Horse profile
Dance Thief (IRE)
by Leading Light (IRE) out of Don't Wait (IRE) (Oscar)
23 runs · 4 courses · from Apr 2023
As at 25 Oct 2026 · KTB archive: GB, Ireland & France · 2005–present, updated daily
3 wins · Ayr
Last run 13 May 2026 · 5th of 7
Last raced off OR 108
KTB Profile
Dance Thief is a gelding who has won three of 23 starts, all at Class 4 level over 1m5f – 2m. All three wins came at Ayr, on good, good to soft and soft ground, the most recent in a handicap chase there in Mar 2026 off a mark of 106. Typically held up, he last ran at Perth in May 2026, finishing fifth of seven off an official rating of 108.
Based on 23 archived runs · run-style from 11 commented runs since Nov 2024 · updated 25 Oct 2026
KTB at a glance
All wins at Class 4
- 3–23Wins / Runs
- 13%Strike rate
- 9 (39.1%)Placed
- −2.75£1 level staken=23 at SP
- 1.21Fair A/E n=23 · 1.06 incl. margin
- 113Highest OR
- 51dAvg between runs
A/E compares actual wins with what starting prices implied. "Fair" strips the bookmaker margin from the expectation, so favourites and longshots are judged on the same footing — figures near 1.00 mean the market priced this horse about right.
Official rating108↓ 5lb off peak
108
100–113
KTB Speed and Rating
KTB Speed
Best recent Speed 110
How fast the horse ran, as points against the day-corrected standard time for its course and distance: 100 is the median GB Class 4 handicap winner on that code; one point is 0.1% of the standard time. A, B or C is how much the day's card could tell us, not how good the run was. What this means →
Jumps
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Soft | 11 | 118B | 103 | 2 runs · 104 / 75.5 |
| Soft | 7 | 124B | 99 | 3 runs · 110 / 88 |
| Heavy | 2 | 126A | 112 | — |
| Good | 2 | 123A | 121 | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 14 | 124B | 101.5 | 5 runs · 110 / 88 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 8 | 126A | 104 | — |
Of 23 runs looked at, 1 has no figure: did not complete (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 22 figures from 23 runs · as at 3 Oct 2026 · a record, not a forecast
Both figures are KTB's own, computed from the archive; no vendor rating enters either. Every run's figure is on its form line below with its grade. Grades measure how much the archive could see, never the merit of the run.
Run style from 11 analysed runs since Nov 2024
- Prominent 4 (36%) · 0 wins
- Mid-division 4 (36%) · 1 win
- Held up 3 (27%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Sire
Progeny in our archive have won 8.2% of 2,201 runs since Jan 2008 (225 horses).
Weakest on heavy going: 4.6% from 241.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Firm | 23 | 8 | 34.8% | +26.6 | — |
| Good | 765 | 79 | 10.3% | +2.1 | 1 from 2 |
| Good to Soft | 523 | 38 | 7.3% | −0.9 | 1 from 11 |
| Soft | 636 | 44 | 6.9% | −1.3 | 1 from 8 |
| Heavy | 241 | 11 | 4.6% | −3.6 | 0 from 2 |
| Standard (AW) | 13 | 0 | 0% | −8.2 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6f – 7f | 6 | 0 | 0% | −8.2 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 4 | 0 | 0% | −8.2 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 17 | 0 | 0% | −8.2 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 613 | 37 | 6% | −2.2 | 3 from 14 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 839 | 74 | 8.8% | +0.6 | 0 from 9 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 584 | 56 | 9.6% | +1.4 | — |
| Over 3m | 138 | 13 | 9.4% | +1.2 | — |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Jan 2008 · as at 25 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
Dam
Don't Wait (IRE) (Oscar)
1 sibling in the archive, 1 winner — best of them Walkers Point (IRE) (3 wins).
The wins came over 2m–2m4f.
