2:25 Cheltenham
This Class 3 conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle over 2m0f87y at Cheltenham on good ground serves as a qualifier for the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series. A field of 13 features several high-class performers on their day, though the KTB Fit scores show a clear pecking order with Loriko heading the numbers on 72. Recent form is generally strong across the principals, but course records at Cheltenham are mixed and the strong pace anticipated will test stamina late.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners in the line-up the pace shape is strongly positive for a solid gallop that could collapse in the closing stages. Loriko and Gower Prince are both noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, while Wild Goose, King Ulanda, Continuance and Wondering Why like to race handily. That early speed should play into the hands of the hold-up performers such as Fiveonefive, Fils de Roi, Thankyouandplease, The Hardest Geezer, Emerald Time, Kapitein Kool and Mojito des Mottes, posing the key question of which closers can pick up the pieces when the leaders tire.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Loriko KTB Selection72/100
Loriko is a high-class performer who arrives in excellent order with recent form of 112113 and an official rating of 134. He drops back in trip today having won twice at this distance from five attempts while showing strong form on good ground with four wins and seven places from nine runs. Trainer Dan Skelton has a 12% strike rate at Cheltenham from 592 runs which sits below their 19% at other tracks and the horse finished third on its only previous run here. Dominic Lewis takes the ride with the pair combining at a 1-5 (20%) record. As a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace he is sure to be prominent in a race with a strong pace likely.
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2Wild Goose69/100
Wild Goose is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after two wins from his last four starts. He has won three times at today's trip and holds a 2-from-9 record on good ground. The Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls yard has a 20% strike rate at Cheltenham while this is his first run here. Fern O'Brien is in the saddle though she is yet to score at the track from seven rides. Usually racing prominently, he should be on or close to the early pace in a contest where that speed is expected to be strong.
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3King Ulanda66/100
King Ulanda is a smart performer who arrives in solid form having won two of his last five starts. He has shown he handles good ground well with four wins from 13 attempts and has also won over today's trip. Trainer Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero operate at a 19% strike rate here from 32 runs which sits in line with their record elsewhere while Ben Smith has no recorded rides at the track. Their combined record reads 3-54 (6%). Usually racing handily, he should be prominent early in what is anticipated to be a strongly-run affair as he steps up in class.
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4Fiveonefive63/100
Fiveonefive is a high-class performer on his day but has failed to place in three runs at Cheltenham. Trainer Cian Collins has a 12% strike rate here from 17 runs while the jockey is making his first appearance at the track. He has won at today's trip though his record on good ground reads just 2-14. Their trainer-jockey combination stands at 9-100 (9%). Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited by the strong pace likely that could see the leaders fold.
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5Fils de Roi60/100
Fils de Roi is a smart performer who has shown ability at this track without managing to win or place in two runs. He drops back to a trip he has won over but his recent form is patchy and the yard's record here is below their overall strike rate. Going looks fine on the balance of what he has done. Fergal O'Brien and Tom Broughton team up at a 33-175 (19%) rate, with the jockey boasting a 23% strike rate at Cheltenham from 13 rides. Usually held up, he should be suited by the race unfolding at a strong gallop.
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6Continuance56/100
Continuance is a high-class performer who has placed on two of his three starts at Cheltenham and arrives in solid recent form with a string of seconds. He drops back to 2m today having won at the trip earlier in his career yet his record on good ground is only modest with two wins from thirteen runs. Trainer Martin Keighley has a 9% strike rate at the track from 279 runs while jockey Harry Atkins is making his first appearance here. Usually races prominently.
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7Wondering Why56/100
Wondering Why is a smart performer who arrives in decent order after a recent win and has already shown he handles this trip. He has won twice from three starts on good ground and holds solid course connections through his trainer. The yard's 6% strike rate at Cheltenham sits below their 16% elsewhere. Half-brother to Mandarin (3 wins from 26 runs). The dam has had 5 other runners, 1 of them a winner. Usually races prominently and steps up in class.
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8Thankyouandplease54/100
Thankyouandplease is a smart performer who arrives off the back of solid placed efforts at a lower level. He drops back in trip today having been placed without winning over this distance previously, while the good ground has seen him finish placed once from four starts. Trainer records a 6% strike rate at Cheltenham from 36 runs, in line with his 8% at other courses, and this is the horse's first appearance here. Usually held up and steps up in class.
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9The Hardest Geezer53/100
The Hardest Geezer is high-class on his best days and arrives with a solid recent sequence of 2244F that includes placed efforts in stronger company. He has won twice at today's trip from nine attempts yet is 0-2 on good ground and makes his first start at Cheltenham. The yard's 6% strike rate here from 33 runs sits in line with their record elsewhere. Usually held up and drops in class.
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10Emerald Time53/100
Emerald Time is a smart performer who has won three of his last six starts and arrives in decent form. He drops back to a trip he has already won over twice from six attempts while showing a solid record on good ground. This is his first run at Cheltenham. Usually held up and steps up in class.
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11Kapitein Kool52/100
Kapitein Kool is a smart performer who arrives in decent form after a solid third last time out. He drops back to a trip he has won over from four attempts yet has only placed once from four starts on good ground. Trainer has no recorded runners at Cheltenham while the 3lb claimer is also making a first appearance here. Usually held up and steps up in class.
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12Mojito des Mottes52/100
Mojito des Mottes is high-class on ratings and recent race history yet has failed to win in six starts at this trip. Trainer's 6% strike rate at Cheltenham from 238 runs sits below his 16% elsewhere. Placed once from four runs on good ground while making his first appearance here today. Usually held up and drops in class.
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13Gower Prince49/100
Gower Prince is a useful performer who arrives in solid nick with four wins from his last six starts and an official rating of 104. He has shown enough on good ground with two wins and five places from 18 starts while also having won at today's trip. The yard's 10% strike rate at Cheltenham from 42 runs is in line with their record elsewhere and this is his first run at the track. Tends to make the running or race on the pace.
KTB verdict
Loriko stands out at the head of the KTB Fit ratings and looks the one to beat. A high-class performer in excellent order with a strong record at this trip and on good ground, his front-running style should ensure he is ideally placed if the strong pace does take its toll on those around him. The main dangers are likely to come from the prominent runners Wild Goose and King Ulanda, both of whom arrive in solid form, while the hold-up brigade headed by Fiveonefive and Fils de Roi could be the ones to profit most if the leaders fold late.
KTB Selection Loriko
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:21am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Loriko | 9/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Wild Goose | 9/1 | Bet365, 1:18am |
| King Ulanda | 28/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Fiveonefive | 16/1 | 7Bet, 1:18am |
| Fils de Roi | 22/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Continuance | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Wondering Why | 9/2 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Thankyouandplease | 22/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| The Hardest Geezer | 4/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Emerald Time | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Kapitein Kool | 6/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Mojito des Mottes | 18/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Gower Prince | 9/1 | Bet365, 1:18am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:25 Cheltenham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cheltenham racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cheltenham results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Cheltenham racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best recent form figures?
Loriko with 112113.
How many front-runners are there and what does that mean for the race?
Two habitual front-runners in a strong pace likely that could collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
Which horse is stepping up in class from a recent win?
Wondering Why after a recent win, and both Wild Goose and Emerald Time also step up having won recently.
Which principal has the strongest trainer record at Cheltenham?
King Ulanda whose trainer has a 19% strike rate at the track from 32 runs.
Who is the only horse to have placed at Cheltenham in this field?
Continuance who has placed on two of three starts here.
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