Senior type analyst Jamie Lynch appears to be like ahead to the massive betting contest on day one of many Berkshire Winter Million at Windsor on Friday, reside on Sky Sports activities Racing.

The Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at 3.35pm is as sturdy as any Premier Handicap in Britain to this point this season.

There are 4 horses greater rated on this than the highest weight within the Greatwood, and there is amount to go together with it, with solely one of many 14 out of the weights. Let’s take a look at the sector in depth.

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1. Brentford Hope

Jockey: Paul O’Brien | Coach: Harry Derham

Given an Arc entry as soon as upon a time. Runner-up within the Grade Two Elite on his reappearance, and little doubt as much as that stage, however big-field handicaps are his bag, highlighted by his sign-off to final season, an outstanding second (of 24), likewise below high weight, to Daddy Lengthy Legs on the Punchestown Pageant.

Has presumably been put aside for this precious prize, at a monitor that ought to go well with him very nicely certainly, given his strong-travelling model.

2. Hansard

Niall Houlihan | Gary & Josh Moore

Nonetheless a way of unfinished enterprise about him, partially as he is had simply eight races in three seasons over hurdles, again from a full 12 months out when a promising fourth at Kempton over Christmas, going off at 11/1 however buying and selling in-running at 2/1, telling how he travelled earlier than the absence caught up.

Beat Brentford Hope amongst others at Newbury final season, in an identical set-up to right here, and the one earlier occasions he is been in a double-figure area resulted in two wins and a fourth in a Grade One.

3. Kabral Du Mathan

Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls

This fast-improving five-year-old gained his first three races earlier than being crushed solely on the nod by Fiercely Proud within the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot, when the pair pulled 17l clear. This left the handicapper little choice however to hike him up by 8lb, although there have been extra forces pulling on the race than merely springs on the primary two.

It additionally preys on the thoughts simply how exhausting a race he had at Ascot lower than 4 weeks in the past, probably impactful on one so younger, however that is hypothetical, and his pillars of positivity are all evidential.

4. Knickerbockerglory

Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton

The recent prince, who gained first day trip for the third straight season, beating Nemean Lion at Sandown, in receipt of 18lb and a straightforward lead on heavy floor, and the consequence is a career-high mark of 139, when he subsequently struggled from mid-130s scores in his previous couple of campaigns. The heuristic mannequin of utilizing previous behaviours to foretell the long run spells hazard for Knickerbockerglory and an impending lull.

5. Beat The Bat

Bryan Carver | Harry Fry

Simple to say he is forward of his mark, based mostly on his second to Dysart Enos (giving her the mares’ allowance) on the finish of his final marketing campaign in tandem along with his handicap debut at first of this one, runner-up in a race at Haydock that was excessive on high quality and amount. The steady gained the one earlier operating of the Sovereign which went forward, with Metier, and Beat The Bat in all probability has his peak forward of him after simply seven races.

6. Cracking Rhapsody

Craig Nichol | Ewan Whillans

Ewan Whillans’ cost has a cheerful behavior of elevating his sport with each race, as informed by his floor stats of 5/12, although the one time he set foot exterior of Scotland or the north was a slightly chastening expertise at Cheltenham on this season’s Greatwood (completed tenth at 33/1). He has since rebounded excessive at his beloved Kelso however he is again swimming in a really completely different pool once more right here, and better than ever within the handicap.

7. Givemefive

Michael O’Sullivan | Harry Derham

Givemefive was goal skilled to win a high-value four-year-old occasion at Cheltenham in October, earlier than his limitations had been uncovered in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse the next month, within the jetwash of the thrilling Anzadam.

This will likely be his first handicap over hurdles, and there is only a query as as to whether he is fairly price 132, nonetheless resting on his Adonis second for that. I make him the steady’s second or third string behind Brentford Hope.

8. Go Dante

James Bowen | Olly Murphy

Go Dante was within the type of his life final time period and duly gained the Imperial Cup, and he is solely 1lb greater now. Nevertheless, that is by advantage of some slipped requirements to this point this season, having been disconcertingly pulled up within the Ladbrokes Hurdle when tried with out his standard cheekpieces (again on right here). It could be a case of Father Time assembly Mom Nature, on the age of 9.

9. Hardy Du Seuil

William Featherstone (7) | Jamie Snowden

Pays his approach, however one win within the final three years tells a story, and the actual fact stays that he is 0/8 from marks within the 130s, hurdles and fences, usually in lesser handicaps than this. Reappearance second at Carlisle reveals that every one of his means and urge for food is unbroken, however he is biting off greater than he can chew on this firm.

10. Court docket In The Act

Harry Reed | Harry Derham

Harry Derham’s cost has just a few flaws and foibles however could be harmful when let unfastened on the lead, as was the case on his comeback at Market Rasen the place by no means gave his odds-on backers a second’s fear, regardless of his trademark stargazing. The issue is that this competitors is far more durable, together with for the lead (with Knickerbockerglory within the line-up), and he threw within the towel in a equally scorching handicap (Novices’ Ultimate at Sandown) final spring.

11. Wreckless Eric

Kielan Woods | Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Wreckless Eric is a fast riser who has crushed 26 out of 27 rivals in Cheltenham handicaps on his final two begins. Solely the enterprisingly-ridden Mirabad did for him in a race which did not unravel Wreckless Eric, who was dropped out once more. It will check the idea of the higher the race the higher he’ll be, however he is undoubtedly in that mould. There is no saying how excessive he would possibly climb, given he’s solely a five-year-old and is simply six races in. gallop would assist to unlock his latent expertise.

12. Navajo Indy

Gavin Sheehan | Tom Symonds

On a roll, and his confidence is excessive, however so too is his mark after a profitable handicap debut within the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, raised 8lb, when the race was lighter than it seemed (few bought into it).

It isn’t simply the recalibrated ranking, because the monitor and tempo will likely be completely different right here, however what could matter most of all is that no horse within the area is coming in hotter than him.

13. Secret Squirrel

Nico de Boinville | Hughie Morrison

This horse was arguably the ethical winner within the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot as he saved going much better and much longer than the others who overdid issues up entrance and was booked for third when departing on the final. He should recuperate from a heavy fall and a tough race, which will likely be simpler stated than finished.

All the identical, Ascot fuelled the sensation that there is nonetheless that larger efficiency in him which he is lengthy since threatened.

14. Tour Ovalie

Isabel Williams (3) | Evan Williams

Tour Ovalie goes from energy to energy and introduced up the hat-trick at Newbury, the place she did very nicely to catch Break My Soul when nothing else bought close to the short-priced favorite. Nevertheless, she has a mountain to climb from out of the handicap, carrying 6lb extra nonetheless than her reassessed mark.

Jamie Lynch’s verdict

It is a race replete with improvers, however discovering one with extra nonetheless up their sleeve is the problem, and the perfect slot in that regard could also be five-year-old Wreckless Eric, who’d have gained his second straight Cheltenham handicap however for an impressed trip on Mirabad. His late-coming model additionally plugs in nicely with how the race maps out.

Watch each race on day one of many Berkshire Winter Million at Windsor reside on Sky Sports activities Racing (Sky 415) on Friday January 17.