4:00 Thirsk
This Class 3 handicap over six furlongs at Thirsk on good ground features a maximum field of 20, promising a competitive afternoon. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Veblen Good heading the list on 67, followed closely by Jordan Electrics on 65 and Deep Havana on 63, indicating a race where small margins and positioning will matter. With several horses in reasonable recent order and others dropping or stepping in class, the contest looks open yet shaped by the prevailing pace and draw.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Jordan Electrics and Kats Bob, and County Carlow also likely to be prominent. This setup suggests the race could collapse late, playing to the strengths of hold-up performers who can deliver their effort in the final furlong. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate terms without overdoing it, or if the race will fall into the lap of those coming from off the pace in what is a wide, straight track.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Veblen Good KTB Selection67/100Fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the first four on his last four starts.
- 2Jordan Electrics65/100Fair performer who has been mixing his form this year and arrives in reasonable order after a recent win over 5f.
- 3Deep Havana63/100Useful performer who has finished second in four of his last five starts and remains lightly raced overall.
- 4Topwarrior61/100Useful performer who has won twice at this trip but has been well below form on both starts this season.
- 5Durham Castle59/100Useful performer who has won three times from eight starts at this trip.
- 6Lord Roxby59/100Useful performer who has been in and out of form this year and arrives off the back of a win and a second.
- 7Novello Lad57/100Novello Lad is a fair performer who has shown his best form at this trip, winning five times from 19 starts.
- 8Art Lover57/100Fair performer who has already won over this trip.
- 9We Never Stop55/100Fair performer who has won four times at this trip from 26 attempts and arrives in reasonable form having been placed twice from his last four starts.
- 10Yes I'm Mali55/100Yes I'm Mali is a fair handicapper who has run well at this track before and knows the trip.
- 11Anyasi55/100Anyasi is a useful sort who has won both starts at this trip and showed strong form when landing a Class 3 at Newmarket last time.
- 12Starmade55/100Starmade is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record that includes a win at this trip.
- 13Manila Scouse52/100Manila Scouse is a fair performer who has shown enough at this level to be competitive.
- 14Kats Bob50/100Kats Bob is a fair handicapper who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 15Woven49/100Fair performer who has been placed on his last two starts here without winning.
- 16County Carlow49/100Fair performer who has shown useful speed over the minimum trip, winning once and placing twice from five starts.
- 17Woodstock47/100Woodstock is a fair performer who has run six times at Thirsk without winning but has been placed twice and looks suited by this trip having scored once from fo…
- 18Havana Rum47/100Fair performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning.
- 19Eye Of Dubai46/100Fair performer who has largely struggled this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 20Big Cyril46/100Big Cyril is a fair performer who has already won over today's 6f trip from five attempts.
The contenders
Veblen Good KTB Fit 67/100
Veblen Good is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the first four on his last four starts. He has shown up well at this track before with a placing and handles good ground, while the drop back to this trip looks a plus given his record here. Trainer David O'Meara has a solid 14% strike rate at Thirsk from a big sample, though the wide draw in stall 13 is far from ideal. The 4-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late, which should suit the expected strong pace. Jockey Conor Whiteley has a 17% strike rate at Thirsk with an A/E of 1.46 from only six rides, and the trainer-jockey combination shows an A/E of 1.27. With recent form figures of 103344 he arrives in good heart and is the KTB Selection.
Jordan Electrics KTB Fit 65/100
Jordan Electrics is a fair performer who has been mixing his form this year and arrives in reasonable order after a recent win over 5f. He steps up to 6f for the first time in a while yet has won five times at the trip in the past so the extra distance is an open question rather than a clear negative. Trainer Jim Goldie has a solid 12% strike rate from 300 runs at Thirsk while the 5 lb claimer takes the ride. The 10-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace, which will be key given the strong pace shape. He holds a record of 4 wins from 17 on good ground and the trainer-jockey partnership posts an A/E of 0.98. Recent form of 548313 underlines that he remains capable at this level from stall 1.
