Attention switches from Windsor to Ascot for the Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 card on Saturday, 17 January. Both racecourses lie just a few miles apart, but the action goes up even higher in quality thanks to the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase taking centre stage here.
Before we see Il Etait Temps and Jonbon serve up another chapter in their rivalry, there’s some interesting handicaps for punters to ponder. In amongst that action, the Grade 2 Warfield Mares’ Hurdle is a handy chief supporting race to proceedings. The card has juvenile and novice hurdles topping and tailing it as well.
Chief among the handicaps is the Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle. which can often prove informative for middle-distance races of this kind moving forward. There is plenty on Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 to keep horse racing fans engaged, that’s for sure. The Clarence House, as has often been the case in recent seasons, put the emphasis on quality rather than quantity.
It means punters have to take a view on the big race. We can help you in that regard as our experts have been studying all the form and past performances. They combine that with the latest prices on top horse racing bookies online when coming up with their analysis and shortlists. Read the Saturday selections on offer from Ascot and why our experts fancy certain runners below.
They have their reasons for putting horses up. It may be that these picks have run well here in the past, or caught the eye running well in defeat last time. See selections for all seven races on this card below as we delve into all the action taking place at Ascot on the middle day of this valuable midwinter meeting…
Berkshire Winter Million 2026 Day 2 Preview for Saturday, 17 January
12:25 – 1m 7f 157y Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle
An opening contest where Winston Junior sets a middling standard of 124 for the rest to beat. Faye Bramley’s charged chased home Wensleydale winner Minella Study in an official Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham before Christmas. Those who watched the National Hunt debut of DOWN TO BUSINESS for Dan Skelton around Newbury, however, will know how he caught the eye.
Although not so highly-rated on the Flat as some of the opposition here, he made plenty of headway in the home straight. Better jumps at three out and two out would definitely have seen Down To Business finish closer to a race-fit winner defying a penalty. Winston Junior doesn’t set that high a bar for him to surpass here either.
We can expect Nicky Henderson’s Macshadow Des Crai to come forward from his British bow behind Winston Junior, meanwhile. Jumps newcomer Novelista has plenty of race experience from the Flat and previous connections. He might be best watched after joining Lambourn handler Warren Greatrex from Middleham trainer Charlie Johnston. Denis Hogan and Toby Lawes declare two apiece.
1:00 – 2m 7f 185y Class 3 BetMGM Handicap Chase (0-140)
Saturday 13th December
NAP OF THE DAY 🏇💥Cheltenham 12:40 – The Jukebox Kid 7/4
Tipped earlier in Apex at 7/4
The Jukebox Kid looks good value at the prices i think the way he won at Carlisle was very good over 2mile5f, out of Jukebox Jury the sire the 3miles brings… https://t.co/akJgWykBRt pic.twitter.com/RnvvK9o0oe— Rory Gillard 🏇💥 (@Rory_gillard) December 12, 2025
Sandown 1-3 Welcom To Cartries and In d’Or, who won this off 9lb lower 12 months ago, had a hard race at Esher. Meeting off level weights during Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 puts the latter 3lb better off with the former. It’s interesting that connections of Issam step him right up in trip and go here, rather than the 2m 5f race later on the card.
One lurking lower in the handicap, but open to further progress is Henry Daly’s chasing maiden LAGANHILL. He enjoys a 9lb swing in the weights with Carlisle conqueror The Jukebox Kid, favourite on the best betting sites for this. Staying chasers are the currency for Daly, so Laganhill might well be able to turnaround that Cumbrian form with another three furlongs of galloping and make it third time lucky over fences.
Kap Vert finished third in a Kempton handicap where Tom Lacey’s course and distance winner Montregard pulled-up. Uttoxeter rivals Minella Blueway and Eyed also clash again, but neither has what you’d call a consistent profile. The long absent Chavez could make his debut for Venetia Williams as Malcolm Denmark sends yet another horse of his with problems to her.
1:40 – 1m 7f 157y Grade 2 Warfield Mares’ Hurdle
A fine couple of days for @jamiesnowden and @GavinSheehan92!
La Conquiere looks a mare of some ability, quickening up in good style to double her account and gain Listed honours at @NewburyRacing… pic.twitter.com/kP9vgPjsWV
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 29, 2025
With Nurse Susan doing all her recent winning over two-and-a-half miles, Skelton’s mare may find this trip a little on the sharp side. Connections have also mentioned the Coral Cup as a spring target for her, so they must be careful not to completely blow her handicap mark (up 10lb already this season). It could be worth taking a chance on Jamie Snowden novice LA CONQUIERE instead.
She arrives at the Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 card off the back of landing both career hurdles outings. The latest of those came in Listed company across the county around Newbury. La Conquiere beat Charisma Cat, one of Alan King’s best prospects this season, and two mares placed in graded novice hurdles previously. That adds some substance to the form, then.
Nothing about Nurse Susan’s performances really suggests she wants to drop back in distance. An on-song Joyeuse would be a huge threat here, however, but she just hasn’t been the same since landing the big Newbury handicap known as the Betfair and Schweppes in the past. Sunset Marquesa might be more suited by this shorter trip for Joe Tizzard, but the least exposed hurdler has to be the selection here.
