8:00 Wolverhampton (AW)
This Class 5 fillies' handicap at Wolverhampton over 7f36y on standard ground brings together an even field of eleven where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top. So Sassy tops the ratings on 58 with Hilltop, Queue Dos and Velvet Rhythm all on 57, while the remainder sit between 54 and 44. Several runners have strong course records at the venue, and the overall standard of form points to a competitive race in which recent consistency and course aptitude will be key.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners in the line-up the pace shape is likely to be strong, and the confidence is high that it could collapse late. Velvet Rhythm, Bright Summer, Egotistical and Pilgrim's Progress are all noted as tending to race prominently or make the running, while Mae Amor and Call Me Betty like to race handily. That early speed should set things up for hold-up performers, with the key question being which of the patiently ridden runners can pick up the pieces when the leaders tire in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1So Sassy KTB Selection58/100
So Sassy is a fair performer who has won two of her four starts at Wolverhampton and holds a solid record on standard going with three wins from ten runs. She arrives in decent form having won two of her last four starts and steps up from 6f having already won twice at today's trip. Trainer James Fanshawe has a 17% strike rate here while jockey Daniel Muscutt records 14%. From draw 5 she should settle comfortably in midfield, a run-style she adopts with high confidence, and her record of 551182 underlines that she is in the right order. The combination of course wins, a workable mark of 75 and proven stamina for the distance makes her the one to beat.
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2Hilltop57/100
Hilltop is a modest performer who has run creditably in several recent handicaps without winning. He has won at this trip and at Wolverhampton, and his record on standard ground shows two wins from eleven starts. Trainer's 10% strike rate here is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey's 20% at the track is above his general figure. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn wide in stall 11 which could be no disadvantage if the strong pace materialises. His string of placed efforts in the 344342 form line suggests he remains competitive at this level off an OR of 74.
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3Queue Dos57/100
Queue Dos is a modest performer who has won four times from seven starts at this track and four times from nine runs on standard going. He steps up in trip today having last run over 6f yet already holds a win at this distance from five attempts. Trainer and jockey both record strike rates at Wolverhampton that sit in line with their figures at other courses. Dropping in class from a mark of 74, he should settle in midfield from draw 4 and his course record gives him every chance of figuring. The recent form of -47385 is a shade patchy but the four course victories cannot be ignored.
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4Velvet Rhythm57/100
Velvet Rhythm is a modest performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the first three in four of his last six starts including a placed effort here over this trip. He has won four times at today's distance and has handled the standard surface well enough to be competitive. Trainer and jockey both operate at their ordinary level around here. As a front-runner he is likely to set or share the early pace from stall 2, which could leave him vulnerable if the race shape proves as strong as anticipated. His recent form reads 037353 and although dropping in class he has yet to win on the all-weather.
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5Enola Grey54/100
Enola Grey is a modest performer who has won three times at Wolverhampton including once at this trip. Recent form of 680060 is poor and she has been well held on her last three starts here. Trainer and jockey both operate at their standard level at the track while the draw is 8 of 11. She drops in class off an OR of 66 and her record of six wins from 38 on standard ground offers some hope. Typically settling in midfield, she will be looking to improve on those recent below-par displays and capitalise on her course wins.
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6Mae Amor54/100
Mae Amor is a fair performer who has won twice from four starts at Wolverhampton and arrives in decent form with a recent string of placed efforts. She steps up to 7f for the first time today having failed to win in three previous tries at the trip, while the draw in stall 1 of 11 is noted. Trainer and jockey both operate at their expected strike rates here.
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7Souffler54/100
Souffler is a modest performer who has dropped to a workable mark after three ordinary efforts this year. She drops back to 7f today having won at the trip last season, though the small overall sample leaves going suitability unclear. Trainer holds a 20% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 209 runs, above his mark elsewhere, while jockey operates at 6% from 505 rides here, below his rate at other tracks. Half-sister to Bondi Bay (2 wins from 4 runs). The dam has had 5 other runners, 3 of them winners.
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8Call Me Betty53/100
Call Me Betty is a modest performer who has won both starts over this trip on AW including a success here from just one visit. Recent form has been patchy and first-time headgear is now applied after a string of lesser efforts. Trainer and jockey both operate at strike rates in line with their records at other tracks.
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9Bright Summer53/100
Bright Summer is a modest performer with a recent string of ordinary efforts and an official rating of 70 that looks about right. She steps up to 7f for the first time in a while having already won at the trip, and has shown ability on standard going. First-time headgear is tried while connections have a solid 14-15% strike rate here at Wolverhampton.
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10Egotistical50/100
Egotistical is a modest performer who has shown consistency this year with placed efforts on standard ground. Trainer's 25% strike rate at Wolverhampton is above his overall figure while the jockey's 8% is in line with his record elsewhere. First run here and only one previous try at this trip both leave questions to answer.
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11Pilgrim's Progress44/100
Pilgrim's Progress is a modest performer whose recent form has been ordinary at best. Placed on all three starts on standard going and steps up to 7f for the first time today which asks a fresh question. Trainer has a 13% strike rate at Wolverhampton while jockey records 15% here.
KTB verdict
So Sassy is the KTB Selection. She has already won twice at Wolverhampton and twice at this trip, arrives in decent form, and her record on standard ground is sound. From a good draw she can settle in midfield behind the expected strong pace and be produced at the right time. The main dangers are Hilltop, who is consistently placed and benefits from a hold-up style in a race that should suit late runners, and Queue Dos, who boasts an excellent four-from-seven record at the track. Velvet Rhythm may go forward but could find the pace too hot, while Enola Grey and several others in the field add depth to what looks a typically competitive Wolverhampton handicap.
KTB Selection So Sassy
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:33am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| So Sassy | 11/4 | Bet365, 1:30am |
| Hilltop | 4/1 | Bet365, 1:30am |
| Queue Dos | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Velvet Rhythm | 9/2 | Bet365, 1:30am |
| Enola Grey | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Mae Amor | 12/1 | Bet365, 1:30am |
| Souffler | 28/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Call Me Betty | 22/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Bright Summer | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Egotistical | 9/1 | William Hill, 1:30am |
| Pilgrim's Progress | 13/2 | William Hill, 1:30am |
This is the narrative read of the 8:00 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 has the best course record at Wolverhampton?
Queue Dos has won four times from seven starts at the track.
How many front-runners or prominent runners are likely to ensure a strong pace?
Velvet Rhythm, Bright Summer, Egotistical, Pilgrim's Progress, Mae Amor and Call Me Betty are all noted as tending to race on or close to the lead.
Which horse is stepping up in trip having won over 7f previously?
Queue Dos holds a win at this distance from five attempts.
Who is wearing first-time headgear?
Call Me Betty and Bright Summer both sport first-time headgear.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Wolverhampton among those represented?
Roger Varian has a 25% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 455 runs.
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