7:15 Stratford
The 7:15 at Stratford is a Class 5 handicap steeplechase over an extended two and a half miles on good to firm ground. A field of eight runners lines up, with the KTB Fit scores suggesting a fairly competitive but unexceptional contest in which the top four are separated by just eight points. The race features several habitual front-runners and a strong pace shape that is expected to test stamina late on.
How the race shapes up
With multiple front-runners declared, including Youdecide, Fox Wallace and Bobbarelli, the pace is set to be strong from the outset. This could set the race up for hold-up performers such as Pescatorius, Jack Doyen, Crackerjack Queen, Kings Order and Watchoutitscookie, who are likely to be ridden for a late run as the leaders potentially tire in the closing stages. The key question will be whether the pace collapses sufficiently to allow the hold-up horses to close effectively or whether one of the prominent runners can dictate matters throughout.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Youdecide KTB Selection63/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with four placed efforts from his last five completed starts.
- 2Fox Wallace57/100Modest performer who has won once from five starts at Stratford.
- 3Pescatorius56/100Pescatorius is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning lately, including a recent third here over further.
- 4Jack Doyen55/100Useful performer who arrives in solid form having won two of his last three starts.
- 5Bobbarelli53/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with two seconds and a third from his last three starts.
- 6Crackerjack Queen43/100Crackerjack Queen is a fair mare who has shown consistent placed form without winning, including at today's trip.
- 7Kings Order35/100Fair performer who showed some encouragement when third over this course and distance on his most recent start.
- 8Watchoutitscookie33/100Modest performer with a long record of 37 starts and recent form that has been largely modest.
The contenders
Youdecide KTB Fit 63/100
Youdecide is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with four placed efforts from his last five completed starts. He drops back from three miles to a trip he has won at before, though he remains unproven on good to firm ground. The Ben Pauling yard holds a 23% strike rate at Stratford from 91 runs, while jockey Ben Jones has a 17% strike rate at the track from 70 rides. This is the horse's first visit to Stratford and he tends to make the running or race prominently. Recent form figures read F444P- and he steps down in class.
Fox Wallace KTB Fit 57/100
Fox Wallace is a modest performer who has won once from five starts at Stratford. His recent form is poor and he has failed to place in three runs on good to firm ground. The Ella Pickard yard has a 15% strike rate at the track from 13 runs while jockey Ben Godfrey has a 15% strike rate from 26 rides here. He tends to make the running or race prominently and steps up in trip today, which remains an unknown. Recent form figures read P-P576 and he has course experience.
Pescatorius KTB Fit 56/100
Pescatorius is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning lately, including a recent third here over further. He has a solid record on good to firm ground with a win from his only attempt and drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous tries at this distance. The B R Summers yard has a modest 4% strike rate from 25 runs at Stratford while James Best is 0-12 at the track from 189 rides with a 9% strike rate. He is usually held up and produces his effort late. Recent form figures read 5535-3.
Jack Doyen KTB Fit 55/100
Jack Doyen is a useful performer who arrives in solid form having won two of his last three starts. He has course experience but pulled up here on his only visit and steps up in trip today having already shown he can win at this distance. The Ben Case yard operates at a 6% strike rate at Stratford from 100 runs while jockey J M Quinlan has no record at the track. He is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence. Recent form figures read 311-21 and he remains unproven on good to firm ground.
The rest of the field
BobbarelliKTB Fit 53/100
Bobbarelli is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with two seconds and a third from his last three starts. He has already placed over course and distance here and steps back up in trip having failed to land a blow at it previously. The Twiston-Davies yard holds a 17% strike rate at Stratford from 29 runs while the 7 lb claimer is an unknown quantity at this track. He tends to make the running or race prominently with high confidence and has placed once on good to firm.
Crackerjack QueenKTB Fit 43/100
Crackerjack Queen is a fair mare who has shown consistent placed form without winning, including at today's trip. She steps up in trip again having been placed over this distance on her sole attempt, though she remains unproven on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now fitted on her Stratford debut while the yard holds a 12% strike rate here from 34 runs. She is usually held up and produces her effort late.
Kings OrderKTB Fit 35/100
Kings Order is a fair performer who showed some encouragement when third over this course and distance on his most recent start. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question while the yard has a poor 0% strike rate from seven runs at Stratford. Ground and course experience are both limited and he is usually held up with high confidence.
WatchoutitscookieKTB Fit 33/100
Watchoutitscookie is a modest performer with a long record of 37 starts and recent form that has been largely modest. The Nigel Hawke yard has a 1% strike rate from 103 runs at Stratford while David Noonan has a low strike rate here. He has placed once on good to firm and once at today's trip but without winning either, so he arrives with little to shout about and is usually held up.
KTB verdict
Youdecide looks the most solid proposition in a race where the strong pace is likely to play a significant part. His consistent placed efforts this year, drop in class and proven ability at the shorter trip give him a clear edge, even with the ground question to answer. The main dangers are likely to come from the hold-up brigade, with Jack Doyen in good heart and Pescatorius having shown placed form over the course, while Fox Wallace cannot be entirely dismissed on his Stratford record.
KTB Selection Youdecide
This is the narrative read of the 7:15 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 horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Youdecide, Fox Wallace and Bobbarelli all tend to make the running or race prominently.
Which runners are expected to benefit from the strong pace by coming from off the pace?
Pescatorius, Jack Doyen, Crackerjack Queen, Kings Order and Watchoutitscookie are all usually held up and produce their effort late.
Which horse is dropping in class?
Youdecide is dropping in class.
Which runners are unproven on good to firm ground?
Youdecide, Jack Doyen and Crackerjack Queen have no runs or are unproven on good to firm.
Which horse has the best recent form figures among the principals?
Jack Doyen with 311-21.
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