2:50 Perth
This Class 4 novices' hurdle at Perth over 2m47y on good ground features a small but competitive field of five. The KTB numbers highlight a clear top two on ratings and recent form, with Cosmos d'Ainay heading the Fit scores on 68 and Puppet Master close behind on 64, while the remainder sit in the mid-50s and below. With no obvious front-runner in a race that lacks a leader, the shape points to a tactical contest where positioning and timing will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a steadily-run affair with no horse obviously wanting the lead, making it a tactical race where being handy should pay dividends. All five runners are noted as held-up types who produce their efforts late, suggesting the field will bunch early before a concerted move from off the pace in the straight. The key question is whether the principals can quicken effectively off a slow gallop or if one of the less fancied runners can capitalise on the lack of early pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Cosmos d'Ainay KTB Selection68/100
Cosmos d'Ainay is high-class on ratings and has already shown strong form at this track. He won here last time and has a solid record on good ground with two wins from four starts. The drop back in trip is an unknown but the yard and jockey both hold strong records at Perth. Gordon Elliott and Sean Bowen team up with a combined trainer-jockey record of 64/221 at 29% and an A/E of 1.00 plus £5.38 LSP. The six-year-old is usually held up and produces its effort late, a run-style that could suit if the race develops tactically. He has no previous course form beyond his recent win here.
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2Puppet Master64/100
Puppet Master is a high-class performer on the balance of his ratings and recent form that includes a win at this trip. He has won once from seven starts on good ground and James Bowen rides with a solid 26% strike rate at the track. The yard's record here is too small to judge while this is his first run at Perth. The four-year-old is another held-up type who usually produces its effort late. Recent form of 8-51 shows progressive signs, and the booking of James Bowen, who has a 26% strike rate and A/E of 1.33 from 107 rides at Perth, is a positive. Ciaran Murphy's 0% strike rate from just two previous Perth runners leaves the trainer read neutral.
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3Secret Soldier55/100
Secret Soldier has only one run to his name and that was a modest seventh on debut. The yard has a solid 8% strike rate from 84 runs at Perth while Conor Rabbitt is operating at a useful 12% from 57 rides here. With so little evidence to go on this remains very much an unknown quantity. The six-year-old's trainer-jockey combination shows 4/30 at 13% with an A/E of 1.48 and -£7.50 LSP. He has just one run on good ground without placing, and there is no course form on record. The held-up run-style adds to the sense that he needs significant improvement to feature.
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4Datstheholyallofit54/100
Datstheholyallofit is a useful performer who arrives in good form after a win and a solid second on his last two starts. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance earlier in the year, and the good ground looks ideal given his record of one win from five starts with three places. Trainer Patrick Neville and jockey Brian Hughes both have solid records at Perth without being dominant.
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5Luna Grace44/100
Luna Grace is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip on all four attempts. She arrives in decent nick after another third last time and has solid course connections through her trainer. The yard and jockey both operate at modest strike rates here, with Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore at 8% and Derek Fox at 9%.
KTB verdict
Cosmos d'Ainay stands out as the KTB Selection. He brings high-class ratings, a recent course win, and a strong record on good ground into a race where his yard and jockey both excel at Perth. The drop in trip is the main query, but his ability should allow him to overcome it in a steadily-run affair. Puppet Master is the obvious danger as another high-class performer with a win at the trip, while Secret Soldier, Datstheholyallofit and Luna Grace all have questions to answer on either form, experience or yard form.
KTB Selection Cosmos d'Ainay
This is the narrative read of the 2:50 Perth. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Perth racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Perth results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest strike rate at Perth between the trainer and jockey of the selection?
Sean Bowen has a 32% strike rate at Perth with an A/E of 1.1 from 342 rides.
How many wins has Cosmos d'Ainay recorded on good ground?
Two wins from four starts on good ground.
What is the recent form of the second highest rated horse on KTB Fit?
8-51, which includes a win at this trip.
Which runner has the most placed efforts on good ground in the field?
Datstheholyallofit with three places from five starts on good.
What is the combined trainer-jockey strike rate at Perth for the yard and rider of Secret Soldier?
Andrew Hamilton has an 8% strike rate at Perth and Conor Rabbitt has a 12% strike rate at Perth.
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