March 06 / 16.43 Exeter

16.43

Good To Soft

Keystone Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 3m 0f 54y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Keystone Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.90
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 4-P1U2 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Back to form to win a Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December and nearly went in again back over hurdles at Chepstow in a race he won the previous year; nothing wrong with this mark and stable goes well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

Lightonthewing

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Has more wins over fences, most recently at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month under Ciaran O'Shea; failed to fire 20 days later but he's effective in this sphere as shown when a close second at Chepstow in February; yet to win from a mark this high but should be firmly in the mix.

9/2

5th

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Lightonthewing

10st 10lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Often front-runner; ridden by Ciaran O'Shea on last four starts; 7-22 in chases (one of his hurdles wins was this track) and those wins include his last two completed starts in this sphere, the latest at Exeter (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; this trip is unknown territory but he ran well over an extended 3m4f at Stratford in 2024; has to be in serious calculations.

9/2

1st

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Lightonthewing

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Back to form to win a Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December and nearly went in again back over hurdles at Chepstow in a race he won the previous year; nothing wrong with this mark and stable goes well.

3/1

8/13

  • Place: £1.10

Form: -84321

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Has done well since joining Robert Walford and breezed home at Taunton (2m7f, heavy), gaining revenge on the horse who beat him the time before; a 7lb rise might not be too damaging and he goes on good to soft; could be hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Ted The Thief

11st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has done well since joining Robert Walford and breezed home at Taunton (2m7f, heavy), gaining revenge on the horse who beat him the time before; a 7lb rise might not be too damaging and he goes on good to soft; could be hard to beat.

8/13

1st

10

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

14:50 Taunton

Ted The Thief

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Winning pointer; has made a positive start for the Robert Walford stable, including second to Bataillon over C&D on good to soft last time; likely to figure prominently again but seemingly outstayed by his reopposing rival on that occasion and today's ground conditions are likely to place even more emphasis on stamina.

4/1

2nd

13

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Ted The Thief

10st 5lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Winning pointer; early days with this yard and as a chaser; close up in 2m5f/3m2f handicaps the last twice and looks a player.

3/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 1P-4P6 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his wins in staying chases two seasons ago but this campaign needs to turn a corner and he'd prefer softer ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

The Scorpion King

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Only four completed when a 16l third at Exeter (3m, good to soft) and that was another effort well below the form he showed in 2024; reduced mark is for good reason but this isn't a strong race, so hard to leave him out of calculations.

11/1

3rd

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Well handicapped on his wins in staying chases two seasons ago but this campaign needs to turn a corner and he'd prefer softer ground.

12/1

1

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

raced wide, towards rear, dropped to last before 11th

9/4

Form: -022P3 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Capable staying chaser off this mark but lost his way the last twice, last time beaten some 34l behind Ted The Thief (heavy ground was no excuse); does at least have a hefty swing in the weights with that rival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Gingerbred

10st 8lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Carroll Gray

Runner-up twice in December (2m7f and near 3m3f) but right out of form since, way behind Lightonthewing last time; headgear first time.

25/1

Form: 55-8P3

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-15; ran okay 16 days ago at Southwell with headgear removed but never remotely threatened the winner; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Givehimthehonour

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

0-15; ran okay 16 days ago at Southwell with headgear removed but never remotely threatened the winner; others preferred.

10/1

3rd

6

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell

Givehimthehonour

11st 3lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Ex-Irish 14-race maiden under rules who has suffered four heavy defeats over fences for this yard, twice in a tongue-tie and once in cheekpieces; no aids today, which might be a straw to cling to, but he has a lot to prove.

12/1

8

19th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield

Givehimthehonour

11st 3lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Irish point winner in 2022 but winless since and has suffered three crushing defeats over fences for this yard; has a lot to prove with refitted cheekpieces replacing a tongue-tie.

20/1

Form: 486P

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 6874

Last run: 5 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 96-77P

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

Break Heart Hill

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Fiona Shaw

Second foal; unraced dam out of French maiden, is granddaughter of useful 5f performer Lady Jester; probably best watched on debut.

66/1

Form: 7PP-PF

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Forgettable hurdle form and going the same way over fences; cheekpieces did nothing last time; 6lb wrong.
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

Non-runners

Firefly Lane

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.50
Straight Forecast £8.39
Tricast £42.20
Trifecta £105.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ted The Thief

Daily Mail:

Gingerbred

RP RATINGS:

Ted The Thief

POSTDATA:

Ted The Thief

The Times:

Ted The Thief

Telegraph:

Ted The Thief

The Guardian:

Ted The Thief

D Express:

Ted The Thief

Daily Mirror:

Ted The Thief

The Sun:

Ted The Thief

The Star:

Ted The Thief

Daily Record:

Ted The Thief