2:00 Sedgefield
This Class 4 maiden hurdle at Sedgefield over 2m5f34y on good ground brings together five runners, most of whom are stepping up in trip for the first time in a race that lacks an obvious leader. The KTB Fit scores point to a competitive top three, headed by Way Maker on 66, with Earnest Belief on 60 and Datstheholyallofit on 58, while the remaining pair look modest on the numbers. With no course-and-distance winners in the field and several making their debut over the distance, the race poses questions about who will handle the extra yardage best in what is expected to be a steadily-run affair.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and suggests a steadily-run, tactical contest where being handy should pay dividends. All three principals are held-up types who produce their effort late, which could mean the race is decided from off the pace in the latter stages. The key question is whether any of them can quicken effectively off a steady gallop when the trip is a fresh test, or whether one of the hold-up brigade will be ideally placed to strike late.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Way Maker KTB Selection66/100
Way Maker is a useful performer with a solid recent record of placed efforts when completing, as shown by his -32U32 figures. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question of his stamina, though he has shown he goes well on good ground with one win and three places from five starts. The 5-year-old has no course form on record but will be supported by strong yard and rider statistics at Sedgefield, where Mickey Bowen posts a 25% strike rate with an A/E of 1.19 and James Bowen is even better on 36% with an A/E of 1.4. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he looks sure to be ridden for a late run in a race where being on the premises at the right time could be decisive. The trainer-jockey combination's record of 27/154 (18%) with an A/E of 0.81 adds further interest to his claims as the KTB Selection.
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2Earnest Belief60/100
Earnest Belief is a useful performer who has been knocking on the door of late, finishing third in three consecutive starts according to his 3-4333 form. He steps up in trip today having looked as though the extra distance would suit, and he has shown he handles good ground well enough with four places from six starts on it. The 4-year-old has no course form on record but will benefit from a trainer and jockey who both have solid records at Sedgefield, Donald McCain operating at 20% with an A/E of 0.88 and Theo Gillard at 21% with an A/E of 1.32. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his run-style fits the anticipated steadily-run race where a strong finish could see him in the thick of things. The yard's overall trainer-jockey record of 107/1053 (10%) with an A/E of 0.83 underlines a reliable operation that tends to have its runners ready.
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3Datstheholyallofit58/100
Datstheholyallofit is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placed efforts from his last three starts, reflected in his 44-123 figures. He has been placed once in three runs at Sedgefield without winning and now steps up in trip for the first time, which asks a fresh question of him. The 5-year-old has shown ability on good ground with one win and three places from five starts. Trainer Patrick Neville and jockey Brian Hughes both have solid records at the track, the yard at 21% with an A/E of 1.2 and Hughes at 20% with an A/E of 0.95 from a huge sample. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is likely to be ridden with patience in a tactical race where his course placings suggest he knows his way around this venue.
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4Rock Armour47/100
Rock Armour has shown only modest form in 28 career runs and was well held when fifth on his only previous visit to Sedgefield. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and now steps up in trip for the first time, which asks a fresh question of him, while the yard's 7% strike rate at the track and the jockey's similar 7% record here offer no particular encouragement.
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5Ocean Rose40/100
Ocean Rose has shown little in three starts to date, finishing sixth on each occasion. The step up in trip is an unknown and the yard have only had three runners at Sedgefield so far with a 0% strike rate, while the jockey is 0-6 at the track and the horse remains unproven on good ground.
KTB verdict
Way Maker is the KTB Selection and arrives with the strongest Fit score and a consistent placed record when completing. His useful level of ability, combined with the excellent Sedgefield records of both trainer Mickey Bowen and jockey James Bowen, make him the one to beat in a race where his hold-up style should be suited to the steadily-run shape. Earnest Belief and Datstheholyallofit are the main dangers, both useful performers in form and with solid track stats of their own, though the step up in trip remains an unknown for all three principals in what looks a tactical maiden hurdle.
KTB Selection Way Maker
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 9 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Way Maker | 5/4 | LiveScore Bet |
| Earnest Belief | 11/4 | William Hill |
| Datstheholyallofit | 2/1 | William Hill |
| Rock Armour | 100/1 | Bet365 |
| Ocean Rose | 50/1 | Bet Victor |
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 Sedgefield. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Sedgefield racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Sedgefield 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 strongest trainer and jockey combination at Sedgefield?
Way Maker, with Mickey Bowen recording a 25% strike rate (A/E 1.19) and James Bowen a 36% strike rate (A/E 1.4) at the track.
How many of the principals are stepping up in trip for the first time?
All three principals — Way Maker, Earnest Belief and Datstheholyallofit — are stepping up in trip today.
What is the expected pace shape and its implication for run styles?
The race lacks a leader with medium confidence, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays, and all three principals are held-up types who produce their effort late.
Which horse has previous placed form at Sedgefield?
Datstheholyallofit, who has been placed once in three runs at the track with figures of 3rd, 4th and 4th.
Which runner has shown the most consistent recent form on the figures?
Earnest Belief, with three consecutive thirds from his last four completed starts.
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About the A/E figures in this preview. They are the data supplier’s: the winners a trainer or jockey had, divided by the winners the starting prices implied, over the runs in that record. Above 1.0 means more wins than the prices suggested. It is not KTB’s fair A/E, which allows for the bookmakers’ margin and the favourite–longshot bias, and the two are not comparable.
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