March 18 / 15.17 Exeter

15.17

Good

Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £10033.9
  • 2m 3f 48y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88

Form: 3FP/66 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
The last of his four wins was at this track in February 2022; 706 days off before this season, including with wind surgery (his third); beaten 20l and 15l in his two hurdle races (2m1f) last month, which was nothing like his old hurdles form but he did show something and all hope is probably not lost on this return to chasing with a step back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

The Widdow Maker

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tizzard

Won in a small field at Exeter (2m3f, good) last March before 17l sixth in this race (good); he's run well in defeat on both starts this season but needs something extra if he's to come out on top today.

14/1

3rd

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

Form: 3/1P-P D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
29 of his 32 races under rules were for Henry de Bromhead; won a hunter chase at Haydock (2m6f, heavy) last February on debut for new connections but pulled up in the Aintree Foxhunters' next time and same again in valuable 2m4f Newbury handicap (100-1; dropped out from five out) when reappearing 17 days ago; it's hard to be confident in how much ability remains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:15 Cartmel

Spyglass Hill

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran; two fair efforts since joining this yard, last time finishing runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good); has won on heavy ground so should handle these conditions; one to consider.

9/4

2

26th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:15 Cartmel

Spyglass Hill

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran; two fair efforts since joining this yard, last time finishing runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good); has won on heavy ground so should handle these conditions; one to consider.

9/4

2nd

8

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Spyglass Hill

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran who has done all his winning on heavy ground and is no longer the force of old; looked a shade unlucky not to win on good ground at Exeter (2m3f) in March, having made a bad jumping error in the straight, but is 4lb wrong here and younger rivals appeal more.

20/1

Form: 0/0P4P D

Last run: 31 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Smart form for his 3m wins in January and April 2023 but, after 545 days off, he's flickered in only one of his four races this season; that was on penultimate start (fourth of five at Ascot) and this is a big step down in class compared to his latest, in which he was pulled up early with an irregular heartbeat, but it's hard to have confidence in him at the moment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Annsam

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Mrs C Williams

Returned to form with clear win off much-reduced mark at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) in December but three non-completions have followed, most recently when he was pulled up back at Ludlow last month; others look safer.

12/1

4

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:57 Ludlow

Annsam

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mrs C Williams

Won this race three years ago and gained his first win since when drawing clear over 3m1f back here in December; since then he's suffered a heavy fall at Sandown and an unfortunate early unseat at Kempton but respected back here as he could still be in fair form.

5/1

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Annsam

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mrs C Williams

Mid-race faller in the Stayers' Veterans' Final at Sandown last time; ended a long losing spell with his Ludlow performance in most recent completed start and he remains well treated on historical data, which includes a useful win over this C&D.

4/1

Form: 548-31 D

Last run: 99 days

W: 11st 1lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Last season's win was on good ground and he had wind surgery (his third) before this campaign; won a six-runner race at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in December very comfortably, which sees him off 6lb higher for today's first run since, but that's clearly the most substantial achievement over fences from any of these runners this term.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:17 Exeter

Le Ligerien

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

prominent, pressed leader 6th

11/8

Non-runners

Stoners Choice

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.20
Straight Forecast £17.00
Trifecta £35.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Le Ligerien

The Guardian:

Stoner's Choice

POSTDATA:

Annsam

The Times:

The Widdow Maker

Telegraph:

Spyglass Hill

Daily Record:

Stoner's Choice

The Sun:

Annsam

RP RATINGS:

Le Ligerien

TOPSPEED:

Le Ligerien

Daily Mail:

Le Ligerien

D Express:

Le Ligerien

Daily Mirror:

Le Ligerien

The Star:

Le Ligerien