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walkers Point (IRE) | 45 | 3 | 2m–2m4f | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Soft | 11 | 1 | 9% | +1.00 |
| Soft | 8 | 1 | 13% | −3.50 |
| Heavy | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Good | 2 | 1 | 50% | +1.75 |
| Class | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 4 | 14 | 3 | 21% | +6.25 |
| Class 3 | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| Class 5 | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Class 2 | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayr | 13 | 3 | 23% | +7.25 |
| Perth | 6 | 0 | 0% | −6.00 |
| Carlisle | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Musselburgh | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 14 | 3 | 21% | +6.25 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 9 | 0 | 0% | −9.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Smith | 15 | 3 | 20% | +5.25 |
| Ryan Mania | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Richie McLernon | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Toby Wynne | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Callum Bewley | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Gavin Sheehan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| William Shanahan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Thomas Dowson | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 22 | 3 | 14% | −1.75 |
| Cheekpieces | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 1 | 20% | −0.50 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 20% | +7.00 |
| 2024 | 7 | 1 | 14% | −3.25 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0% | −6.00 |
| Type | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurdle | 14 | 1 | 7% | −10.25 |
| Chase | 9 | 2 | 22% | +7.50 |
Splits include every sample, however small — muted rows are under 3 runs. A one-from-one record is a fact, not a trend: read the Runs column before the strike rate.
Form
| Date | Course | Race | Pos | Btn | Wgt | OR | Spd | KTB | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · 5 runs | ||||||||||
| 13 May 26+26d | Perth | Murrayshall Country Estate Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Sat fourth early - pushed for effort after four out with little response - dropped away from two out | 5/7 | 7½ | 11-2 | 108 | 104A | 107A | Ryan Mania | 12/1 |
| 17 Apr 26+26d | Ayr | Slater Menswear Handicap Hurdle Settled mid-pack early - driven from 4 out - dropped well off the pace from 3 out - finished well beaten in 10th | 10/15 | 10 | 10-13 | 105 | 82C | 100C | Richie McLernon | 40/1 |
| 22 Mar 26+15d | Carlisle | Mark Nield Wealth Management Go North One Man Series Final Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Held up at back of field - never involved - well held throughout - finished a distant 9th | 9/12 | 5½ | 11-0 | 109 | 47C | 98C | Toby Wynne | 18/1 |
| 07 Mar 26+12d | Ayr | Western House Hotel New Brunch Menu Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Settled in the pack early - urged into contention alongside the front-runner three out then edged alongside it before the last - shook off rivals in the closing strides to score | 1/5 | 10-12 | 106 | 88C | 110B | Ben Smith | 7/2 | |
| 23 Feb 26+114d | Ayr | Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Settled in the pack early - driven for effort before 4 out then dropping away from 3 out - eased out of contention approaching 2 out | PU/7 | — | 10-10 | 109 | — | — | Ben Smith | 16/1 |
| 2025 · 5 runs | ||||||||||
| 01 Nov 25+204d | Ayr | Southern Ayr Handicap Hurdle Handy with the front group early - pressed for effort before 2 out - one-paced approaching the last - finished 5th | 5/11 | ½ | 11-3 | 106 | 110A | 115A | Ben Smith | 11/1 |
| 11 Apr 25+34d | Ayr | SEKO Logistics Scotland Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Settled behind the front-runner - clipped the second and seventh obstacles - dropped away out of contention soon after - promoted into distant third with 3 to jump | 3/4 | 2¼ | 9-12 | 111 | 55C | 91C | Ben Smith | 7/2 |
