3:05 Haydock
This Class 2 handicap over 1m6f on heavy ground at Haydock features an 11-runner field where the KTB numbers highlight a competitive but patchy bunch. The principals are headed by Stressfree on a Fit rating of 64, with four others clustered on 55-57, underlining how little separates them on the figures. Recent form is mixed across the board and several runners face new questions regarding trip, ground or class, while the trainer and jockey stats at the track add further layers to the puzzle.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Aegean Prince and Pole Star. This is likely to set the race up for those held up off the pace, with Stressfree, In The Breeze, Ashnak and Finalise all among those who typically produce their effort late. The key question is whether the pace collapses late on the heavy surface, which would play to the hold-up performers while exposing those forced to race prominently.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Stressfree KTB Selection64/100
Stressfree is a useful performer who has won once and been placed twice from three runs at Haydock. He acts on heavy ground with a win and two places from four starts, though he is still only placed rather than a winner at this trip from seven attempts. Recent form has been patchy and he needs to bounce back. The six-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. David O'Meara has a 12% strike rate at Haydock from 656 runs while Mark Winn has an 11% strike rate at the track from 37 rides.
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2Aegean Prince57/100
Aegean Prince is a useful performer who shaped well in three starts last year before finishing second on return in a Listed race. He steps up to 1m6f for the first time today which asks a fresh question of him. The four-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace. Charlie Appleby has a 25% strike rate at Haydock from 185 runs and William Buick has a 23% strike rate at the track from 326 rides. He has no experience of heavy ground.
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3In The Breeze55/100
In The Breeze is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and also has solid heavy-ground form with a win and two places from three starts. He drops back from 2m today having failed to score in six attempts at this trip which tempers enthusiasm, while the yard's modest 12% strike rate here from 78 runs adds a further negative. Recent form of 7-1010 suggests he remains competitive at this level when things fall right. The eight-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
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4Ashnak55/100
Ashnak is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form this year without quite landing a big one. He goes up in trip for the first time today having looked as though 1m4f was already stretching him last time, which asks a fresh question. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate at Haydock and he is 1-1 on heavy ground. The four-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. David O'Meara teams up with Daniel Tudhope who has a 14% strike rate at the track from 612 rides.
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5Finalise55/100
Finalise is a useful performer who arrives in solid form after finishing third on reappearance. He has placed at this trip and the stable's strong 26% strike-rate at Haydock adds encouragement. Going suitability remains unknown with only four career runs behind him. The four-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. William Haggas has a 26% strike rate at Haydock from 615 runs and Tom Marquand has a 16% strike rate at the track from 298 rides.
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6Dancing In Paris53/100
Dancing In Paris is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. He drops back from 2m after a recent win but has never faced heavy ground. Ian Williams has a modest 9% strike rate here from 500 runs.
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7Pole Star52/100
Pole Star is a fair performer who has won two of his three starts at Haydock and also has two wins from seven runs at today's 1m6f trip. He drops back from 2m1f having shown mixed form this year with a recent best of third at York. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate here while the first-time headgear is an unknown on ground he has never tackled.
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8Glen To Glen43/100
Glen To Glen is a fair performer who has not won for a long time and arrives on the back of two poor efforts. He drops back from 2m4f to an untried 1m6f on heavy ground where his sole previous run produced no joy. The trainer has no recorded runners at Haydock while the jockey has a modest 4% strike-rate from 74 rides here.
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9Kissmehoneyhoney42/100
Kissmehoneyhoney is a fair performer who won on debut and has shown steady rather than spectacular form since. William Haggas has a strong 26% strike rate at Haydock from a big sample while Sean D Bowen takes the ride. He steps up to an untried 1m6f on heavy ground which adds fresh questions as the horse remains lightly raced overall.
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10Hermetic40/100
Hermetic is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited ability in four runs this year, finishing no better than fourth. He drops back from 2m to an untried 1m6f today which asks a fresh question of him. Ian Williams has a 9% strike rate from 500 runs at Haydock.
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11Golden West37/100
Golden West is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at a lower level this year but now steps up in class. First run at Haydock and unproven on heavy ground add unknowns while the trip increase is another fresh question. Tim Easterby has a modest 8% strike rate at the track from a large sample.
KTB verdict
Stressfree is the KTB Selection. A useful performer with a fine record at Haydock, including a win and two places from three starts, he also has a win and two places from four runs on heavy ground. Although recent form has been patchy, he is the one who can capitalise if the strong pace collapses late given his hold-up style. Main dangers are Aegean Prince, who brings strong trainer and jockey figures at the track despite the step up in trip and unproven stamina, and In The Breeze, who has won twice here and acts on the ground though his record at this trip is a concern. Ashnak and Finalise are also in the mix on their respective yard stats and consistency.
KTB Selection Stressfree
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 5 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Stressfree | 15/2 | William Hill |
| Aegean Prince | 11/4 | William Hill |
| In The Breeze | 16/1 | Midnite |
| Ashnak | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Finalise | 3/1 | Bet365 |
| Dancing In Paris | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Pole Star | 18/1 | William Hill |
| Glen To Glen | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Kissmehoneyhoney | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Hermetic | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Golden West | 35/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 3:05 Haydock. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Haydock racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Haydock results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are proven on heavy ground?
Stressfree has a win and two places from four starts on heavy. In The Breeze has a win and two places from three starts on heavy. Ashnak is 1-1 on heavy. Glen To Glen has one run on heavy with no win or place.
Who are the habitual front-runners in the race?
Aegean Prince tends to make the running or race on the pace. Pole Star tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horses are stepping up in class?
Ashnak, Finalise, Pole Star, Glen To Glen, Kissmehoneyhoney and Golden West are all stepping up in class.
Which trainers have the strongest strike rates at Haydock?
William Haggas has a 26% strike rate at Haydock from 615 runs. Charlie Appleby has a 25% strike rate at Haydock from 185 runs. David O'Meara has a 12% strike rate at Haydock from 656 runs.
Which horses have course form at Haydock?
Stressfree has won here from three runs. In The Breeze has won twice from five runs. Dancing In Paris has won here from three runs. Pole Star has won twice from three runs.
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