Deep Havana KTB Fit 63/100
Deep Havana is a useful performer who has finished second in four of his last five starts and remains lightly raced overall. He is 1 from 1 at this trip which is a positive and the wide draw in stall 14 is the main negative from a pace and positioning standpoint. Trainer and jockey records at Thirsk are based on too few runs to draw any conclusions. The 5-year-old is stepping up in class and has no experience of good ground, leaving that element unproven. Recent form figures of /62222 demonstrate his consistency, and with only a modest number of runs on the board he retains plenty of upside if the ground is suitable.
Topwarrior KTB Fit 61/100
Topwarrior is a useful performer who has won twice at this trip but has been well below form on both starts this season. Connections are in decent order here with the trainer holding a solid 21% strike rate at Thirsk from 61 runs. First run at the track and only placed once from two starts on good ground leaves some questions unanswered. The 4-year-old is dropping in class and is usually held up, producing his effort late, which aligns with the expected pace collapse. Trainer-jockey statistics show 4 wins from 24 rides with an A/E of 0.64, and recent form of 201-00 suggests he needs to rediscover his best.
Durham Castle KTB Fit 59/100
Durham Castle is a useful performer who has won three times from eight starts at this trip. He has solid form on good ground with a win and two places from three runs and the yard maintain an 18% strike rate at Thirsk from 40 runs. First run here is neutral and the recent 71-56 form leaves him with something to prove off current mark. The 5-year-old is usually held up with high confidence in that run-style, which should be advantageous if the leaders go hard. Trainer and jockey record together is 11 wins from 58 with an A/E of 1.07, and he arrives with recent form /71-56 in a race where class and trip look suitable.
The rest of the field
Lord RoxbyKTB Fit 59/100
Lord Roxby is a useful performer who has been in and out of form this year and arrives off the back of a win and a second. He has shown up well at this track before without winning and handles good ground, with three wins from ten starts on it. The trip is no problem either as he has three wins from seventeen attempts at six furlongs. Dropping in class from draw 4, the held-up 4-year-old has recent form 145213.
Novello LadKTB Fit 57/100
Novello Lad is a fair performer who has shown his best form at this trip, winning five times from 19 starts. He has placed twice from three runs at Thirsk and holds a solid record on good ground with one win and four places from five attempts. The yard's modest 8% strike rate at the track is a negative. Dropping in class from a wide draw of 16, his recent form is -31180.
Art LoverKTB Fit 57/100
Art Lover is a fair performer who has already won over this trip. Recent second on return reads well enough and the yard's solid 26% strike rate at Thirsk adds some encouragement. Going suitability remains unknown with only six runs on the board. Stepping up in class from draw 9, the 3-year-old has recent form 2187-2.
We Never StopKTB Fit 55/100
We Never Stop is a fair performer who has won four times at this trip from 26 attempts and arrives in reasonable form having been placed twice from his last four starts. He has only managed one placing from five runs on good ground and makes his first appearance at Thirsk today. The yard posts an 11% strike rate here from 991 runs. Dropping in class from draw 2 with recent form 380020.
Yes I'm MaliKTB Fit 55/100
Yes I'm Mali is a fair handicapper who has run well at this track before and knows the trip. He has shown bits of form this year but has been below par on his last two starts and needs to bounce back. The yard has a solid record here and the jockey is a good fit for him on good ground. The held-up 4-year-old has course form of 1 from 3 and recent figures 502275.
AnyasiKTB Fit 55/100
Anyasi is a useful sort who has won both starts at this trip and showed strong form when landing a Class 3 at Newmarket last time. The wide draw in stall 20 will make things tougher from a big field. Trainer Roger Varian has a solid 21% strike rate at Thirsk from 89 runs while Ray Dawson is yet to record a winner here from only 11 rides. Stepping up in class with form 3-11.
StarmadeKTB Fit 55/100
Starmade is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record that includes a win at this trip. He has shown enough on the clock and in race history to suggest he can cope with this class, though the wide draw in stall 17 is a clear negative at Thirsk. Ed Dunlop posts a 14% strike rate here from 118 runs while P J McDonald has a respectable record at the track. Dropping in class with form 1-3150.
Manila ScouseKTB Fit 52/100
Manila Scouse is a fair performer who has shown enough at this level to be competitive. He has won over course and distance, with three wins from 26 runs at 6f and a solid record on good ground. The Tim Easterby yard has an 8% strike rate from over 2000 runs at Thirsk while David Allan is the regular partner. Dropping in class from draw 10 with recent form 326100.
