2:37 Catterick
This Class 5 nursery handicap over 7f at Catterick brings together five two-year-olds with relatively limited experience between them. The KTB Fit scores point to a race between three principals, headed by Little Lady Karen on 58, while the overall standard of form on offer looks modest. With the pace shape rated unclear owing to insufficient run-style data across the field, the race lacks a clear blueprint and could develop in several different ways on good to firm ground.
How the race shapes up
The lack of firm pace information makes it difficult to predict how the race will unfold, though Hamdani Mokhater has shown a tendency to race prominently or make the running. Little Lady Karen and Dakota Brave are likely to be positioned in the first half of the field from their inside draws, while Koodini and Bigalo may settle further back. The key question is whether the step up to 7f will suit the leading principals and which of them can show the necessary improvement in a race where the shape remains open.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Little Lady Karen KTB Selection58/100Little Lady Karen has shown fair form in two starts, finishing third then second without looking an obvious improver.
- 2Koodini54/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency lately with placed efforts on his last two starts over 6f.
- 3Dakota Brave47/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency, finishing in the frame on both starts at this trip including a placed effort last time.
- 4Bigalo39/100Bigalo has shown only modest form in three runs to date and sits in a modest category for this Class 5.
- 5Hamdani Mokhater33/100Hamdani Mokhater has shown modest form in four runs including a second at this trip last time but he is yet to win and the first-time headgear has to improve hi…
The contenders
Little Lady Karen KTB Fit 58/100
Little Lady Karen has shown fair form in her two starts, finishing third on debut and then second without suggesting she is an obvious improver. On the balance of what she has achieved she remains a modest performer, though she now steps up to 7f for the first time having previously raced over shorter. The drop in class is a positive and the Burke yard holds a 15 percent strike rate at Catterick from a large sample of 409 runs. Sam James takes the ride with a 12 percent strike rate at the track from 267 rides. She has yet to race on good to firm so that element remains unproven and she has no previous course form.
Koodini KTB Fit 54/100
Koodini is a modest performer who has displayed consistency of late, finishing in the frame on his last two starts over 6f. He now steps up to 7f for the first time, which poses a fresh question, and first-time headgear is also applied in the hope of eking out more. The colt has been placed on both his runs on good to firm so the ground should hold no fears. Hugo Palmer has a solid 16 percent strike rate at Catterick from 31 runs and Jason Hart, with a 14 percent strike rate at the track from 502 rides, is a reliable booking. No course form on record.
Dakota Brave KTB Fit 47/100
Dakota Brave is another modest performer who has shown some consistency, finishing in the frame on both his starts at this trip including a placed effort last time out. Stall two looks suitable from his draw and the Charlie Johnston yard posts a 17 percent strike rate at Catterick from 59 runs. Rowan Scott rides with the pair combining for a 27 percent strike rate from 33 runs together. He has only one run on good to firm so far without placing and going suitability therefore remains something of an unknown with just four runs on his record. No course form on record.
The rest of the field
BigaloKTB Fit 39/100
Bigalo has shown only modest form in three runs to date and sits in a modest category for this Class 5. The step up from 6f to 7f asks a fresh question while the yard records a 10 percent strike rate from 177 runs at Catterick. Kevin Stott takes the ride but the colt remains lightly raced with too few runs to judge ground preference on good to firm.
Hamdani MokhaterKTB Fit 33/100
Hamdani Mokhater has shown modest form in four runs including a second at this trip last time but he is yet to win and the first-time headgear has to improve him. The yard has only two runs at Catterick so it is too small a sample to judge. He is a modest performer who remains lightly raced overall.
KTB verdict
Little Lady Karen is the KTB Selection. She has posted the highest Fit score in a race where the principals are closely matched on what they have shown so far, and the drop in class combined with the Burke yard's respectable record at Catterick gives her every chance. The step up to 7f is an unknown but she has looked a solid prospect in her two runs to date. Koodini is the most obvious danger having shown recent placed form and with headgear now applied, while Dakota Brave cannot be ruled out given his consistency at the trip and the favourable draw.
KTB Selection Little Lady Karen
This is the narrative read of the 2:37 Catterick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Catterick racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping up in trip for the first time?
Both Little Lady Karen and Koodini are stepping up to 7f for the first time.
Who is the only horse with a noted front-running style?
Hamdani Mokhater tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Catterick in this field?
Charlie Johnston has a 17 percent strike rate at Catterick from 59 runs.
How many of these runners have previous course form at Catterick?
None of the five runners have course form on record.
Which horse is wearing headgear for the first time?
Both Koodini and Hamdani Mokhater are fitted with first-time headgear.
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