2:05 York
A competitive Class 4 sprint handicap over the minimum trip of five furlongs and 89 yards at York on good ground features a maximum field of 21 runners. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Roach Power heading the list on 65, followed closely by Utmost Respect and Explosive Finnish on 63. Strong pace is anticipated given multiple front-runners, which shapes the race towards those capable of finishing off strongly from off the pace.
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 searching gallop from the outset. Managing Director, Curious Rover and Kinnalargy are all inclined to race prominently or make the running, setting a pace that could prove too demanding for those up front as the race develops. This scenario should play into the hands of hold-up performers, several of whom are among the principals, and the key question is which of the late runners can pick up the pieces when the leaders tire in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Roach Power KTB Selection65/100
Roach Power is a modest performer who has run four times at York without winning but has been placed once. He has a solid record at today's trip with six wins from 16 starts and has won three times from 15 runs on good ground. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late, a run-style that looks ideally suited to the expected strong pace. Trainer Michael Wigham has a 14% strike rate at York from 29 runs while jockey J F Egan has a 9% strike rate at the track from 281 rides. Recent form of 097407 shows he is capable of bouncing back to form in a race of this type.
-
2Utmost Respect63/100
Utmost Respect is a fair performer who has shown useful placed form over this course, including a second here last season. Dropping back to 5f looks a sensible move as he has already won at the trip, and he acts on good ground with one win from two starts. The 3-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late, which should be an advantage given the anticipated strong pace. The Fahey stable's 6% strike rate at York from 66 runs tempers enthusiasm, although the 5 lb claim taken by Ethan Tindall helps offset that. Course form reads 20th, 4th, 14th, 2nd, confirming his ability to handle the track.
-
3Explosive Finnish63/100
Explosive Finnish is a fair 3-year-old who has shown consistent form this year and won over this trip. He has already won once from two starts at York and the yard's 40% strike-rate at the track from five runs adds further interest. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the strong pace likely to unfold. He has only placed once in three runs on good ground without winning, while the wide draw in stall 13 is a clear negative. Recent form of 332251 underlines his consistency at this level.
-
4Havana Rum60/100
Havana Rum is a fair performer who has been placed on his last two starts and ran well when third over this course and distance in the past. He drops back to 5f today having been contesting 6f races of late, a trip at which he has won once from three attempts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, the run-style aligns well with the expected pace collapse. The yard has a modest 6% strike rate at York from 66 runs, though the 3 lb claim of Warren Fentiman is a plus. Course form reads 8th, 3rd, showing prior placed ability here.
-
5Sports Coach55/100
Sports Coach is a fair performer who has run seven times at York without winning but has been placed once. He has shown his best form at this trip with three wins from 19 attempts yet has failed to place in six runs on good ground. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should find the strong pace to his liking. The yard's 0% strike-rate from 71 runs at the track is a clear negative, even with Harry Russell in the saddle who has a 10% strike rate at York from 39 rides. Recent form of 698224 indicates he remains competitive at this level.
-
6Managing Director55/100
Managing Director is a modest performer who has shown his best at this track with a third-place finish here last season. He has won over today's trip and is 2 from 3 when placed on good ground, though his overall strike-rate remains low. Trainer at York operates at a 7% strike rate from 124 runs while the wide draw in stall 18 adds another question. His front-running style will set the early tempo in what is expected to be a strong pace.
-
7Call To Action54/100
Call To Action is a fair performer who has been in decent recent nick with two seconds from his last three starts. He has course experience but showed little when well beaten here on his only previous visit and the Easterby yard's modest 5% strike rate at York offers little encouragement. He has won on good ground and at today's trip so those elements are in his favour. Usually held up, though with medium confidence in that assessment.
-
8Bonnie's Boy53/100
Bonnie's Boy is a modest performer who has shown enough at this track to be competitive, finishing placed on two of four visits to York. Drops back to 5f today having won at the trip earlier in his career, and he has placed form on good ground. The Fahey yard posts a 6% strike rate here from 66 runs while Oisin Orr is aboard. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
9Tanjen53/100
Tanjen is a modest performer who has been in and out this season and showed his best when winning a handicap over this trip at Beverley in July. He has a solid record on good ground with three placed efforts from eight starts and the yard's modest 6% strike-rate at York from a huge sample is worth noting. First run at the track today and usually held up, though with medium confidence.
