk Highway in a listed race at Sandown last time. Back up in trip and mark demands improvement.

Form: 453-512

Illegal D'ainay³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 117

20/1

Opened his hurdle account in 2m Plumpton maiden in May. Has bettered that form when placed twice under a penalty in recent months but needs more now handicapping.

Form: 22/U123

Onewaywest³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 113

3/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who returned from an 11-month absence when second in a C&D handicap last month. Could do better still and deserves respect.

Form: 222F-2

Super Sabre Sam⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 112

16/1

Much improved to land a 19f Fontwell maiden on his reappearance in October. Failed to back it up at Taunton next time and others are more appealing.

Form: 6F6-18

Fasol^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 111| BF

4/1

A very useful winning stayer on the Flat in France. Yet to match that form over hurdles but better efforts in second the last twice and that Flat ability provides the hope for better again. Big player back up in trip.

Form: 4-2422

Devon Dude²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 109

20/1

Dartmouth gelding who is bred to stay well but displayed enough speed to win 4-runner bumper at Chepstow (16f, heavy) in March. Promise on both hurdling outings and this longer trip should suit making quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 1-43

Officer Of State³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 106

25/1

Useful 15f winner on the Flat for Andre Fabre in France. Sold for 65,000 gns and readily landed 17f Fontwell handicap hurdle in November. Hasn't progressed again but it's still early days.

Form: 588-124

Forecasts

Onewaywest (3/1), Fasol (4/1), Zanndabad (5/1), Guard Duty (11/2), Hartington (7/1), Reallyntruthfully (10/1), Super Sabre Sam (16/1), Illegal D'ainay (20/1), Devon Dude (20/1), Officer Of State (25/1)

FASOL is thrown in on Flat form and, while he has taken a while to get the hang of hurdling, there has been a lot more encouragement the last twice and he's worth a chance to go one better. Zanndabad may still be on a feasible mark and is arguably the biggest danger, albeit Reallyntruthfully should have even more to offer.