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Cheltenham Festival

Five key races at the Berkshire Winter Million that could impact the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets

Windsor and Ascot host fixtures at the Berkshire Winter Million
Windsor and Ascot host fixtures at the Berkshire Winter Million

The three-day Berkshire Winter Million takes place at Windsor and Ascot this weekend, and here are some of the key races that look set to impact the Cheltenham Festival markets.


Fitzdares Lightning Novices' Chase

1.50 Windsor, Friday (2m Grade 2)

Four runners line up for this Grade 2 prize headlined by big-money buy Caldwell Potter, who went through the sales ring at €740,000 last year. The grey made a winning debut for Paul Nicholls at Carlisle last month but needs to bounce back from an underwhelming run at Cheltenham last time, when a 13-length third having been sent off the 11-10 favourite. Caldwell Potter is a best-price 66-1 for the Arkle and 50-1 for the Brown Advisory. Among his opposition is You Wear It Well, winner of the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Jamie Snowden's eight-year-old is yet to win in two chase starts but receives 7lb from her rivals here and is a general 66-1 for the Mares' Chase.

CALDWELL POTTER  ridden by Harry Cobden wins at CARLISLE 1/12/24
Caldwell Potter: Carlisle winner is back in action at WindsorCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Arkle Novices' Chase
Paddy Power: 4-5 Sir Gino, 3 Majborough, 8 Ile Atlantique, 14 L'Eau Du Sud, 16 Ballyburn, 20 Inthepocket, 25 Impaire Et Passe, Mistergif, Firefox, 33 bar.

Mares' Chase
Sky Bet: 5 Dinoblue, 6 Allegorie De Vassy, 7 Impervious, Bioluminescence, Only By Night, 12 Limerick Lace, 14 Marsh Wren, Fun Fun Fun, 16 Kargese, 20 bar.


BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle 

12.30 Ascot, Saturday (1m7½f)

Nicky Henderson won this race with subsequent Triumph Hurdle runner-up Top Notch in 2015 and looks set to be represented on Saturday by Lulamba, who has proved all the rage in the Triumph market in recent weeks. The Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned gelding ran out a five-length winner at Auteuil in October and, having been introduced at 25-1 for the Triumph, is now the 4-1 favourite. Another ex-French challenger is Sauvignon, who won a Listed hurdle at Auteuil when last seen in June and debuts for Paul Nicholls. Sauvignon is a general 33-1 chance for the Triumph.

JCB Triumph Hurdle
Sky Bet: 4 Lulamba, 5 Hello Neighbour, 13-2 East India Dock, 10 Sainte Lucie, Lady Vega Allen, 20 Palladium, 25 Charlus, Mondo Man, 33 bar.


BetMGM Mares' Hurdle 

1.40 Ascot, Saturday (1m7½f Grade 2)

The Willie Mullins-trained Kargese looks set to make her eagerly anticipated reappearance in this Grade 2. Kenny Alexander's five-year-old was a dual Grade 1-winning juvenile last year and finished runner-up in both the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. She was last seen winning the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown festival in May and looks set to run here en route to the Mares' Hurdle on the opening day of the festival, for which she is no bigger than 4-1. Take No Chances and Casa No Mento could feature among her opposition at Ascot and are a general 33-1 and 100-1 respectively for the Mares'.

Sir Gino (left) and Nico de Boinville win from Kargese at Aintree
Kargese (right) chases home Sir Gino in the 4-Y-O Hurdle at Aintree last seasonCredit: Mark Cranham

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
Betfair: 2-1 Brighterdaysahead, 3 Lossiemouth, Kargese, 7 July Flower, 10 Jade De Grugy, 12 Kateira, 20 Golden Ace, Kala Conti, 25 Queens Gamble, 33 bar.


BetMGM Clarence House Chase 

3.32 Ascot, Saturday (2m1f Grade 1)

The clash is on! Britain's leading two-mile chaser Jonbon is set to take on Willie Mullins' six-time Grade 1 winner Energumene in a race sure to have major ante-post implications for the Champion Chase. Energumene won the Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023 before a setback ruled him out of last year's running, while Jonbon was also absent from the festival after being withdrawn due to the poor form of Nicky Henderson's horses. Jonbon comes into the Clarence House on the back of an eight-length win in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, where he produced a career-best Racing Post Rating of 174, while Energumene confirmed his wellbeing with a win in last month's Hilly Way Chase at Cork, when subsequent King George hero Banbridge looked booked for second before unseating at the final fence. Jonbon is no bigger than 9-4 for the Champion Chase while Energumene is a general 5-1 chance.

Engergume (left) and Jonbon are set to meet for the first time at Ascot on Saturday
Energumene (left) and Jonbon are set to meet for the first time at Ascot on Saturday

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase
BetMGM: 9-4 Jonbon, 7-2 Gaelic Warrior, 9-2 Energumene, 10 El Fabiolo, Il Est Francais, 16 Marine Nationale, 20 Banbridge, 25 Djelo, Solness, 33 bar.


Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase

3.05 Windsor, Sunday (2m6f)

Protektorat chased home L'Homme Presse in the Fleur de Lys at Lingfield last year before landing the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival, and he faces another Venetia Williams runner on Sunday in Djelo. Djelo had Protektorat six lengths behind when landing the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last month, but he renews the rivalry at Windsor on 3lb worse terms. Both horses could clash for a third time this season in the Ryanair, for which Djelo is a general 16-1 and Protektorat 25-1.  

Djelo: clears the last under Charlie Deutsch
Djelo: winner of the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last timeCredit: Francesca Altoft

Ryanair Chase
bet365: 4 Fact To File, 5 Banbridge, 6 Spillane's Tower, Gaelic Warrior, El Fabiolo, 9 Il Est Francais, 12 Energumene, 14 Grey Dawning, 16 Djelo, 20 bar.


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