2:20 Cheltenham
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham is a competitive Class 2 qualifier over 2m7f208y on good to soft ground, featuring a field of 19 that includes several high-class performers. The KTB Fit Scores range from 67 down to 42, highlighting a race where class and course experience will be tested against recent form and trip suitability. With Moon Rocket named as the KTB Selection, the numbers point to a strong test where prominent runners and hold-up types could clash in a contest likely to expose vulnerabilities in those with patchy records or age-related concerns.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Gowel Road and Idaho Fire, while several others such as Moon Rocket, Blizzard of Oz, Seaniecon, Grann's Boy, Love of Neymore, Thank You Ma'am, Stoner's Choice and Bold Endeavour like to race prominently or handily. This setup suggests the race could collapse late on, favouring hold-up horses like Hang In There, Divilabother, Champagne Chic, No More Bolero, Lihyan and Kitty Foyle who can deliver their effort from off the pace. The key question is whether the prominent brigade can dictate terms without overdoing it, or if the strong early gallop will create opportunities for patient riders in the latter stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Moon Rocket KTB Selection67/100
Moon Rocket is a high-class performer who has already shown strong ability on this track despite pulling up on his only previous visit. He drops back in trip today having won once from two starts at this distance though his last two runs were poor. The Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls yard records an 18% strike rate at Cheltenham from 11 runs while the jockey's record at the course is 1% from 89 rides. With a prominent run-style that sees him race handily on or close to the lead, he could be well placed in a race with a strong pace that may collapse late. He holds two wins from five starts on good to soft ground and carries an official rating of 132 at the age of six.
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2Ace of Spades63/100
Ace of Spades is a high-class performer with a solid recent record and an official rating of 138 that looks justified. He has won at this track from three runs and holds a strong course connection through the Skelton team, though the trainer's 12% strike rate at Cheltenham from 597 runs sits below their 19% elsewhere. The jockey has a 13% strike rate at the course from 511 rides. Dropping back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance previously, he has two wins from nine runs on good to soft. Settling typically in mid-division, he could benefit if the strong pace takes its toll on those up front.
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3Gowel Road61/100
Gowel Road is a high-class performer who has won twice at Cheltenham from 16 runs and brings solid recent placed form off an official rating of 146. The Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies yard's 3% strike rate here from 33 runs sits below their 17% at other tracks, while the jockey has a 10% strike rate at Cheltenham from 779 rides. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he will be at the sharp end in what is expected to be a strongly run affair. He has won on good to soft ground and at today's trip, though at the age of ten he carries the burden of a big weight.
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4Hang In There60/100
Hang In There is a high-class performer with a solid record here including a win from five runs at Cheltenham. Recent form of 534-4P is patchy for a horse of his ability and he is now 12 years old with 50 career runs. Trainer Emma Lavelle has an 8% strike rate at the track from 224 runs which is below her 14% elsewhere while the jockey has a 7% strike rate at Cheltenham from 95 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his run-style could be ideally suited if the strong pace collapses as predicted. He has one win from nine starts on good to soft.
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5Blizzard of Oz59/100
Blizzard of Oz is a high-class performer on his day but arrives with patchy recent form that includes two pulled-up efforts. He has placed once from two runs on good to soft and is effective around this trip even if he has yet to win at it. The trainer holds an 8% strike rate at Cheltenham from 13 runs while this is the horse's first appearance here. With a prominent run-style that sees him race handily, he will be towards the front in a race where the pace is likely to be strong. The jockey has a 12% strike rate at the course from 402 rides.
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6Seaniecon59/100
Seaniecon is a high-class performer with solid recent form including two wins from five starts and an official rating of 127. He has course connections at Cheltenham where the trainer holds a 10% strike rate from 42 runs in line with their record elsewhere. The trip has been tried once without success and the going remains unknown given only five career runs. Racing prominently, he could be involved early.
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7Grann's Boy58/100
Grann's Boy is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after a win and a second on his last two starts. He steps up markedly in trip today having been campaigned mostly over much shorter, with only one previous try at this distance that brought no success, while he remains unproven on good to soft ground. This is his first run at Cheltenham. A prominent runner, he will be handy in a strongly run race.
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8Divilabother57/100
Divilabother is a high-class performer with a strong recent record of 112151 and an official rating of 133. He has won on good to soft from three starts and has two wins from five at today's trip. The yard has no recorded runs at Cheltenham while this is the horse's first appearance here. Usually held up, his late effort could be well suited to the expected strong pace.
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9Champagne Chic57/100
Champagne Chic is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent record of two wins from his last five starts and an official rating of 129. He has already shown he handles good to soft ground and has been placed at this trip, though he was well held on his only previous run at Cheltenham. Trainer Jeremy Scott operates at an 8% strike rate here, in line with his overall figure, while jockey Lorcan Williams has a 14% strike rate at the track from 37 rides. A hold-up type, he may come late.
