Sky Sports Racing: Exciting Windsor Card Kicks Off Berkshire Winter Million

The Berkshire Winter Million Festival commences at Windsor, featuring a clash between Wilful, Great Fleet, and Knickerbockerglory, all vying for top honors - live on Sky Sports Racing. A fiercely competitive field of 16 is set to compete in the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle, with Great Fleet and Knickerbockerglory emerging as strong contenders for team Skelton. Knickerbockerglory, who was narrowly beaten two and a quarter lengths in this event last year, made a promising return at Sandown last month, finishing just behind Go Dante. With favorable conditions and Harry Atkins' seven-pound claim, he appears poised to deliver a notable performance. Stablemate Great Fleet impressed with a dominant maiden victory at Kelso last month and is an intriguing entrant, starting his handicap career from a mark of 126. Wilful, having secured a valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot before Christmas, is well-positioned to go close from his 7lb higher mark, given the manner of that triumph. Go Dante and Live Conti complete the shortlist, with the latter seeking to rebound from a disappointing run at Ascot. Last year's winner, Nemean Lion, aims to repeat his success in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle. Kerry Lee's stable star produced a remarkable effort to defeat Salver last season and warmed up for this event with a career-best third place in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Connections report him to be in excellent health, making him a favored contender to win again. Potters Charm poses a significant threat for the Nigel and Willy Twiston Davies yard, rated just 2lb lower than the top horse, and is expected to appreciate the shorter distance after failing to complete the three miles in his previous outing. Dan Skelton's Take No Chances is worth mentioning, having finished a creditable third behind Impose Toi at Newbury, which would give her leading claims on these terms, and this mare has previously starred on Winter Million weekend. The Grade 2 Lightning Novices' Chase at Windsor features a strong field, headlined by Be Aware and No Questions Asked. Be Aware has taken to fences well, winning a handicap at Stratford before finishing runner-up at Cheltenham and chasing home Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown. He should find this event more to his liking and may be difficult to surpass. The Ben Pauling-trained No Questions Asked has also shown solid form over fences, winning on debut and following home Wendigo in this grade at Newbury, although he failed to impress when favored at Ascot, leaving him with something to prove as he drops back to two miles. In opposition, Olly Murphy's dual winner Alnilam must contend with a penalty. Also at Windsor, Moneygarrow and They Call Me Hugo are set to engage in an intriguing renewal of the Thorn Plant Hire Novices' Hurdle at 12:40 pm, with the latter, trained by Olly Murphy, having narrowly been beaten by Carlenrig in Grade 2 company back in December and potentially being the one to beat. Gamesters Guy, having defeated the well-fancied Moon Rocket last time out, will be a popular choice in the Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at 1:15 pm, but will face challenges from King Of Answers and Guard The Moon. The Sam Thomas yard, having had an excellent season thus far, will aim to further improve their fortunes when Alfie's Princess goes to post for the Fitzdares Telephone And Text Betting Service Mares' Handicap Chase at 2:25 pm, alongside the likes of Bluey and Largy Force. At Newcastle, Mollie Foster and Bela Sonata headline the feature Class 2 BetMGM AWC Fillies & Mares Trial Fillies' Handicap at 1:40 pm, before Blazeon Five and Duke Of Oxford lead a field of 12 for the Midnite AWC Marathon Trial Handicap at 2:15 pm. The formidable combination of Tom Marquand and William Haggas reunite with Time Loop for the 2:50 pm Midnite AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap, and Pocklington faces Berkshire Whisper in the Midnite AWC Sprint Trial Handicap at 3:20 pm.