March 17 / 16.05 Exeter

16.05

Good To Soft

Oddschecker Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5016.95
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
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Oddschecker Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.60
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 46-U45

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Unseated rider on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in December and was safely held on next two outings (both on slow ground) but he'll appreciate this ease in grade and may yet come good for his top stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Dyno Dave

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Appreciated better ground when opening his chase account at the fourth attempt at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in March, but took a heavy fall back there the following month; still has more to offer in this sphere and he's respected if that latest effort hasn't dented his confidence.

9/4

1

7th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:40 Exeter

Dyno Dave

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't hang about over hurdles and seemed to appreciate getting away from slow ground when edging home in a C&D good-ground handicap three weeks ago, on only his fourth run over fences; up 5lb but probably improving.

5/4

1st

1

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Dyno Dave

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Unseated rider on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in December and was safely held on next two outings (both on slow ground) but he'll appreciate this ease in grade and may yet come good for his top stable.

7/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: P5-125

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Scored at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in November and ran well in defeat at Market Rasen (2m3f, good to soft) soon afterwards; ran in snatches and was disappointing when fifth (just behind Dyno Dave) at Ffos Las (3m heavy) in January but still considered here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Girls Best Friend

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 7yo who scored on seasonal/handicap/chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in November and arguably bettered that performance when a close second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; still unexposed at around 3m; leading contender.

7/2

2nd

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Girls Best Friend

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Scored at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in November and ran well in defeat at Market Rasen (2m3f, good to soft) soon afterwards; ran in snatches and was disappointing when fifth (just behind Dyno Dave) at Ffos Las (3m heavy) in January but still considered here.

11/2

5th

7

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

14:20 Ffos Las

Girls Best Friend

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo who has shown the benefit of being switched to handicaps and chasing, winning at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) then second at Market Rasen (2m3f); bred to be suited by this longer distance and remains open to further progress; shortlisted.

11/4

12/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 78-76P

Last run: 76 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Unplaced all four hurdling starts last year, then was pulled up when upped to 3m for chasing debut at Uttoxeter (good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in December; with a top stable and remains unexposed but it takes a leap of faith to support him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

27th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:23 Newton Abbot

Thickthorn Tom

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Eight-race maiden but he's been placed in the last two of his three chase runs including when a clear second at Fontwell (2m3f, good; tongue-tie added) 13 days ago; looks interesting off the same mark here and he should have more to offer over fences; leading contender.

4/5

2nd

5

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Thickthorn Tom

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Much the best of two chase starts when third of 11 at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in March; drops back in trip with a tongue-tie joining his cheekpieces; unexposed and he's respected for top yard.

5/2

Form: 3-8535

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for his age and very well handicapped on old hurdling form but all three chase runs this year (2m4f-2m6f) have been disappointing; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Italian Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Uneven chasing profile looks better once pared down to just efforts at or around 2m4f; chance on the form of his last-time Ffos Las second off 1lb lower, though jumping late on wasn't all it could have been.

11/2

2nd

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Italian Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Record of 0-4 since switched to fences but shaped better than bare result with blinkers fitted at Exeter (3m) most recently; drop back in trip looks ideal; could go well.

12/1

Form: 345235 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Needs to up his game after two below-par recent runs (2m/2m3f) but his second to a next-time-out winner at Taunton (2m2f, heavy) in early February was a good effort and this step up in trip is an interesting move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Needs to up his game after two below-par recent runs (2m/2m3f) but his second to a next-time-out winner at Taunton (2m2f, heavy) in early February was a good effort and this step up in trip is an interesting move.

9/1

5th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Storming Nelson

11st 0lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Over two years since sole career win in a novice hurdle here; 0-3 over fences and easily the best of those runs was the second at Taunton (2m2f, heavy); ideally wants that slower ground.

8/1

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Ffos Las

Storming Nelson

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Out the back with DJ Pete in a Chepstow novice on chasing debut, and better judged on his Taunton handicap second since (2m2f, heavy); Exeter hurdles winner likely to appreciate the return to a longer track.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: P-1114 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 8yo who started off for Fergal O'Brien with three chase wins in the autumn (2m4f-2m5f, good/good to soft); returned from short break with lesser effort last month but he's very unexposed as a stayer and further progress remains possible if he's back on song here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:12 Ffos Las

Getaway King

11st 4lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Ex-Irish 8yo who started off for Fergal O'Brien with three chase wins (2m4f-2m5f) in the autumn; returned with a lesser effort in February and fell when last in action but remains unexposed over 3m; sports first-time cheekpieces for hurdling debut; could have a say.

8/1

2

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Getaway King

11st 9lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Ex-Irish 8yo who started off for Fergal O'Brien with three chase wins in the autumn (2m4f-2m5f, good/good to soft); returned from short break with lesser effort last month but he's very unexposed as a stayer and further progress remains possible if he's back on song here.

