Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle
Windsor 15:35 £110,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 2
Friday 16th January 2026

1 Hot Fuss 10/1
2 Wilful 85/40F
3 Live Conti 12/1
14 ran NR: Bubble Dubi, Listentoyourheart
Distances: 2¾l, 3¼l, nse Time: 3m 53.02s (slow by 12.02s)

Hot Fuss produceda gritty front-running performance to score at 10/1 under David Bass for trainer Tom Dascombe.

Always in touch with the pace, the five-year-old moved prominently before the fifth hurdle and began to apply pressure turning for home. He pressed the leader three out and soon became locked in a sustained duel with Wilful, the pair drawing clear of the remainder. Hot Fuss gained the upper hand on the run-in and kept on strongly towards the line, Bass riding him out to secure victory by two and three-quarter lengths.

Wilful, trained by Jonjo and A J O’Neill and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, ran a bold race in second. Prominent throughout, he led narrowly three out and battled bravely when joined by the winner, but a less fluent jump two out cost him momentum and he had no extra once headed on the run-in.

Live Conti, representing Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, finished third. Held up towards the rear early, he made steady headway from three out and picked off tired rivals late on to claim the final podium spot.

The Hardest Geezer briefly looked a threat when moving into contention before two out but ultimately lost third close home, while Milldam and Spectacularsunrise filled the minor places. Several prominent racers faded late on, including early leader Knickerbockerglory, who weakened after a mistake three out.

In the end, it belonged to Hot Fuss, who showed determination and stamina to prevail in a competitive renewal and give Tom Dascombe a well-earned success at Windsor.

Sovereign Handicap Hurdle
£110,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 2
14 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Hot Fuss ( 5 10-11 Tom Dascombe David Bass 10/1
2 2¾ Wilful 7 12-0 Jonjo & A J O’Neill Jonjo O’Neill Jr 85/40F
3 3¼ Live Conti 5 12-0 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 12/1
4 nse The Hardest Geezer 7 10-8 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Sean Houlihan 12/1
5 ½ Milldam 8 10-13 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 20/1
6 2¼ Spectacularsunrise 6 11-3 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 10/1
7 8 Stoner’s Choice 11 10-2 Fergal O’Brien Fern O’Brien 100/1
8 2¾ Melon 5 10-5 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Michael Kenneally 9/1
9 3 Poet Laureate 6 10-8 Chris Gordon Freddie Gordon 15/2
10 3 Go Dante 10 11-6 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 22/1
11 1¾ Saligo Bay 8 10-11 Sam England Craig Nichol 25/1
12 1¾ No Ordinary Joe 10 10-7 Faye Bramley Benjamin Macey 28/1
13 7½ Knickerbockerglory 10 11-5 Dan Skelton Harry Atkins 6/1
PU Great Fleet 6 10-12 Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 20/1