Kats BobKTB Fit 50/100
Kats Bob is a fair handicapper who has won over this trip and at this track. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and holds a solid course record of one win from six runs here. The yard's modest 8% strike rate at Thirsk adds a note of caution. Stepping up in class, the front-running 8-year-old has form 407220.
WovenKTB Fit 49/100
Woven is a fair performer who has been placed on his last two starts here without winning. He has a solid record on good ground and has won at this trip in the past though his recent form has been patchy. Trainer has a modest 10% strike-rate at the track from a huge sample. Stepping up in class from draw 7 with form 0-4729.
County CarlowKTB Fit 49/100
County Carlow is a fair performer who has shown useful speed over the minimum trip, winning once and placing twice from five starts. Steps up to 6f for the first time today having already won at the distance, which looks a sensible move. Trainer operates at a 7% strike rate from 134 runs here while the wide draw in stall 18 is far from ideal. Stepping up in class with form 24127.
WoodstockKTB Fit 47/100
Woodstock is a fair performer who has run six times at Thirsk without winning but has been placed twice and looks suited by this trip having scored once from four starts at six furlongs. He has won twice from 16 runs on good ground and his recent form of 462241 shows he can be competitive at this level when on song. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate at the track from a big sample is a negative. Stepping up in class from draw 15.
Havana RumKTB Fit 47/100
Havana Rum is a fair performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning. He has won at this trip in the past but his record on good ground is only modest and his sole run here was poor. The yard's modest strike-rate at Thirsk adds little encouragement. The held-up 6-year-old has recent form 953382 from draw 3.
Eye Of DubaiKTB Fit 46/100
Eye Of Dubai is a fair performer who has largely struggled this year with a string of modest efforts. He has won on good ground and at this trip but the yard's poor record at Thirsk offers little encouragement from stall 19. First run here so course form is unknown. Dropping in class with form 7-0080.
Big CyrilKTB Fit 46/100
Big Cyril is a fair performer who has already won over today's 6f trip from five attempts. He has shown little spark in three runs this year yet holds solid enough form on his best days. The yard's modest record at Thirsk offers no encouragement. The held-up 4-year-old has recent form 6/856- from draw 6.
KTB verdict
Veblen Good is the KTB Selection. A fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, he has shown up well at this track before with a placing and the drop back to this trip looks a plus. Usually held up, he is well suited by the strong pace that is likely to unfold, and the trainer's record at Thirsk adds further encouragement despite the wide draw. His main dangers are Jordan Electrics, who can make the running from a good draw and has won five times at the trip in the past, and Deep Havana, who has been runner-up in four of his last five starts and remains lightly raced. Topwarrior and Durham Castle are others who could feature if they return to their useful best from off the pace.
KTB Selection Veblen Good
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:10 UTC, 28 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Veblen Good | 17/2 | 7Bet |
| Jordan Electrics | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Deep Havana | 11/1 | 7Bet |
| Topwarrior | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Durham Castle | 9/1 | 7Bet |
| Lord Roxby | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Novello Lad | 33/1 | Bet Victor |
| Art Lover | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| We Never Stop | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Yes I'm Mali | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Anyasi | 3/1 | Bet365 |
| Starmade | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Manila Scouse | 40/1 | Bet365 |
| Kats Bob | 22/1 | Bet365 |
| Woven | 11/1 | 7Bet |
| County Carlow | 25/1 | Bet Victor |
| Woodstock | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Eye Of Dubai | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Big Cyril | 40/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 4:00 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
How does the expected strong pace shape influence the race?
The strong pace with two or more habitual front-runners is likely to collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
What are the course records for the top two in the KTB Fit rankings?
Veblen Good has placed once from one run at Thirsk while Jordan Electrics has no course form on record.
Which principals are stepping up or dropping in class?
Deep Havana and Art Lover are stepping up in class while Topwarrior is dropping in class.
What is the trainer strike rate at Thirsk for the yard of the KTB Selection?
David O'Meara has a 14% strike rate at Thirsk with an A/E of 0.96 from 707 runs.
Which horses have course and distance winning form in the field?
Manila Scouse has won over course and distance.
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