4/1

4th

4

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Getaway King

11st 8lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Showed little in Ireland but has thrived since joining this stable, winning under Tom Broughton on all three starts (2m4f/2m5f), on ground no worse than good to soft; more needed off 4lb higher and the ground is likely to be on the soft side, but still the one to beat.

10/11

Form: P-684P

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles, having been pulled up in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) last month; could plausibly be seen to better effect now he's upped in trip and switched to fences but others have much more obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Tech That

11st 4lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Phillips

0-6 over hurdles, having been pulled up in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) last month; could plausibly be seen to better effect now he's upped in trip and switched to fences but others have much more obvious claims.

20/1

2

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

13:10 Carlisle

Tech That

11st 12lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Phillips

Early promise in different spheres in 2024; lightly raced and has not shown much since, the return to 2m4f, in his second handicap, not obviously helpful at Uttoxeter recently; cheekpieces now fitted; much more needed.

14/1

4th

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

16:18 Uttoxeter

Tech That

11st 10lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard Phillips

Showed promise in point, bumper and novice hurdle in 2024; little encouragement since, folding tamely on handicap debut at Doncaster (25-1) last month; still lightly raced but excuses are wearing thin.

10/1

Form: P4PP2

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Still very lightly raced under rules but was pulled up on chase/handicap debut in January and probably did not achieve much when well-held second in three-runner contest at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

The Moonlight Man

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Point winner who showed his first form over fences when second of three in a weak contest at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) in March; had excuses when pulled up last time but does need to show improvement.

14/1

5

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

The Moonlight Man

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Joe Tickle

Still very lightly raced under rules but was pulled up on chase/handicap debut in January and probably did not achieve much when well-held second in three-runner contest at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) this month.

20/1

2nd

2

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

14:00 Ffos Las

The Moonlight Man

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Joe Tickle

Slow-ground Irish point winner in early 2025; still unexposed under rules but was pulled up on chase/handicap debut at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) in January and needs new tongue-tie to enable significant improvement.

14/1

Form: 96-P66

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in her first two chases, more recently when last of six in Warwick mares' race won by Voleur De Terres (3m, soft) last month, and now 0-11 under all codes; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Arctic Stream

10st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Richard J Bandey

Soundly beaten in her first two chases, more recently when last of six in Warwick mares' race won by Voleur De Terres (3m, soft) last month, and now 0-11 under all codes; difficult to enthuse over.

20/1

6th

2

20th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Warwick

Arctic Stream

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Richard J Bandey

9yo who is very lightly raced for her age but she's achieved little and was soundly beaten in first-time cheekpieces (retained) on last month's chase debut at Lingfield (2m4f, soft); has to leave that run miles behind.

12/1

6th

9

19th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Lingfield

Arctic Stream

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Richard J Bandey

Minor form in points and over hurdles so far, pulling up a long way out on her handicap debut at Windsor (50-1) in November; goes chasing with a lot to find; cheekpieces fitted.

66/1

Form: PP-PFP

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden with form-figures of PFP since switched to chasing in December; 6lb wrong today; can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:50 Ffos Las

Alderley Charlie

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Polly Gundry

Form figures of PFPP over fences and, with a tongue-tie added, he never counted on his return to hurdles at Exeter; opposable.

50/1

10th

13

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Alderley Charlie

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Polly Gundry

He'll be glad to see the back of fences after producing form figures of PFPP, not that a case can be made on hurdle exploits; tongue-tie added.

66/1

12

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Alderley Charlie

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Polly Gundry

Nine-race maiden with form-figures of PFP since switched to chasing in December; 6lb wrong today; can't be recommended.

50/1

Form: 4/7P-7

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Returned to racing under rules with 41l defeat at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago and is now 0-17 under all codes; 11lb wrong here; needs major help from new tongue-tie and/or blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

Returned to racing under rules with 41l defeat at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago and is now 0-17 under all codes; 11lb wrong here; needs major help from new tongue-tie and/or blinkers.

50/1

7th

9

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jimmy Frost

No rules form to speak of for this yard; 25-1 and beaten 24l in a point for Nikki Frost when last seen nearly a year ago; out of the weights.

50/1

8

29th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:28 Newton Abbot

Sans Of Gold

10st 2lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Jimmy Frost

Modest maiden who hasn't looked any different since sent over fences and he's 9lb out of the weights this time.

14/1

Non-runners

Voleur De Terres, Steal The Moves

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.80
Straight Forecast £28.75
Tricast £110.59
Trifecta £138.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Voleur De Terres

SPOTLIGHT:

Dyno Dave

Daily Mail:

Getaway King

RP RATINGS:

Storming Nelson

The Times:

Steal The Moves

LAMBOURN:

Dyno Dave

D Express:

Dyno Dave

Daily Mirror:

Getaway King

Telegraph:

Voleur De Terres

The Guardian:

Voleur De Terres

The Star:

Voleur De Terres

Daily Record:

Voleur De Terres

TOPSPEED:

Storming Nelson