| 08 Mar 25+12d | Ayr | Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Some jumping errors early - settled in the pack - pushed along and dropped towards the back before 4 out - nudged into contention before 2 out - stayed on into last stages - moved up to third but held for rest of run-in | 3/7 | 1¼ | 11-2 | 112 | 99B | 112B | Ben Smith | 7/2 |
| 24 Feb 25+13d | Ayr | Virgin Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Sat behind leader early - driven from 4 out but unable to close - never able to challenge from 2 out to finish second | 2/3 | 6½ | 10-4 | 113 | 98C | 109C | Ben Smith | 9/4 |
| 11 Feb 25+74d | Ayr | Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Settled at the tail early - urged into action and toiling 5th when challenged 5 out - made strong progress wide out before 3 out - upsides in 2nd approaching that point - went in front approaching the last - driven out to win going away | 1/6 | 10-7 | 106 | 107A | 114B | Ben Smith | 11/1 | |
| 2024 · 7 runs | ||||||||||
| 29 Nov 24+27d | Musselburgh | BlueTree Boat Builders Handicap Chase Settled at back of field - pressed for effort and lost touch before 4 out - dropped away with no impression - finished 6th | 6/7 | 3½ | 11-6 | 108 | 61A | 89B | Ben Smith | 6/1 |
| 02 Nov 24+170d | Ayr | Burton Roofing At Auchengate Handicap Hurdle Settled just behind the pace - moved into second three out - pressed forward for the lead - went in front after two out - kept going but caught right on the line | 2/5 | hd | 10-7 | 106 | 119C | 108B | Ben Smith | 3/1 |
| 16 May 24+27d | Perth | Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap Hurdle | 2/9 | 6 | 10-4 | 106 | 115A | 110A | Ben Smith | 4/1C |
| 19 Apr 24+41d | Ayr | Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle | 3/13 | 1½ | 9-10 | 105 | 124B | 116A | Ben Smith | 6/1 |
| 09 Mar 24+12d | Ayr | Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Hurdle | 1/8 | 10-0 | 101 | 123A | 109A | Ben Smith | 11/4 | |
| 26 Feb 24+22d | Ayr | Coral Handicap Hurdle | 3/7 | 5½ | 10-1 | 103 | 126A | 105B | Ben Smith | 14/1 |
| 04 Feb 24+46d | Musselburgh | bet365 Handicap Hurdle | 12/12 | 7 | 10-8 | 105 | 54C | 87C | Ben Smith | 14/1 |
| 2023 · 6 runs | ||||||||||
| 20 Dec 23+17d | Ayr | Ayrshire Wedding Show At Ayr Racecourse Novices' Handicap Hurdle | 2/8 | ¾ | 11-2 | 102 | 105A | 115B | Ben Smith | 8/1 |
| 03 Dec 23+162d | Carlisle | Follow Rhino.Bet On Instagram Handicap Hurdle | 2/7 | ¾ | 12-0 | 100 | 118B | 125A | Callum Bewley | 11/1 |
| 24 Jun 23+13d | Perth | Bet In Running With BetVictor Handicap Hurdle | 5/9 | 1½ | 11-13 | 102 | 103A | 112A | Gavin Sheehan | 11/1 |
| 11 Jun 23+25d | Perth | bet365 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) | 3/8 | 26 | 10-8 | — | 87A | 91A | William Shanahan | 28/1 |
| 17 May 23+21d | Perth | Murrayshall Country Estate Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) | 4/5 | 6½ | 11-4 | — | 103C | 110B | Ryan Mania | 80/1 |
| 26 Apr 23 | Perth | Congratulations Corach Rambler Grand National 2023 Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) | 9/12 | nse | 11-6 | — | 110A | 105A | Thomas Dowson | 40/1 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Dance Thief won?
- Dance Thief (IRE) won 3 of 23 archived starts between 2023 and 2026, a strike rate of 13%. Placed 9 times in total (39.1% of starts).
- Who trains Dance Thief?
- Dance Thief (IRE) is trained by R Mike Smith, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 13 May 2026.
- Who is Dance Thief's sire?
- Dance Thief (IRE) is by Leading Light (IRE) out of Don't Wait (IRE), whose sire is Oscar.
- What going does Dance Thief prefer?
- Dance Thief (IRE) has the best record on soft going: 1 win from 8 starts (12.5%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Dance Thief's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 108, from the run on 13 May 2026. The highest on record is 113.
- What is Dance Thief's sire's record?
- Leading Light (IRE)'s progeny in our archive have won 8.2% of 2,201 runs since Jan 2008 (225 horses), Flat and jumps together. Weakest on heavy going: 4.6% from 241.
- Who are Dance Thief's siblings?
- Out of Don't Wait (IRE), Dance Thief (IRE) has 1 other produce in our archive, 1 of them a winner. Most wins: Walkers Point (IRE) (3). The wins came over 2m–2m4f. As at Oct 2026.