Matata could make Windsor stop en route to Ryanair
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Willy Twiston-Davies is convinced the step back up in trip has seen Matata take his game to another level ahead of a possible trip to Windsor at the weekend.
The eight-year-old tackled two and a half miles and won impressively by nine and a half lengths in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day to throw himself into the reckoning for the Ryanair Chase at the Festival.
But before that he could again go up in trip to two miles and six furlongs in the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase at the Berkshire circuit on Sunday.
Twiston-Davies, who trains in partnership with his father Nigel, said: “He’s in very good order. He’s a law unto himself, he tanks away up the gallop, he looks in fine fettle. He’s remarkable and looks like he’s come out of his race very well.
“I think the step up in trip has made a massive improvement. I dare say he might even get three miles next year, going up in trip has brought out a lot of improvement.
“We’ll work back from the Ryanair with him. Not sure (if he’ll run again before then). We’ll speak to Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) and Anthony (Bromley, racing manager) and see if everything’s all right on Friday if we even go on Sunday. We’ll make sure everything is 100 per cent.”
Spectacularsunrise is also heading to Windsor for Friday’s Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle before an assignment at Kelso at the end of next month in the Morebattle Hurdle.
The son of Passing Glance was beaten into second by Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hope Mossy Fen Road at Chepstow last time out but that followed two routine victories at Bangor and Kelso.
Twiston-Davies added: “He’s had a really good season, he’s going to run on Friday and then it looks very likely that, and the plan has been for a while, to plan back from the Morebattle.
“(Owner) Geoff Bruce is a very good family friend, he’s from Scotland and the horse is a course and distance winner there and usually it looks quite a winnable race for a lot of prize money. So I imagine what we’ll do is go on Friday and then on to the Morebattle.
“The (Chepstow) winner’s now a short price for the Supreme. I think Spectacularsunrise is very talented. He jumps brilliantly, he’s very slick – the faster they go the better. He’ll eventually get two and a half, two miles is no problem for him.”
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