Friday marks the start of the 2025 Winter Millions and the change of venue to Windsor from Lingfield.

There will be some big names on show this weekend, with the highlight being Jonbon taking on two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

But before that, we have some future stars on show at Windsor today.

First up, the Grade 2 Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase.

Get all the best Winter Millions odds and offers from the leading online horse racing bookmakers here.

Grade 2 Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase runners

Now it’s time to take an in-depth look into runners of the Grade 2 Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

1 Caldwell Potter

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 211-13
• Rating: 148
• Jockey: Harry Cobden
• Trainer: Paul Nicholls
• Odds: 1/1

Having started the season off with a bang with an impressive display on chase debut at Carlise on his first start for Paul Nicholls since coming over from Gordon Elliotts, Caldwell Potter has since taken a bit of the gloss off his ora.

Having been dubbed a potential Gold Cup horse for the future, the step-up in trip for the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham looked sure to be up his street.

But, as quick as he went from looking like he was going to take all the beating for the majority of the race, distress signals began to be sent out as Harry Cobden had to get serious with him as Springwell Bay and eventual winner Jango Baie loomed up on both sides before two out, and eventually beaten 13 lengths into third.

Still, he should be able to get back to winning ways today.

At Cheltenham, the ground may have been much faster than ideal, and he may have been feeling two quick runs back to back after a 340-day absence.

He gets softer conditions here and a drop back in trip, which will suit him.

Granted a clear round of jumping, I would be disappointed if he couldn’t get back to winning ways here against this opposition.

Impressive on chase debut
Return to softer ground conditions
Drop back in trip

Can jump out to his left

Star rating:

Bet on Caldwell Potter with talkSPORT BET

4 You Wear It Well

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 9lb
• Form: 237-23
• Rating: 137
• Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
• Trainer: Jamie Snowden
• Odds: 10/3

The only mare in the race and the former winner of the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival has much to prove here.

You Wear It Well has not set the world alight since switching to chasing and has yet to win in two starts.

On her first start, she did too much on the front end, made mistakes, and was eventually run down by Shecouldbeanything at Bangor. Switching to hold-up tactics didn’t help on her next start when she could never get seriously involved in a Listed Mares Chase at Warwick.

She must leave that form behind her if she is to trouble some talented geldings here.

She’s the wrong price for me and must be taken on.

Has a good level of form over hurdles
Goes on any ground conditions

Has been making mistakes over fences
Up against the geldings

Star rating:

Bet on You Wear It Well with Sky Bet

2 Gidleigh Park

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 1116-P
• Rating: 138
• Jockey: Bryan Carver
• Trainer: Harry Fry
• Odds: 5/1

A lot of hope and expectation was carried into this season, with the hope that Gidleigh Park could surpass the high standards he set as a novice hurdler last season, but come his chase debut, he was pulled up before the sixth fence.

It was found that he had an irregular heartbeat post-race, so you can more than forgive him that run.

Gidleigh Park was only beaten once over hurdles, and that was in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

If all is well with him after his health scare at Kempton, Gidleigh Park will be the one that gives Caldwell Potter the most to think about in the finish.

His hurdles form is up there with Caldwell Potter’s, so expect a bold showing.

High-level hurdler
Will like the soft ground conditions

Found to have an irregular heartbeat last time out
Up against the geldings

Star rating:

Bet on Gidleigh Park with Paddy Power

3 Personal Ambition

• Age: 7
• Weight: 11st 2lb
• Form: 16-242
• Rating: 137
• Jockey: Ben Jones
• Trainer: Ben Pauling
• Odds: 7/1

Even though Personal Ambition has yet to get off the mark over fences in three runs, he’s not out of it here.

The change to front-running tactics at Ascot almost paid off when a good second to Mark Of Gold in the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase.

That was a further improvement on his two previous runs, and with the likelihood that he may be able to eke out a bit more, he has every chance of having a say in the finish.

The only major issue he may have is whether Harry Cobden and Caldwell Potter opt for their front-running tactics once again. If they choose to go with Cadwell Potter, they may be setting themselves up for failure.

He has a chance but may find Caldwell Potter and Gidleigh Park too good.

Improving with each run over fences

Taking on two high-class hurdlers

Star rating:

Bet on Personal Ambition with Midnite

Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase verdict

A tight enough four-runner Grade 2, but it won’t be very disappointing if the Grade 1 winning hurdler CADWELL POTTER can’t get back to winning way today.

If Gidleigh Park shows no ill effects from his health scare, he can follow my selection past the finishing line.

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.