1:45 Ffos Las
This Class 5 novices' handicap chase at Ffos Las over 2m7f177y on good to soft ground features an 11-runner field where the KTB Fit ratings suggest a competitive but unexceptional contest. The top-rated horse on KTB numbers carries an official rating of 100 and is the clear pick at 61, with the next four principals clustered between 54 and 50, indicating a race where margins may be tight but the selection holds an edge on recent competitiveness. Several runners step up or down in trip, adding layers of uncertainty to a stamina test that looks likely to play to the strengths of those who can settle and finish strongly.
How the race shapes up
With a lone leader pace shape carrying high confidence, one horse is expected to bowl along uncontested up front with little pressure from behind in the early stages. Babatunde is the most likely to take up that role given his front-running style, while prominent racer Good For You could track him closely. The majority of the field, including the selection The Magus, prefer to be held up and produce their effort late, meaning the race could be won or lost from off the pace as the leader tries to kick on from the front. The key question is whether any closer can bridge the gap on a horse enjoying an uncontested lead over this stamina-testing trip.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1The Magus KTB Selection61/100
The Magus is a useful performer who has shown enough in recent starts to suggest he can be competitive at this level. His recent form figures of 3P62F- underline that competitiveness, though his sole previous visit to Ffos Las ended in a fall and he is 0-2 on good to soft ground. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is likely to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time out front. The trainer has a 13% strike rate at Ffos Las with an A/E of 1.47 from 16 runs, though the jockey's 7% strike rate from 246 rides at the track is modest. The trip remains a question mark after two unplaced efforts at this sort of distance, yet overall he looks the most solid contender in the field.
-
2Good For You54/100
Good For You is a useful performer who has struggled to make an impact this year with a string of modest efforts shown by his recent form of 96P6-7. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him, while his record on good to soft is limited to two unplaced runs. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he could be one of the few to apply any pressure to the expected lone leader. The yard has a solid 16% strike rate at Ffos Las with an A/E of 0.94 from 37 runs and the jockey is operating close to expectations from 62 rides at the track with an 11% strike rate. While he brings limited recent sparkle, the trip increase could unlock more from him if he stays.
-
3Babatunde52/100
Babatunde is a useful performer who has shown consistent form in recent starts with figures of 64352/ and has already placed over today's trip. He has course experience here but could only manage fourth on his sole visit to Ffos Las. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is the obvious candidate to take the uncontested lead in a race with a lone leader shape. Both trainer and jockey operate at a modest strike rate at the track, the yard at 7% with an A/E of 0.61 from 14 runs and the rider at 6% with an A/E of 0.63 from 96 rides. He has been placed once from three runs on good to soft without winning, suggesting he can be competitive if the pace shape falls his way.
-
4Tell The Tale51/100
Tell The Tale is a useful performer who ran a solid second on return at this track over 2m5f according to his recent form of 8647-2. He steps up in trip today having been beaten on his only previous try at this distance. The yard has an 11% strike-rate at Ffos Las from 266 runs with an A/E of 0.82, while the jockey is 9% from 81 rides with an A/E of 0.54. He has four runs on good to soft without a win or place, which adds a note of caution on the forecast surface. Coming from off the pace in a race that could be run to suit those with a turn of foot, his recent course second gives him a clear foothold in the contest.
-
5My Own Lovely Lee50/100
My Own Lovely Lee is a useful performer who has shown steady but unspectacular form in five runs since switching to hurdling, reflected in figures of 45754-. Dropping back from 3m2f to an untried 2m7f poses a fresh question today. Usually held up and producing effort late, he will be among those coming from off the pace in a race with an uncontested leader. The trainer has a solid 16% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.89 from 38 runs, though the jockey is operating at a 6% rate from 35 rides with an A/E of 0.49. He is 0-3 on good to soft, yet his official rating of 100 keeps him in the mix among the principals.
-
6Saddlers Quest49/100
Saddlers Quest is a fair performer who has run nine times at this track without winning or placing. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m2½f and shown no joy in two previous attempts at this distance, while both trainer and jockey have modest records at Ffos Las.
-
7Wannabe49/100
Wannabe is a useful performer who showed his best effort when runner-up over 2m4f last time. He steps up in trip today having already tried this distance once without success, with the yard holding an 11% strike rate from 61 runs at Ffos Las and the jockey at 8% from 62 rides.
-
8Miss Pearl47/100
Miss Pearl is a modest mare who has shown her best form when placed on her last two starts. She has been around this track four times without getting competitive and steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact at this distance on her two previous attempts, with trainer and jockey both holding solid rather than sparkling records here.
-
9Roi du Roume45/100
Roi du Roume is a fair performer who has been consistent in recent starts with a string of placed efforts. He has shown nothing at this track in two runs and steps up in trip today having been placed once at the distance, with the yard holding a modest record here while the jockey fares better.
-
10Bells of Ufford43/100
Bells of Ufford is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and recent form that includes two placed efforts this year. He has been tried over this sort of trip before without success and steps up again today while showing no win or place from three runs on good to soft ground, with the trainer on 10% at the track from a large sample and the jockey on 5%.
-
11Izzy's Grey39/100
Izzy's Grey is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at today's trip without winning. He has failed to place in two runs on good to soft ground and the yard has only one run here so the trainer's record at the track is too small a sample to judge, while the jockey has an 8% strike rate from 62 rides at Ffos Las.
KTB verdict
The Magus stands out as the KTB Selection in a race where the numbers point to him as the one with the most recent competitiveness at this level. His ability to produce a late effort fits the likely shape of a contest with an uncontested leader that closers will need to reel in, and while the trip and course record are not ideal he has shown enough to be taken seriously. Main dangers include Babatunde if he can make the lone leader role pay from the front, and Tell The Tale who has already shown good form at the track. Good For You and My Own Lovely Lee add depth but both have significant trip questions to answer.
KTB Selection The Magus
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:16 UTC, 14 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| The Magus | 9/1 | Betfred |
| Tell The Tale | 11/4 | Star Sports |
This is the narrative read of the 1:45 Ffos Las. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ffos Las racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ffos Las results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Ffos Las racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is most likely to take the uncontested lead?
Babatunde, given his front-running style and the lone leader pace shape with high confidence.
How many principals are held up in running?
Three of the five principals – The Magus, My Own Lovely Lee and, in the wider field context, most others – are held up, aligning with the shape that favours closers if they can bridge the gap.
What is the trainer strike rate at Ffos Las for the yard of the selection The Magus?
13% strike rate at Ffos Las with an A/E of 1.47 from 16 runs.
Which horse has course experience but only a fourth to show for it?
Babatunde, who ran once here and finished fourth with no win or place.
How many runners are stepping up markedly in trip according to the KTB assessments?
Good For You, Saddlers Quest and Wannabe are all stepping up markedly in trip, while several others including Tell The Tale and Roi du Roume also have distance questions.
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