Another big midwinter meeting draws to a close on Sunday, 18 January with the Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 3 card at Windsor. On a bumper card, the Fleur De Lys Chase and rearranged Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase provide the best quality action from the Royal racecourse.
Besides a novice hurdle and bumper that top and tail proceedings, there are lots of good handicap supporting the features. Over fences, the Great Park Handicap Chase tests speed. The Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle will be an examination of equine stamina, meanwhile. There is also a long-distance handicap chase and novices’ handicap hurdle completing the card.
In short, there’s a lot going on at Windsor. Helping you make sense of the Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 3 card are our experts with their Sunday selections. Back for one final look at the best contests, they assess what horse racing betting sites have to offer punters in terms of prices and value on a big day for the track.
Leafing through the form book with tenacity, our experts study past performances before coming up with shortlists and their picks. They also share their thinking with readers, so you can see the reason why a certain horse appeals to them. It’s a logical approach to a sport with so many variables to consider. Let’s see who they fancy on this card…
Berkshire Winter Million 2026 Day 3 Preview for Sunday, 18 January
12:20 – 2m Class 2 Mares’ Novice Hurdle
Not the best bunch of females ever assembled when you consider Love Envoi and Jubilee Alpha feature on this race’s roll of honour. The opener looks highly likely to go to one of the penalised mares. LAU AND SHAZ beat the useful Charisma Cat, who won a Listed bumper last season and placed in that company over the smaller obstacles before their encounter around Wincanton.
Kayley Woollacott has an Irish import on her hands here that could turn out to be even better than an opening mark of 122. Lau And Shaz ran with credit in some of her own bumpers. The softer ground is question mark, but she’s 8lb ahead of Anariza on official figures. Tom Ellis’ charge doesn’t mind the cut underfoot, but this demands more than her Wetherby win last time out.
Anariza has seen the runner-up come out and beat the third home at Hexham since, but it doesn’t read as well in relation to this level. On a form line through Charisma Cat, it’s hard to make a case for Ben Pauling’s Hornica. Team Skelton runner Getawhisky fell last time out and that’s not exactly ideal prep for this. As a juvenile, Penn Avenue receives lumps of weight but only won off marks in the 50s on the Flat.
12:50 – 2m 4f Class 3 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (0-125)
From last to first! 😯
Fortune De Mer breezes up the hill to take the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle 🥇#ITVRacing | @harryskelton89 | @DSkeltonRacing pic.twitter.com/cMtimfkkJk
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 12, 2025
This level is a major drop in class for Sandown Grade 2 third Top Jimmy, but he’s up 1lb for being comprehensively beaten by No Drama This End on Berkshire Winter Millions 2026 day 3 here. If conditions remain testing, then KEL DU LARGE looks well-treated on his bumper runs and will appreciate the return to a softer surface. Two of his three victories in National Hunt Flat races for Jane Williams came with cut in the ground.
Kel Du Large wasn’t disgraced when an outpaced fifth at Cheltenham in December. The handicapper has been kind in dropping him 1lb and all the midweek rain helps his cause. He’s also 8lb better off with old rival Lisbane Park, who beat him some four lengths at Exeter. The way in which Kel Du Large kept on into third behind Joe Tizzard’s charge suggests, like so many bumper horses, further will suit.
Others to note here include the Skeltons combining with JP McManus with Harry Lowes. He must brush up his jumping, however. Olly Murphy has the hat-trick seeking Scorpio Rising in the line-up, but he’s an 8lb hike for victories around Perth and Lingfield. The fourth home last time out has come out and won since, so there’s some substance to the form.
Fresh Kicks drops back in trip for Nicky Henderson after not seeing out almost three miles around Ascot last time. His sole career win to date came on soft around Plumpton, a track which bears some similarities to Windsor. Off an opening mark of 116, meanwhile, Fashion Hunter could be a real dark horse for Gary & Josh Moore after just two career starts.
1:20 – 3m 60y Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase
Either the going or sharpness of this course raise concern for others in the line-up. Moon Rocket was knocking on the door in novice hurdles with placed efforts twice in this grade. Salver carries a penalty for Sandown success in the Esher Novices’ Chase, but this asks a very different question of him. First-time cheekpieces go ahead, but he didn’t look comfortable around Kempton last time.
Wade Out hit a major flat spot at Cheltenham under a never say die ride from Sean Bowen and took an awful lot of galvanising to land a Listed race. This track simply may not suit him and there’s a penalty to carry as well. Doyen Quest is a good ground horse and the going is anything but here, so the Skeltons may struggle to show him to best effect now.