-
10Curious Rover52/100
Curious Rover is a fair handicapper who has been in and out of form this year and arrives off a career-high mark. He has run well at York a couple of times without winning, including a second here last season, and has a solid record at today's trip with five wins to his name. The yard's modest 7% strike-rate at the track is a slight negative. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
-
11Parisiac51/100
Parisiac is a fair handicapper who has been in decent form this year with two seconds from his last five runs. He has won seven times over today's trip but his record on good ground is only modest and he was well held when last seen over C&D. The yard's poor 3% strike-rate at York adds to the negatives from stall 10. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
12Duran51/100
Duran is a fair performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and has also won at today's trip. He has been out of form on his last four starts and is now tried in headgear for the first time. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at York from a big sample is another negative. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
13Copper Knight51/100
Copper Knight is a 12-year-old modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of poor efforts. He does have a solid York record including a win from 15 runs here and has won at today's trip seven times in his career. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at the track adds a note of caution. Usually held up, though with medium confidence.
-
14Kinnalargy50/100
Kinnalargy is a fair performer who has run five times at York without placing, including a latest 4th over this trip. He has won once at today's distance from five attempts and has shown competitive form on good ground, though without a win. The Kevin Ryan yard posts an 8% strike rate at the track from a large sample. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
-
15Kanishka49/100
Kanishka is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this season with a string of modest efforts. Has run just once at York and was well beaten, while his record on good ground is equally limited. Trainer Ian Williams has a solid 8% strike rate here from a big sample and Cieren Fallon takes the ride. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
16Maharajas Express48/100
Maharajas Express is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year and ran no sort of race when last seen here over course and distance. He has won six times at today's trip but his record on good ground is only average and the wide draw in stall 14 is far from ideal. Trainer Ian Williams has an 8% strike-rate from 213 runs at York while David Egan has a solid record at the track. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
17Little Mi Mi47/100
Little Mi Mi is a fair performer who has been in and out this season with recent form reading 104113. Has won five times at this trip but is only 1-10 on good ground and the trainer's modest 3% strike-rate at York from 124 runs is a clear negative. First run at the track today. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
18Vingegaard47/100
Vingegaard is a fair performer who has been in and out this year, winning once from 14 runs but showing his best form when dropped to this trip. He has run just once at York, finishing tenth, while the trainer's modest 5% strike rate from 349 runs here adds little encouragement. First-time headgear is now fitted after a string of ordinary efforts. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
19True Promise44/100
True Promise is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip but arrives in ordinary form having finished no better than seventh on his last three starts. He has been well beaten both previous visits to York and the yard is still seeking its first success at the track from five attempts. The combination of a wide draw in stall 16 and a modest strike rate on good ground adds further negatives. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
20Oriental Prince43/100
Oriental Prince is a modest performer who has won four times at this trip but looks nothing like as good as he once was. Only poor form on his one previous run here and the yard's modest 5% strike-rate at York offers little encouragement. Placed once from seven starts on good ground so the surface is no problem but he has been out of the frame in his last four starts. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
21Harb40/100
Harb is a modest performer who has been in good heart of late with two wins in his last four starts. He has solid form on good ground and has won at this trip before though he was well held on his only previous run at York. The Davidson yard has yet to strike at this track from 11 attempts. Usually held up with high confidence.
KTB verdict
Roach Power is the KTB Selection. A modest performer with a solid record at the minimum trip and placed form at York, he is ideally suited by the strong pace that is expected to unfold and the trainer's healthy record at the track adds to his appeal. The selection's hold-up style should allow him to capitalise if the leaders go too hard early. Main dangers include Utmost Respect, who has useful placed form here and is dropping back to a suitable trip, Explosive Finnish, who boasts a win at the track and a strong yard record, and Havana Rum, who has shown placed form over course and distance and is dropping in class.
KTB Selection Roach Power
This is the narrative read of the 2:05 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the York results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the expected strong pace?
Roach Power, who is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence, along with several other hold-up performers among the principals.
How many wins has Roach Power recorded at today's trip?
Six wins from 16 starts.
What is the trainer strike-rate at York for the yard of Explosive Finnish?
40% strike rate at York from 5 runs.
Which runners are likely to set the early pace?
Managing Director, Curious Rover and Kinnalargy, all of whom tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Has Duran ever won at York?
Yes, winning twice at this track from five runs.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies