Winter Million set for strong start with Windsor Lightning strike

L’Eau Du Sud and Caldwell Potter feature among eight entries for the Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor on Friday.

The Thameside track hosts the opening afternoon of the Berkshire Winter Million meeting, with the Lightning carrying Grade Two status.

Trained by Dan Skelton, L’Eau Du Sud took his perfect chasing record to three from three at Sandown last month, lifting Grade One honours in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

At a general 12-1, he is the shortest British-trained contender for Arkle honours at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Like Caldwell Potter, he represents an ownership group that includes Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and John Hales.

Much has been written about Caldwell Potter since he was acquired for a record €740,000 at the Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal sale in February last year, which saw him leave Gordon Elliott for Paul Nicholls.

He did not debut for his new connections until making a successful fencing bow at Carlisle in December, after which he stepped up markedly in class at Cheltenham to finish third behind Jango Baie and Springwell Bay.

Harry Fry has entered his highly-regarded Gidleigh Park, while Jamie Snowden has smart mare You Wear It Well engaged. Skelton has two other possibles in Skycutter and Beat Box, with Personal Ambition (Ben Pauling) Universal Secret (Helen Nelmes) completing the list.

Elsewhere on the card, there is the valuable Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle, where Gary and Josh Moore’s Salver could attempt to seek compensation for his final flight fall in Cheltenham’s Relkeel Hurdle.

Relkeel runner-up Gowel Road is also in the mix having rattled the crossbar with regularity this term, while other notable entrants include Langer Dan and Willie Mullins’ Gala Marceau.