4:55 Stratford
This Class 5 novices' handicap steeplechase at Stratford over 2m0f213y on good ground brings together a compact field of four. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched between 51 and 43, reflecting a race where no horse stands out dramatically on current form. Glance At Me tops the KTB rankings as the selection despite a string of poor efforts, while the other three principals all bring placed course form or recent consistency into the equation.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is that of a lone leader with low confidence, pointing to one horse being allowed an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for closers to overcome. Most Wanted is the clear front-runner by run-style and should take them along, while Applejack Poet is likely to race prominently in his slipstream. Blackijo Dagrostis is the one held up, producing his effort late, which sets up the key question of whether the uncontested leader can get away or if the prominent and held-up runners can close him down on this tight track.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Glance At Me KTB Selection51/100
Glance At Me is a fair performer on his day yet he arrives in poor form after a string of pulled-ups and heavy defeats. He has shown no spark in three runs at Stratford and is 0-11 on good ground despite the occasional placed effort. The drop back to 2m asks a fresh question while both trainer and jockey have modest records at the track. Andrew J Martin operates at a 10% strike rate here with an A/E of 1.86, but Shane Quinlan's 2% strike rate from 42 rides at Stratford is a concern. Recent form figures of PP/99P underline the lack of spark, and with an OR of 80 he needs to rediscover his best to justify KTB's top ranking.
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2Blackijo Dagrostis47/100
Blackijo Dagrostis is a fair handicapper who has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second once and fourth on his other three starts here. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and has placed at today's trip, though his overall strike-rate remains modest. The trainer's 9% record at Stratford is offset by the jockey's stronger 18% strike-rate at the venue. Gavin Sheehan therefore brings the stronger course record to the partnership. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and will be hoping the uncontested leader sets a stiff enough pace for him to pick up the pieces from off it.
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3Applejack Poet44/100
Applejack Poet is a fair handicapper who has been generally consistent without winning for a long time. He has shown some ability on this track and stays the trip well enough, though his record on good ground is modest with just one win from 23 starts. The trainer has yet to strike at Stratford while the jockey has a solid record here. Paul O'Brien's 25% strike rate and A/E of 1.66 from 56 rides at the venue therefore provide a positive angle. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he should be prominent early and his recent form figures of 64P8F3 show flashes of ability mixed with the occasional let-down.
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4Most Wanted43/100
Most Wanted is a fair performer who has won at today's trip and shown placed form on good ground. He has been around a bit this year and his latest efforts have been mixed at best. The yard has a modest record here and the jockey is yet to score from 16 rides at the track. Tending to make the running, he is the one expected to take the field along in what could be an uncontested lead.
KTB verdict
Glance At Me tops the KTB Fit Scores at 51 and is named the selection, though his recent form of PP/99P makes him hard to fancy on paper. He remains a fair performer on his day and the drop to 2m could spark improvement if he can bounce back from those lacklustre displays at the track. The main dangers are Blackijo Dagrostis, who brings strong placed course form and the benefit of Gavin Sheehan's record at Stratford, and Applejack Poet, whose prominent style could see him track the likely leader closely. Most Wanted is set to make the running but needs to improve on mixed recent efforts to take advantage of the predicted uncontested lead.
KTB Selection Glance At Me
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:13 UTC, 17 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Glance At Me | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Blackijo Dagrostis | 4/1 | LiveScore Bet |
| Applejack Poet | 10/11 | Midnite |
| Most Wanted | 6/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 4:55 Stratford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Stratford racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Stratford results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Stratford racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is expected to take the uncontested lead?
Most Wanted, whose run-style is to front-run or race on the pace.
What is the course record of the KTB selection at Stratford?
Glance At Me has run three times here with figures of 9th, PU and 8th, recording no wins or places.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Stratford among those riding in this race?
Paul O'Brien with a 25% strike rate and A/E of 1.66 from 56 rides.
How many times has Blackijo Dagrostis been placed at this course?
Four times, with a second and three fourths from four runs.
What is Applejack Poet's record on good ground?
One win from 23 starts on good with three places.
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