2:20 – 2m 5f 13y Class 2 bet365 Handicap Chase
The Howden Handicap Chase goes the way of ETALON after a brilliant ride from @harryskelton89 for his brother @DSkeltonRacing ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/dAx1mLClYK
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) December 20, 2025
Last year’s runner-up Hitman and fourth home Scarface try to win this again. The former is 1lb lower in the weights and the latter 6lb higher. Scarface was no match for ETALON here just before Christmas, however, and the Skelton runner appeals to confirm the form off a 5lb higher mark. Positive tactics might work on Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 again, albeit stepping up in trip another quarter-mile.
Kempton specialist Bad was also behind Etalon here in December, so Ben Pauling’s runner must prove he handles this more testing track. After two placed efforts in Premier Handicaps over two-and-a-half miles at Cheltenham, Sam Thomas brings Vincenzo here. Nudged up just 3lb for those consecutive seconds, he must improve on his previous Ascot visits over hurdles.
It looks significant, that David Pipe again books Harry Cobden for the ride on course and distance winner Neon Moon, meanwhile. He’s only 3lb higher than when successful here in November. Thursday’s rain hitting Ascot may foil the plans of connections, though. Veterans Fugitif and Jungle Boogie don’t appeal much, while Heltenham gives Skelton a second string.
2:53 – 2m 3f 63y Class 2 Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle
Seven-year-olds have won the last four editions of this. Younger legs are again preferred here for the big handicap hurdle of the Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 card. CAME FROM NOWHERE swerved the Lanzarote last Saturday on drying ground, but rain on Thursday means he should have a softer surface here. Jeremy Scott’s runner appeals most after scoring over the distance around Hereford last time.
Although up 7lb for that, Came From Nowhere is still open to further progress over this trip and perhaps even longer distances. Fellow seven-year-old Surrey Lord also has claims for Lawes, but has a 6lb hike for a second win at Kempton over further when last in action. He needs to prove he handles a more galloping and undulating track now, though.
It’s interesting that Jamie Snowden steps Marche d’Aligre up in trip here. As a five-year-old, he’s the youngest in the line-up by some way and therefore open to more progress than the likes of Skelton veteran Faivoir, who has run well here in the past, and Moveit Like Minnie the Twiston-Davies team.
Cobden rides for future boss JP McManus here, partnering Pipe’s Thanksforthehelp who scored over this distance at the Punchestown Festival. Although 8lb higher in the weights still, he should find this testing track more suitable than a spin around Windsor last time. Fergal O’Brien claims 5lb off topweight Tripoli Flyer with the booking of daughter Fern in the saddle, meanwhile.
3:30 – 2m 172y Grade 1 Clarence House Chase
And so to the big race of the Berkshire Winter Million day 2 card and the entire meeting. There’s no appetite to oppose IL ETAIT TEMPS in his bid to confirm Sandown superiority with last year’s winner Jonbon, now with Cobden in the saddle, at a different clockwise track here. Willie Mullins is no stranger to Clarence House success, courtesy of an Un De Sceaux hat-trick.
Il Etait Temps looked better than ever when again challenging on the home turn and landing the Tingle Creek going away from Jonbon. He’s won five in a row with the four most recent of those all going right-handed. Rain falling at Ascot may blunt Thistle Ask in his own separate bid for a six-timer. Skelton’s charge has been nothing short of remarkable in progressing from a mark of 115 on his stable debut.
According to the official BHA handicapper, Thistle Ask has improved to the tune of more than three stone (43lb). He’s against some serious horses now, however, and looks worth a shot at this level, but only if the ground dries out. Harry Fry has the talented but fragile Gidleigh Park dropping back in trip from the 1965 Chase on his reappearance. He has the most scope for further improvement in this sphere.
After just four starts over fences, we haven’t got the bottom of Gidleigh Park. If all five initially entered in the contest had been declared, then he would’ve perhaps represented a credible each-way bet. With that option closed to punters, however, the fact remains that he has the most to find on official figures. Gidleigh Park is a lightly-raced horse capable of winning more if placed correctly by connections.
4:05 – 2m 5f 146y Class 3 National Hunt Novice Hurdle
Four of the nine runners carry a penalty, and the winner will probably come from that lot. LAGUNA BEACH appeals most stepped up in trip again for the concluding race on Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 2 after needing most of an extended 2m 3f around Hereford to hit the front. Henderson and Michael Buckley is always a combination to be feared. There were excuses for Laguna Beach’s defeat on hurdling debut too.
He lost a shoe around Sandown, but finished third to subsequent Listed winner Hurricane Pat. That one goes for the Grade 2 Supreme Trial up at Haydock Park earlier on Saturday. Laguna Beach has franked the form himself and an extra couple of furlongs should be no problem for him under James Bowen.
With Kasino Des Mottes lacking the stamina for three miles at Cheltenham and only scoring on an easier track like Kempton, the danger might well be Minella Marathon from Team Skelton. Going down in distance in what admittedly was an even warmer novice than this didn’t suit him. Connections fit Minella Marathon with a first-time tongue tie to aid with his breathing.
Ready Carlisle winner The Burren Man won as he liked for Harry Derham, but whether the form amounts to as much as the other penalised runners is open to question. Of those not carrying extra weight here, Pauling’s Uptown Dandy could improve for the longer trip. Thomas and Walters Plant Hire must think something of Whiskey Yankee to pitch him in here for his hurdles debut.
Team Twiston-Davies give Tobyshill his Rules bow, meanwhile. Purchased recently from Ireland, the form of his Point success has been franked by the third winning twice since. The others both pulled-up last time.
