3:15 Stratford
This Class 4 Karen Poulter Handicap Chase at Stratford over 2m213y on good ground brings together a compact field of seven with plenty of course experience between them. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Seeyouinmydreams on 63, just ahead of Lheur De Gloire on 62, with Nibras Gold and In The Air both on 60. Recent form is generally solid and several hold strong track records, setting up what looks a competitive renewal where course-and-distance ability and current fitness will be key.
How the race shapes up
With a mix of prominent racers and those who settle, the pace shape looks likely to be on the steady side early on. Seeyouinmydreams and Whatyouwaitingfor are both comfortable racing prominently while Nibras Gold and In The Air can also be forward. The key question is whether the race develops into a test of speed at the end of the back straight or if a stronger gallop materialises, in which case the more stoutly bred performers may come into their own.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Seeyouinmydreams KTB Selection63/100Seeyouinmydreams is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts.
- 2Lheur De Gloire62/100Lheur De Gloire is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent handicap win.
- 3Nibras Gold60/100Nibras Gold is a high-class performer who showed he retains plenty of ability when second on his return here last time.
- 4In The Air60/100High-class performer who has won at this track and likes good ground with five successes from 12 starts.
- 5Whatyouwaitingfor59/100Whatyouwaitingfor is a smart performer who has been placed in four of his five runs at Stratford including two seconds over this trip.
- 6Not So Sobers56/100Smart performer who showed he retains plenty of ability when winning at this trip on return last time.
- 7Boom Boom51/100Useful performer who has won twice at this track from ten runs and also has a win at today's trip on his record.
The contenders
Seeyouinmydreams KTB Fit 63/100
Seeyouinmydreams is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts. He acts on good ground with five wins from ten starts and has won at today's trip, though his record at Stratford shows one second from a single run. The yard posts a 13% strike rate here from 31 runs with a 36/235 trainer-jockey combination that carries an A/E of 0.90. Jack Andrews takes the ride and the eight-year-old is expected to go well from the front end of the field. Recent form figures of 322-13 underline his consistency and he looks sure to give another good account.
Lheur De Gloire KTB Fit 62/100
Lheur De Gloire is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent handicap win. He has already scored at today's trip and on this ground, and the yard's solid 24% strike rate at Stratford adds further encouragement with Ben Pauling's record reading 24% from 87 runs here. Only seven runs in the last year leaves him open to improvement but also means he is not over-exposed. Ben Jones is a good booking with an 18% strike rate at the track and the five-year-old steps up in class off the back of form figures of 566-41. His ability to race prominently should serve him well in what may not be a strongly run affair.
Nibras Gold KTB Fit 60/100
Nibras Gold is a high-class performer who showed he retains plenty of ability when second on his return here last time. He has won at today's trip and is 2-17 on good ground, though his overall strike-rate is modest and he has been beaten in 14 of his last 16 starts. The yard has a solid 19% record at Stratford from 42 runs and Jonathan Burke takes the mount. Recent form reads 5/39-2 and the eight-year-old has course experience having finished runner-up over this track on his latest start. He should be thereabouts again if his good-ground form holds up.
In The Air KTB Fit 60/100
In The Air is a high-class performer who has won at this track and likes good ground with five successes from 12 starts. He drops back to his winning trip today having last run over slightly further and brings solid recent form including two wins from his last four completed starts. The trainer's modest 9% strike-rate here from a large sample is the main negative though the yard and jockey combination shows a 14/149 record. Ciaran Gethings is aboard with an 8% strike rate at Stratford and the eight-year-old has a 1-3 course record. Form figures of 1217-4 suggest he remains competitive at this level.
The rest of the field
WhatyouwaitingforKTB Fit 59/100
Whatyouwaitingfor is a smart performer who has been placed in four of his five runs at Stratford including two seconds over this trip. He has a solid record on good ground and the yard’s 18% strike-rate at the track from a big sample adds confidence, though recent form has been consistent rather than progressive and he still needs to break his duck here.
Not So SobersKTB Fit 56/100
Not So Sobers is a smart performer who showed he retains plenty of ability when winning at this trip on return last time. He has two wins from six runs on good ground and three from ten at today's distance, though he was only fifth when tried here once before. The yard has a solid 15% strike rate at Stratford from 26 runs and he steps up in class off the back of form figures of 7/50-1.
Boom BoomKTB Fit 51/100
Boom Boom is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from ten runs and also has a win at today's trip on his record. He drops back from 2m5f today having been pulled up on his last two starts. The trainer has a modest 7% strike rate here from 130 runs and recent form reads 187P-P.
KTB verdict
Seeyouinmydreams looks to have the best blend of current form, trip suitability and proven ability on good ground. The selection has been consistent and his placed effort at this track last season gives him solid course knowledge. Lheur De Gloire is the obvious danger having won last time and with the yard in good order at Stratford, while Nibras Gold and In The Air both bring strong recent efforts and course form into the equation. Whatyouwaitingfor cannot be ruled out given his excellent local record.
KTB Selection Seeyouinmydreams
This is the narrative read of the 3:15 Stratford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Stratford racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest recent course record at Stratford?
Whatyouwaitingfor has been placed in all four of his runs at Stratford including two seconds over today's trip.
Who has the best trainer strike rate at the track?
Ben Pauling has a 24% strike rate at Stratford from 87 runs with Lheur De Gloire.
Which runners have won over the exact course and distance?
Seeyouinmydreams has won at today's trip, In The Air has won here, and Boom Boom has won twice at this track with a win at the trip.
How does the class structure look for the principals?
Lheur De Gloire and Not So Sobers are stepping up in class while In The Air is dropping in class.
Which horse has the most placed efforts on good ground?
Nibras Gold is 2-17 on good ground with ten placed efforts while Seeyouinmydreams is 5-10 on good with six placed.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies