May 04 / 16.03 Fakenham

16.03

Good

Norfolk Community Foundation David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 5 Stayers’ Series)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 3m 0f 38y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Norfolk Community Foundation David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Leg 5 Stayers’ Series)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 14132-

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Eight-time chase winner who often makes the running and is very well suited by good or faster ground; went close off his lower hurdle mark last month; on career-high mark from just out of the weights here and usually runs over slightly shorter trips but still features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:53 Newton Abbot

Time To Bite

11st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Admirable veteran who recorded his ninth chase win when making all to score from 2lb out of the weights at Fakenham (3m, good) this month; this is tougher off 4lb higher but he seems as good as ever as an 11yo and three of his wins have come at this track; key player.

9/4

1st

7

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Time To Bite

10st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Eight-time chase winner who often makes the running and is very well suited by good or faster ground; went close off his lower hurdle mark last month; on career-high mark from just out of the weights here and usually runs over slightly shorter trips but still features prominently in calculations.

7/2

2nd

6

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

Time To Bite

10st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Most wins and best form are over fences and he ran pretty well at Exeter last month; the time before, in October, he won a small-field handicap hurdle at Exeter off his much lower hurdle mark (now 3lb higher); could have some part to play.

9/2

20/1

  • Place: £8.20

Form: 00306-

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Left Gordon Elliott after disappointing hurdle run last autumn and was again well beaten when returning for new stable in March; given a wind op since and reverts to chasing on a workable mark but still looks risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Mars Harper

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Left Gordon Elliott after disappointing hurdle run last autumn; well beaten again on stable debut in March but, after wind surgery, he returned to chasing with a good second at Fakenham (3m, good) 19 days ago; has possibilities if he can build on that but his last win was in 2023.

7/1

2nd

2

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Mars Harper

11st 0lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Left Gordon Elliott after disappointing hurdle run last autumn and was again well beaten when returning for new stable in March; given a wind op since and reverts to chasing on a workable mark but still looks risky.

20/1

6th

3

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Mars Harper

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sarah Humphrey

Best known as a chaser these days and was tailed off back over hurdles on his final run for Gordon Elliott, whom he left for £30,000; on a good mark but there's much to prove on first sighting since October.

9/1

Form: 14U12- D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Made all in three-runner contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March and arguably bettered that form when close/clear second at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) last month; might be a shade vulnerable off new mark but at least we know he's in excellent nick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hold Your Fort

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Debra Hamer

Made all in three-runner contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March and arguably bettered that form when close/clear second at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) last month; might be a shade vulnerable off new mark but at least we know he's in excellent nick.

5/2

2nd

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hold Your Fort

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Did well in the autumn and won again last month at Ascot (3m, good) where he dominated his two rivals from the front; there's a suspicion that his two rivals underperformed and he's 5lb higher here, but still considered.

7/2

1st

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Hold Your Fort

10st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Won at Ludlow (3m) in October and creditable fourth off this mark at Chepstow (3m2f, again good to firm) four days later, both under Callum Pritchard; recent Taunton run ended in an unseat before push came to shove but he's a big player judged on that autumn form.

4/1

Form: 71534- D

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
9-28 over fences, the latest win gained at Chepstow (2m7f, good to firm) in October; below that form three times on good to soft ground since but didn't run badly on penultimate appearance and will be better suited by the forecast good ground here; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hang In There

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Emma Lavelle

9-28 over fences, the latest win gained at Chepstow (2m7f, good to firm) in October; below that form three times on good to soft ground since but didn't run badly on penultimate appearance and will be better suited by the forecast good ground here; might be the answer.

9/2

4th

1

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hang In There

12st 1lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Emma Lavelle

Strike-rate of 9-27 over fences and his third in a veterans' chase at Newbury in February (3m2f) was encouraging given he had been absent for three months and good to soft ground would have been slow enough; should run well.

15/2

3rd

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Hang In There

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Emma Lavelle

Successful in similar event at Chepstow in October (penultimate start) and returns from another break with Rian Corcoran taking off a useful 7lb; however, chance largely depends on what the weather does (ideally needs a sound surface).

14/1

Form: 69P85/ D

Last run: 471 days

W: 10st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Won three valuable marathons in a row in 2022-23 campaign and was honourable fifth in Grand National the following season; never really got going in 2025-25 but returns from 471-day absence on a tempting mark and will be suited by the forecast good ground; market helpful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Kittys Light

10st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Won three valuable marathons in a row in 2022-23 campaign and was honourable fifth in Grand National the following season; never really got going in 2025-25 but returns from 471-day absence on a tempting mark and will be suited by the forecast good ground; market helpful.

14/1

5th

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

13:05 Ascot

Kittys Light

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Christian Williams

took keen hold, raced in last

12/1

5th

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

13:05 Ascot

Kittys Light

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Christian Williams

took keen hold, raced in last, not fluent 4th, outpaced when mistake 14th, no impression

12/1

Form: 13657-

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Easily won three-runner race at Newbury (2m4f, good) in October but subsequent form last season was underwhelming; well handicapped now (even from 1lb out of the weights) and will probably be okay back at 3m but needs the new cheekpieces to perk him up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

19:30 Newton Abbot

Lord Baddesley

10st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Rather lost his way last season after winning at Newbury in October and last week's Fakenham run was an all-time low; tries a visor this time, but blinkers and cheekpieces did nothing for him.

8/1

6th

6

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Lord Baddesley

10st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Easily won three-runner race at Newbury (2m4f, good) in October but subsequent form last season was underwhelming; well handicapped now (even from 1lb out of the weights) and will probably be okay back at 3m but needs the new cheekpieces to perk him up.

11/2

7th

15

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Lord Baddesley

10st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Easily won three-runner handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good) on reappearance; jumped left when 6l third of four at right-handed Ascot (2m5f, good) next time, and his 13l sixth of nine at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) came in a race that worked out extremely well; heavy going excuses him being tailed off at Warwick and he could go well now back on better ground.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: PP4P1- D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Bounced back to form with game win at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, his ninth success over fences; still well handicapped after recent 4lb rise and will be fine over this longer trip but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Numitor

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Heather Main

Bounced back to form with game win at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, his ninth success over fences; still well handicapped after recent 4lb rise and will be fine over this longer trip but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again.

9/2

1st

2

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

18:00 Hereford

Numitor

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Heather Main

Potentially very well handicapped but has become a law unto himself and is wickedly hard to predict.

14/1

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Numitor

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Heather Main

Pulled up in this race last year and same outcome on first two runs this season; 13l fourth behind Genois at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month following wind surgery and a break but he could improve for that outing, and he won this race in 2024; not written off.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £141.40
Straight Forecast £92.92
Trifecta £424.50

Selections

The Times:

Hold Your Fort

TOPSPEED:

Lord Baddesley

POSTDATA:

Numitor

SPOTLIGHT:

Hang In There

D Express:

Mars Harper

RP RATINGS:

Time To Bite

Telegraph:

Hold Your Fort

The Guardian:

Hold Your Fort

Daily Mail:

Hold Your Fort

Daily Mirror:

Hold Your Fort

Daily Record:

Hold Your Fort

WEST COUNTRY:

Lord Baddesley

The Sun:

Numitor

The Star:

Hang In There