3:47 Thirsk
A competitive Class 3 handicap over 7f at Thirsk on good ground features a field of 16. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with two horses sharing the highest mark of 66/100, indicating an open-looking race where recent form, course records and the application of headgear will all come into play. The official ratings and recent performances suggest a race that could be decided by how the strong pace unfolds and which runners are best placed to capitalise.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners present and the pace shape assessed as strong with high confidence, the race is likely to be run at a demanding gallop. Asuka, Yorkshire, New Image and It Just Takes Time are all inclined to race prominently or make the running, while Glenfinnan tends to race handily. This setup raises the strong possibility of the pace collapsing late, which would play into the hands of hold-up performers such as Angel Hunter and the selection Aurora Majesty from stall 1.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Angel Hunter66/100Fair performer who has won twice at this trip and has placed twice from six starts on good ground.
- 2Aurora Majesty KTB Selection66/100Fair performer who has won three times at this trip and looks suited by good ground with a win and two places from four starts.
- 3Asuka62/100Fair performer who won on debut over 6f and has shown placed form at this trip.
- 4Yorkshire59/100Yorkshire is a useful performer with a solid recent record that includes two placed efforts from his last three starts.
- 5Croupier57/100Croupier is a fair performer on his best days but has been well below that level in three runs this year.
- 6Yankee Dude57/100Yankee Dude is a fair sort who has won two of his five starts and has already scored at this trip.
- 7New Image55/100Fair performer who has been out of form lately with a string of poor efforts.
- 8Our Havana55/100Fair performer who has won five times at this trip and handles good ground well with three wins from five starts.
- 9It Just Takes Time51/100It Just Takes Time is a fair handicapper who has been consistent of late with form figures of 602231.
- 10Obelix49/100Fair performer who has shown his best at this track with two fourths from three runs.
- 11Brighton Boy49/100Brighton Boy is a fair performer who has run well at this track, winning once from two starts.
- 12Glenfinnan48/100Glenfinnan is a fair performer who has won three times at this trip and handles good ground well with four wins from 14 starts.
- 13King's School46/100King's School is a fair performer with a solid recent record that includes two placed efforts from his last four starts.
- 14Woodstock45/100Woodstock is a fair performer who has run well here on his last two visits, finishing third both times.
- 15Andesite42/100Andesite is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning and handles good ground.
- 16Enola Grey40/100Modest performer who has been out of the frame on her last six starts and looks vulnerable from a wide draw.
The contenders
Angel Hunter KTB Fit 66/100
Angel Hunter is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip and has placed twice from six starts on good ground. Recent form has been patchy and the first-time headgear is now reached for after a string of ordinary efforts. The yard boasts a 25% strike rate at Thirsk from 36 runs with an A/E of 1.08, while the jockey has a 20% strike rate here from five rides with an A/E of 1.56. Trainer and jockey both hold solid records at the track. Usually held up, the four-year-old produces its effort late and should be suited if the strong pace collapses. Drawn in stall 13.
Aurora Majesty KTB Fit 66/100
Aurora Majesty is a fair performer who has won three times at this trip and looks suited by good ground with a win and two places from four starts. Recent form has been patchy though and the yard's first-time runner at Thirsk today adds an unknown element. The trainer has a solid 21% strike rate here from 38 runs while the jockey posts a 13% record from his eight rides. Dropping in class, the four-year-old has the benefit of a low draw in stall 1. Usually held up, he is expected to come from off the pace in a race where the strong gallop could play to his strengths.
Asuka KTB Fit 62/100
Asuka is a fair performer who won on debut over 6f and has shown placed form at this trip. Steps up in distance today which asks a fresh question while the yard holds a solid 17% strike rate at Thirsk and the 3lb claimer is operating at a strong 25% here from 12 rides with an A/E of 2.22. Lightly raced with only three runs in the last year so scope remains but the form is not deeply exposed. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, the four-year-old will be right up there early in what is expected to be a strong gallop. Stepping up in class.
Yorkshire KTB Fit 59/100
Yorkshire is a useful performer with a solid recent record that includes two placed efforts from his last three starts. He has won both starts at this track and at this trip, though he is 0-7 on good ground with two placed finishes. First-time headgear is now applied while drawn widest in stall 16. The six-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace, which will see him right at the sharp end in a race with a strong pace likely. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Thirsk.
Croupier KTB Fit 57/100
Croupier is a fair performer on his best days but has been well below that level in three runs this year. He has winning form on good ground and at this trip plus a solid jockey record at the track to lean on with a 16% strike rate from 249 rides and an A/E of 0.93. The yard's small sample here means little can be read into their record. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride on the seven-year-old, who will need to bounce back from recent below-par efforts to figure.
