March 22 / 15.02 Exeter

15.02

Good

Guildhall Shopping Exeter 50th Anniversary Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 3m 6f 153y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Guildhall Shopping Exeter 50th Anniversary Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: -3331P

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Tended to jump left on last two outings but that didn't stop him beating recent Midlands Grand National winner Isaac Des Obeaux by 21l at right-handed Wincanton (3m2f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) on first occasion; pulled up in valuable Haydock marathon since but will be fine on the forecast good ground here and is a contender if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Rivers Corner

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Easy win at Wincanton (3m2f, heavy) in January and bounced back from Haydock flop to win at Exeter (3m6f, good) recently, despite a bad mistake; clearly on the up and his stable has won two of the last six runnings.

9/2

1st

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Rivers Corner

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Tended to jump left on last two outings but that didn't stop him beating recent Midlands Grand National winner Isaac Des Obeaux by 21l at right-handed Wincanton (3m2f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) on first occasion; pulled up in valuable Haydock marathon since but will be fine on the forecast good ground here and is a contender if back on song.

9/2

8

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Rivers Corner

10st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Running well in defeat this season, including over an extended 3m4f, before producing a career-best in a first-time tongue-tie to win easily at Wincanton (extended 3m2f, heavy); hit with a 9lb rise but he was impressive last time and could have more to offer in the tongue-tie; respected.

8/1

Form: P3-146

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Made all in Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and was commendable fourth in Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) just after Christmas; didn't fire in last month's Eider at Newcastle but still features prominently in calculations; placed the only time he raced on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Livin On Luco

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Failed to fire in the Eider at Newcastle on penultimate start; commendable otherwise this season, making all in the Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good to soft), fourth in Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m7f, good to soft) and short-headed at Exeter (3m7f, good) five weeks ago; raised another 2lb but has place claims.

12/1

2nd

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Livin On Luco

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Made all in Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and was commendable fourth in Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) just after Christmas; didn't fire in last month's Eider at Newcastle but still features prominently in calculations; placed the only time he raced on good ground.

11/4

6th

6

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Livin On Luco

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Made all under Callum Pritchard in the Southern National at Fontwell (extended 3m3f, good to soft) on reappearance in November, clear from four out and holding on by a neck from a strong finisher; came from mid-division when creditable fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow (extended 3m6f) and having a crack at 4m+ now makes appeal; one to consider.

7/2

Form: PP-2P2

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Struggled on heavy ground two starts ago (first-time cheekpieces) but quickly got back on track with battling second at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) this month; remains on a workable mark and good ground also suits; ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Iron Bridge

10st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

A strong stayer but with a strike-rate of only 2-17 over fences and excuses are wearing thin; on the plus side, they were solid enough efforts on last two starts (3m4f/3m6f) and he nearly won off this mark on his reappearance (3m2f).

9/2

3rd

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Iron Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Struggled on heavy ground two starts ago (first-time cheekpieces) but quickly got back on track with battling second at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft) this month; remains on a workable mark and good ground also suits; ought to make his presence felt again.

7/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

14:45 Haydock

Iron Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Last win came here back in 2022 and he's not proving easy to catch right nowadays either, tried in cheekpieces when pulled up in 3m2f handicap chase at Wincanton in January; others are preferred.

7/2

Form: 80-PP3

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 4lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with creditable third in cross-country chase at Cheltenham (3m5f, soft; refitted visor) in December and remains on a good mark but this veteran has become far too inconsistent to rely upon and may not be ideally suited by the forecast good ground here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

13

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Escaria Ten

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Hasn't won since Thurles beginners' chase win in 2020 for Gordon Elliott; some okay cross-country form in recent seasons, standout run this term when third in 3m6f Cheltenham handicap in January, tame enough Exeter effort latest when ground may have been on the quick side; others preferred.

14/1

4th

5

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Escaria Ten

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Returned to form with creditable third in cross-country chase at Cheltenham (3m5f, soft; refitted visor) in December and remains on a good mark but this veteran has become far too inconsistent to rely upon and may not be ideally suited by the forecast good ground here.

10/1

3rd

11

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Escaria Ten

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Looked out of sorts when pulled up here twice in the autumn (3m1f/2m4f; had wind op in between) and can't be supported with much confidence, but is now 10lb lower than when close fourth over C&D (soft) in December 2024; swaps blinkers for refitted visor.

20/1

Form: 51FP-1

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Seen only once this season, winning four-runner Haydock chase (3m4f, good to soft) from the front on stable debut in December, but was nudged up only 2lb for that and should be fine on the quicker surface here; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Egbert

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

C&D winner in December 2024 (heavy; won on good) and made it 2-2 here when beating three rivals over 3m4f (good to soft) on reappearance; the glaring concern is his nothing run at Exeter last time when in trouble a long way out.

15/2

2

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Egbert

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Christian Williams

Seen only once this season, winning four-runner Haydock chase (3m4f, good to soft) from the front on stable debut in December, but was nudged up only 2lb for that and should be fine on the quicker surface here; respected.

7/2

8

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Egbert

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Won well over Haydock's extended 3m1f on heavy two runs back; has failed to complete in his two previous marathon chases and was on the retreat, though still in third, when crashing out at the final fence of the Eider (good to soft); can run well again but others might be better equipped to see this out stronger; new cheekpieces the headgear of choice today (effective in visor/blinkers).

20/1

Form: -9P7P1

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Reportedly appreciated the heavy ground when rallying to lead close home at Huntingdon (2m7f) last month; will be suited by the longer trip here but the ground will be much quicker this time and he's very unreliable now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Sporting Ace

10st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Reportedly appreciated the heavy ground when rallying to lead close home at Huntingdon (2m7f) last month; will be suited by the longer trip here but the ground will be much quicker this time and he's very unreliable now.

8/1

13

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Sporting Ace

10st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Returned to form with narrow win in this race a year ago (heavy) and is now 1lb below that mark but well beaten all four starts since (three this season) and needs to bounce back again; headgear (worn for last two races) removed.

16/1

Non-runners

Chavez

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.80
Straight Forecast £9.76
Trifecta £27.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Livin On Luco

D Express:

Egbert

RP RATINGS:

Iron Bridge

TOPSPEED:

Livin On Luco

The Times:

Livin On Luco

The Sun:

Livin On Luco

The Star:

Livin On Luco

Daily Mirror:

Egbert

Daily Record:

Egbert

POSTDATA:

Iron Bridge

Telegraph:

Iron Bridge