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10No More Bolero52/100
No More Bolero arrives in smart form with a recent sequence of 112311 and an official rating of 114. He is a first-time runner at Cheltenham where his trainer operates at a 13% strike rate from 45 runs, in line with his record elsewhere. The drop back to 2m7f is an untried trip while his two runs on good to soft ground have produced no win or place. Usually held up, he could be favoured by a race that collapses late.
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11Thank You Ma'am51/100
Thank You Ma'am is a high-class performer on the balance of her ratings and placed efforts. She arrives in solid recent order having finished second twice this spring yet the yard has a 0% strike rate from 11 runs at Cheltenham. Stays this trip and has won on good to soft though she has only 1 win from 9 starts on the surface. Racing prominently, she will be handy from the start.
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12Love of Neymore50/100
Love of Neymore is a smart performer who has run well at this track before when finishing third on his only visit. Drops back in trip today having last run over further and holds a solid record at this distance with one win from seven starts. Trainer has a 13% strike rate at Cheltenham from eight runs while the horse has three wins from seven starts on good to soft ground. A prominent runner with high confidence in that style.
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13Idaho Fire50/100
Idaho Fire is a smart performer who arrives in form after two wins from his last three starts. Has already won at today's trip and holds solid course connections through his trainer who operates at a 13% strike rate here from 45 runs. The dam has had 2 other runners, none of them a winner. A front-runner, he will help ensure a strong pace.
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14Lihyan49/100
Lihyan is a high-class performer who finished second on his only previous start at Cheltenham. He has won at this trip and holds a solid record on good to soft ground with two wins and five places from 12 starts. The yard has a 0% strike rate from eight runs at the track while the jockey is making his first appearance here. Usually held up, his style could suit if the race falls apart late.
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15Lucky Bere48/100
Lucky Bere is a smart performer who has shown strong form in lesser company. Only modest effort when eighth on his sole visit to Cheltenham and the yard's 5% strike rate here is in line with their record elsewhere. Steps up markedly in trip today with no evidence yet to suggest whether the extra distance will suit. He races prominently.
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16Stoner's Choice47/100
Stoner's Choice is a smart performer on his day but has been out of form for some time and finished no better than fifth on his last three starts. He has never won or placed in three runs at Cheltenham and the yard's 11% strike rate here sits below their record elsewhere. He steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance. A prominent runner with high confidence.
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17Bold Endeavour47/100
Bold Endeavour is a smart performer who has placed twice in five runs at Cheltenham without winning and arrives in ordinary recent form. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 12 runs at the track. Steps up in trip today having placed without winning at this distance on three of six starts. Racing prominently, he will be towards the front end.
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18Gold For Alec44/100
Gold For Alec is a smart performer who has placed on his only previous visit to Cheltenham and holds an official rating of 115. He has shown ability on good to soft ground with one win and three places from five runs yet remains winless in one attempt at this trip. The yard's 4% strike rate at the track from 45 runs is in line with their record elsewhere. Settling in mid-division is his typical approach.
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19Kitty Foyle42/100
Kitty Foyle is high-class on pedigree and recent placed efforts yet has failed to fire in two runs at Cheltenham. Steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question of her, while she has been competitive on good to soft without winning. Trainer has only three runs here which is too small a sample to judge. Usually held up, she could be suited by a strong pace that collapses.
KTB verdict
Moon Rocket stands out as the KTB Selection in a race full of high-class performers where the strong pace is likely to sort out the field. His prior promise on this track, combined with the yard's solid Cheltenham record and a prominent run-style that should see him track the early leaders, gives him a clear chance as he drops back in trip. The main dangers are Ace of Spades, who brings strong course form through the Skeltons, and Gowel Road, who knows how to win here and will set the fractions up front. Hold-up performers such as Hang In There and Divilabother cannot be discounted if the race falls apart late, while Blizzard of Oz remains capable on his best day.
KTB Selection Moon Rocket
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:04am, 24 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Moon Rocket | 8/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Ace of Spades | 5/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Gowel Road | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Hang In There | 66/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Blizzard of Oz | 33/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Seaniecon | 11/4 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Grann's Boy | 18/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Divilabother | 33/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Champagne Chic | 14/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| No More Bolero | 25/1 | Bet Victor, 1:04am |
| Thank You Ma'am | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Love of Neymore | 25/1 | Bet Victor, 1:04am |
| Idaho Fire | 15/2 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Lihyan | 20/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Lucky Bere | 16/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Stoner's Choice | 66/1 | William Hill, 1:04am |
| Bold Endeavour | 28/1 | Bet365, 1:04am |
| Gold For Alec | 25/1 | Bet Victor, 1:04am |
| Kitty Foyle | 25/1 | Bet Victor, 1:04am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:20 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 is most proven at Cheltenham?
Gowel Road has won twice at Cheltenham from 16 runs.
How does the expected strong pace affect the race?
The strong pace with two or more habitual front-runners could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
Which runners are dropping in class?
Ace of Spades and Gowel Road are dropping in class.
Who has the best recent form sequence among the principals?
Divilabother has the recent record of 112151, though he is not among the top five by KTB Fit.
What is the KTB Fit Score for the selection Moon Rocket?
Moon Rocket has a KTB Fit Score of 67/100.
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