The rest of the field
Yankee DudeKTB Fit 57/100
Yankee Dude is a fair sort who has won two of his five starts and has already scored at this trip. He showed useful form when runner-up on his most recent outing and holds a solid draw in stall six. The yard has only a tiny sample at Thirsk while the jockey has a strong 27% strike rate here from 11 rides.
New ImageKTB Fit 55/100
New Image is a fair performer who has been out of form lately with a string of poor efforts. Has shown some ability at this track before without winning and drops back in trip to a distance where he has won twice from eight starts. Trainer and jockey both have solid records at Thirsk. Tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Our HavanaKTB Fit 55/100
Our Havana is a fair performer who has won five times at this trip and handles good ground well with three wins from five starts. Has been below form on both previous runs here and the first-time headgear is now reached for after a mixed recent record. Trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates at the track.
It Just Takes TimeKTB Fit 51/100
It Just Takes Time is a fair handicapper who has been consistent of late with form figures of 602231. He has won over this trip in the past and returns to a track where he has already scored once from seven runs. The trainer and jockey both have modest records here while the horse himself is only 1-14 on good ground. Tends to make the running or race on the pace.
ObelixKTB Fit 49/100
Obelix is a fair performer who has shown his best at this track with two fourths from three runs. He has won twice on good ground and twice at today's trip, though the wide draw in stall 15 is a clear negative. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Thirsk. Usually held up.
Brighton BoyKTB Fit 49/100
Brighton Boy is a fair performer who has run well at this track, winning once from two starts. He has won at this trip and on good ground though his overall record on the surface is modest with just one win from eight runs. The yard and jockey both have modest records here at Thirsk.
GlenfinnanKTB Fit 48/100
Glenfinnan is a fair performer who has won three times at this trip and handles good ground well with four wins from 14 starts. He has been in and out of form lately and was well beaten on his only previous run here. First-time headgear is now tried while dropping back from 7½f. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead.
King's SchoolKTB Fit 46/100
King's School is a fair performer with a solid recent record that includes two placed efforts from his last four starts. He has won four times at this trip and is competitive on good ground, though he has never won on it. The yard's modest record at Thirsk is offset by the jockey's solid 11% strike rate here, while first-time headgear adds an unknown. Usually held up.
WoodstockKTB Fit 45/100
Woodstock is a fair performer who has run well here on his last two visits, finishing third both times. He has dropped back to a trip he has won at before, though his record on good ground is modest with just one win from 14 starts. The first-time headgear is an unknown and both trainer and jockey have modest records at Thirsk.
AndesiteKTB Fit 42/100
Andesite is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning and handles good ground. He has run just once at Thirsk and finished fifth while the yard's modest 5% strike-rate here from a large sample suggests limited encouragement. First-time headgear is now applied on the back of two placed efforts from his last three starts. Usually held up.
Enola GreyKTB Fit 40/100
Enola Grey is a modest performer who has been out of the frame on her last six starts and looks vulnerable from a wide draw. Drops back to 7f having won at the trip earlier in her career but showed no spark on good ground last time. Trainer's modest record here adds little confidence while the jockey has a solid but unspectacular strike rate. Typically settles in midfield.
KTB verdict
The strong pace anticipated makes this a race where those coming from off the pace could be advantaged if the leaders go too hard. Aurora Majesty is the KTB selection. A fair performer with three wins at the trip and a good record on good ground, he drops in class from a favourable low draw and his hold-up style should suit if the gallop collapses late. Angel Hunter, another hold-up type also rated 66/100, is the most obvious danger with first-time headgear and strong Thirsk trainer and jockey figures, while Asuka, Yorkshire and the consistent It Just Takes Time are the other main contenders.
KTB Selection Aurora Majesty
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:02 UTC, 1 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Angel Hunter | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Aurora Majesty | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Asuka | 9/4 | Bet365 |
| Yorkshire | 6/1 | William Hill |
| Croupier | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Yankee Dude | 11/1 | 7Bet |
| New Image | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Our Havana | 30/1 | 7Bet |
| It Just Takes Time | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Obelix | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Brighton Boy | 18/1 | William Hill |
| Glenfinnan | 14/1 | William Hill |
| King's School | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Woodstock | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Andesite | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Enola Grey | 33/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 3:47 Thirsk. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thirsk racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Asuka, Yorkshire, New Image and It Just Takes Time all tend to make the running or race prominently, while Glenfinnan usually races handily.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
The strong pace likely with high confidence could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses such as Aurora Majesty and Angel Hunter.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Angel Hunter, Yorkshire, Our Havana, Glenfinnan, King's School, Woodstock and Andesite are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Which horse has the best course record at Thirsk?
Yorkshire has won both starts at the track, while It Just Takes Time, Brighton Boy and Woodstock have also shown placed form here.
Who has the strongest jockey record at Thirsk in this field?
Jack Callan on Asuka has a 25% strike rate from 12 rides with an A/E of 2.22, while Edward Greatrex on Yankee Dude has a 27% strike rate from 11 rides.
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