Laurens Bay is the outsider and has most to find on ratings for Jamie Snowden after finishing third to Salver and Doyen Quest at Sandown. Jeriko Du Reponet is the only addition to the line-up, but hasn’t looked a natural over his fences. Going back up in trip may help him as his best exploits last season came in staying handicap hurdles for Henderson and McManus.
1:50 – 2m 37y Class 2 Great Park Handicap Chase
A proper finish! 👏
Triple Trade grabs victory in a flying finish to the Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Chase 💪 pic.twitter.com/mk7eIB3xFr
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 16, 2025
Mighty Bandit has a 5lb hike for Warren Greatrex here, while the runner-up Highlands Legacy has 3lb more on his back. At the revised weights, it gives Torneo every chance of turning the tables, provided jockey Gavin Sheehan doesn’t give him too much to do. Of the others, handicap debutant Mirabad is one to fear for Team Skelton. This is just his third start over fences and he goes into open company after placing in a Grade 2 novice last time.
Nicky Richards sends veteran Nells Son all the way down the country from Penrith, but he’s still has topweight despite being an 11-year-old. Harper’s Brook gives the Skelton stable a second string, albeit one that’s difficult to catch right. Sans Bruit is a “spring horse” and the rain-softened conditions won’t help him as he plots his way back to Aintree for yet another tilt at the Red Rum.
2:25 – 3m Class 2 Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle
Robbie Llewellyn won this 12 months ago with Titan Discovery, so Love Of Neymore may have had this as a target for the stable too. He wasn’t disgraced when third at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day with assessor just nudging him up 1lb. Love Of Neymore still has a lovely racing weight of 10st 3lb to carry here, however. Those higher in the weights also have to be on any shortlist.
Both Royal Rambler, the pick of Emma Lavelle’s pair in the line-up, and Keable placed around Chepstow over Christmas. A less testing track might be in their favour now, though. Another Richards raider on this card to note is Nab Wood, meanwhile, whose two wins this season have come on a soft surface. He has a 6lb hike to a career high mark of 134 to overcome here.
Tom Symonds runner Lud’or may prove popular with punters, alongside Skelton’s Tranquil Sea, but have to prove their stamina on the going. Murphy continues to race Long Draw, but the plan is surely to get him into the Pertemps Final off a workable mark. He’s one who doesn’t like anything but a sound surface. The remainder are available at big prices with good reason.
3:00 – 2m 6f 50y Class 2 Fleur De Lys Chase
There has to be a passing of the torch, and HANDSTANDS could prove more effective dropped back to this trip. Although only fourth for Pauling in the Betfair Chase, he relished testing conditions when landing the Scilly Isles from Jango Baie at Sandown. The runner-up went on to amazingly land the Arkle and the 1965 Chase this autumn before finishing a close fourth in the King George.
Handstands is 2lb worse off with old rival Resplendent Grey here with their head-to-head tied at one win apiece. The problem with backing Murphy’s runner here, however, is connections had him in the Classic Chase at Warwick last Saturday. This asks very different questions of a horse whose best form remains over a lot further in the spring.
Matata won the Great Park on this card 12 months ago, meanwhile, for the Twiston-Davies team. He settles better in his races now and made a successful step up in trip for a Premier Handicap over an extended two-and-a-half miles at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He could end up setting things up for a closer, though, now tackling even further.
3:35 – 3m 4f 162y Class 3 Stayers Handicap Chase (0-125)
Planned Paradise sticks to his task well, seeing off Fortunate Man to claim this Winter Million Stayers’ Handicap at @WindsorRaces!@jacktudor9 | @CWilliamsRacing pic.twitter.com/c4XstjdEYt
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 19, 2025
The form of last year’s race has worked out incredibly well with the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seven all winning since. That suggests PLANNED PARADISE is well worth a wager to land this marathon event again off 7lb lower on Berkshire Winter Million 2026 day 3. Christian Williams’ charge gets in off joint-bottom weight now and has hit the frame on a number of occasions since.
Planned Paradise handled soft ground just fine here 12 months ago when the weights had better horses framing them. Any long distance staying chasers like these where Sam Thomas has a runner means whatever he saddles must be worth a closer look. Special John has landed both of his outings over fences so far, but the going poses a new question for him.
Topweight Holokea and Jupiter Des Bordes went close last time out, so can’t be discounted despite their presence at the top of the handicap. Those re-opposing who claimed minor honours in the Borders National around Kelso could all also be involved here. De Legislator fared best in Scotland for Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore in third.
Gold Clermont wasn’t disgraced from out the handicap then either a place behind. The sixth home, Neo King, has cheekpieces on for the first time here. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero explore this longer trip with Jacks Parrot, while Neil King veteran Enjoy d’Allen rolled back the years to score last time out. Aged 12, his best days are behind him.
