7:00 Wolverhampton (AW)
A Class 6 selling handicap over 1m1f104y on the standard surface at Wolverhampton brings together an eleven-runner field where the majority are modest performers with questions to answer. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Bobacious heading the list on 59 followed closely by It's A Love Thing and R P McMurphy on 58, while three others sit on 57. Dropping in class is a theme for several, and with a genuinely-run pace shape anticipated the race should provide a fair test.
How the race shapes up
With a genuinely-run pace shape of high confidence, Bobacious is expected to take up his customary position at the head of affairs and will be pressed by several prominent and handy types including Jodhpur Blue, Just Typical, Port Noir, Freddy Robinson and Risen Again. Held-up runners such as It's A Love Thing, R P McMurphy, Al Za'ama and Deep Sleep will be positioned further back, looking to come through late. The key question is whether the early pace holds up or if the race falls apart enough for the closers to get involved in the finish.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Bobacious KTB Selection59/100
Bobacious is a modest performer who has run twice at Wolverhampton without placing. He drops back in trip today having been well held over further last time, with a placed effort on standard ground from six runs offering some encouragement. The trainer has a 13% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 31 runs, above their 4% elsewhere, while the jockey records a 16% strike rate at the track from 51 rides. From draw 12 the six-year-old is expected to make the running or race prominently, as is his usual style with high confidence. He holds an official rating of 64, is dropping in class, and his recent form reads 465176.
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2It's A Love Thing58/100
It's A Love Thing is a limited performer who has won three times here from 13 runs and also has three wins from eight starts at this trip. Recent form has been ordinary and the yard's 13% strike rate at Wolverhampton is in line with their record elsewhere. The jockey's 10% strike rate at the track is likewise in line with his overall figure. An eight-year-old with an official rating of 57, he is usually held up and produces his effort late with medium confidence. He has five wins from 36 starts on standard going and his recent form reads 780832.
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3R P McMurphy58/100
R P McMurphy is a modest performer who has won three times here from eight runs and holds an official rating of 65. He steps up in trip today having last run over a mile so this distance is an unknown. The trainer and jockey both record strike rates in line with their figures at other tracks while the horse has three wins from 14 starts on standard going. Usually held up with medium confidence, the four-year-old is dropping in class and his recent form reads 034128. From draw 6 he will look to produce his effort late.
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4Dr Rio57/100
Dr Rio is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with a win and two placed efforts from his last six starts. He drops back in trip having been well held over further last time and is only placed once from nine runs on standard ground. The trainer operates at a 9% strike rate here which is in line with his record elsewhere while this is the horse's first run at Wolverhampton. A ten-year-old with an official rating of 65, he is dropping in class and typically settles in midfield with high confidence. His recent form reads 875315.
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5Jodhpur Blue57/100
Jodhpur Blue is a modest performer who has been consistent without winning of late, finishing in the first six on all six starts this year. He is placed on both previous runs at this track and has a win on standard ground from eleven attempts, though he is now dropping back in trip having last run over a mile and three. The trainer has a 12% strike rate here from 1,417 runs, in line with his record elsewhere. Usually races handily on or close to the lead with high confidence, the five-year-old holds an official rating of 65 and his recent form reads 625362.
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6Just Typical52/100
Just Typical is a limited performer who has been placed once from six runs at Wolverhampton without winning. He steps up in trip today having shown consistent but unexciting form over a mile this year. The trainer has a 12% strike rate here in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey posts a 20% strike rate at the track which is above his general figure.
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7Al Za'ama51/100
Al Za'ama is a modest performer who has shown little in four starts since debut, finishing eighth both here and on turf last time. The trainer's 9% strike rate at Wolverhampton is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey posts a 7% strike rate here which is above his 5% at other tracks. Drawn in stall 1 and with only one run at the trip so far.
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8Deep Sleep50/100
Deep Sleep is a modest performer who has failed to place in any of his ten starts and showed little at this track on his only previous visit. He drops back in trip today having been well held over further last time, though his one run at this distance also brought no joy. The trainer operates at a 19% strike rate here, in line with his record elsewhere.
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9Port Noir45/100
Port Noir is a limited performer who has run 50 times in the last year and showed little spark on his last three starts. He does have a solid record here with five course wins from 30 runs and has also won at this trip three times from 18 attempts. The trainer's 11% strike rate at Wolverhampton is in line with his record elsewhere.
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10Freddy Robinson43/100
Freddy Robinson is a limited performer who has been running to form without winning of late and now drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried. This is his first run at Wolverhampton after 50 starts elsewhere and he has only one placing from six runs on standard ground. The trainer and jockey both record strike rates here that sit in line with their figures at other tracks.
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11Risen Again41/100
Risen Again is a limited performer who has been consistent enough to finish in the frame on several occasions but lacks a win since 2022. He has run twice at this track without placing and the yard is 0 from 10 at Wolverhampton. He drops back in trip today having been placed once in two starts at this distance.
KTB verdict
Bobacious looks to have the best chance in a race where the principals are closely matched on KTB Fit. His proven ability to make the running from a prominent position should see him set a decent gallop in a genuinely-run contest, and the drop in class plus the placed effort on standard ground add to his appeal. The main dangers are It's A Love Thing, who knows the track well with three course wins, and R P McMurphy, who has also won three times here, though both will need to come from off the pace. Jodhpur Blue's consistency and Dr Rio's recent win also make them respected in what should be a competitive affair.
KTB Selection Bobacious
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:32am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Bobacious | 10/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| It's A Love Thing | 13/2 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| R P McMurphy | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Dr Rio | 8/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Jodhpur Blue | 4/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Just Typical | 3/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Al Za'ama | 35/1 | 7Bet, 1:02am |
| Deep Sleep | 12/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Port Noir | 33/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Freddy Robinson | 15/2 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Risen Again | 25/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 7:00 Wolverhampton (AW). For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wolverhampton (AW) racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Wolverhampton (AW) results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Wolverhampton (AW) racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is dropping back in trip from a recent run over further?
Bobacious, Dr Rio and Deep Sleep are all dropping back in trip having been well held over further last time.
How many course wins does It's A Love Thing have at Wolverhampton?
It's A Love Thing has three course wins from 13 runs at Wolverhampton.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Wolverhampton for the yard of R P McMurphy?
Michael Appleby has an 11% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 1,869 runs.
Which runners are likely to race prominently or make the running?
Bobacious tends to make the running or race on the pace, while Jodhpur Blue, Just Typical, Port Noir, Freddy Robinson and Risen Again are usually prominent or handy.
Has any horse in the field won at this trip before?
It's A Love Thing has three wins from eight starts at this trip and Port Noir has won at this trip three times from 18 attempts.
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