1:50 Aintree
This Class 3 novices' limited handicap chase at Aintree over 1m7f176y on good to soft ground brings together eight high-class performers, several of whom are dropping in class. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with The Gray Ghost heading the numbers on 70, followed closely by Un Sens A La Vie on 67, Dance And Glance on 65 and Klub de Reve on 60. Recent form is generally strong across the field, though questions remain around trip for some and course form for most in what looks a competitive renewal.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present and the confidence in that assessment is high. Un Sens A La Vie and He's Bresilian are both likely to contest the lead early, while several others including The Gray Ghost, Dance And Glance, Kadastral, Taurus Bay and We're Red And Blue tend to race prominently or handily. This shape could see the pace collapse late on, which would play to those capable of coming from further back, posing the key question of whether the prominent racers can sustain their efforts or if the hold-up performers will be favoured.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1The Gray Ghost KTB Selection70/100
The Gray Ghost is a high-class performer with a solid recent record including two wins from his last five starts and an official rating of 120. He has shown ability on good to soft ground with two wins and three places from six runs while his sole visit to Aintree produced a fourth. The trip remains a question as he has failed to win in three attempts at this distance. Robbie Llewellyn's 33% strike rate at Aintree from just three runs is a positive, as is Charlie Price's 17% from six rides here. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he should be well placed to track the strong pace in a race where late collapses are possible.
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2Un Sens A La Vie67/100
Un Sens A La Vie is a high-class performer who arrives in excellent order after winning last time and boasting a solid recent sequence of 2142-1. He drops back in trip to a distance at which he has already won once from three attempts, and he has two wins from three starts on good to soft ground. The yard posts a 15% strike rate at Aintree from 20 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while Sam Twiston-Davies is on 11% here from 313 rides, below his overall figure. A habitual front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is sure to set a strong gallop in a contest where that could prove vulnerable late on.
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3Dance And Glance65/100
Dance And Glance is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after a recent third and holds an official rating of 127. He has won three times at today's trip from seven attempts and is placed three times from four runs on good to soft. Trainer Anthony Honeyball has a 13% strike rate at Aintree from 52 runs in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Rex Dingle records a 15% strike rate from 13 rides here. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he should be prominent throughout in a race that is set to be strongly run and could favour those coming from off the pace if the leaders fold.
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4Klub de Reve60/100
Klub de Reve is a high-class performer who arrives on the back of two wins and holds an official rating of 132. He has won both starts at today's trip and shown a positive record on this going with one win from four runs. The trainer is 0% from 11 runs at Aintree and the jockey is 0% from 16 rides here. Typically settling in midfield, he may benefit if the strong pace collapses late, though the lack of course form and the yard's record at the track are both negatives to weigh up.
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5Kadastral58/100
Kadastral is a high-class performer with a solid recent record of two wins and two places from four starts. He drops back in trip today having been placed both times at this distance without winning, while the going looks a positive on the basis of one win from two runs. Trainer Dan Skelton has a 15% strike rate at Aintree from 366 runs in line with their record elsewhere, though the jockey is operating below his usual level with a 15% strike rate from 306 rides here. Usually racing handily, he fits the prominent profile in a race expected to be strongly run.
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6Taurus Bay56/100
Taurus Bay is a high-class performer who won on his only previous start at Aintree. He has shown strong recent form with two wins from his last four starts and holds an official rating of 135. The drop back in trip today poses a fresh question while the yard and jockey both record strike rates at the track that are in line with their figures elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he should be involved early in what is set to be a strong pace.
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7We're Red And Blue53/100
We're Red And Blue is a high-class performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins and three seconds from his last seven starts. He drops back to a trip he has won at three times from 12 attempts yet was well held on his only previous visit to Aintree. Trainer Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill holds a 15% strike rate here from 39 runs while the jockey is operating at 8% from 107 rides, both figures in line with or below their records elsewhere. Usually racing handily with high confidence, he will be prominent in a strongly run contest.
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8He's Bresilian51/100
He's Bresilian is a smart performer who arrives in solid form with three wins from his last five starts and an official rating of 119. He has won once and been placed three times from four runs on good to soft ground while also placing every time he has tried today's trip. The yard's 5% strike rate at Aintree comes from 1 win in 19 runs and the jockey is 4 from 89 here which is in line with his record elsewhere. A front-runner who tends to make the running, he will help ensure a strong pace that could collapse late.
KTB verdict
The Gray Ghost is the KTB Selection. A high-class performer with a solid recent record, two wins from his last five starts and proven ability on good to soft, he has the right run-style to track the expected strong pace and the trainer's excellent 33% strike rate at Aintree adds further appeal despite the trip question. Un Sens A La Vie looks the main danger as a habitual front-runner in excellent order who drops back to a winning distance on a going he likes. Dance And Glance, Klub de Reve, Kadastral and Taurus Bay are all high-class performers who cannot be dismissed, while the remainder add depth to what should be a competitive heat.
KTB Selection The Gray Ghost
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:03am, 25 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| The Gray Ghost | 16/1 | Bet Victor, 1:03am |
| Un Sens A La Vie | 4/1 | Bet365, 1:03am |
| Dance And Glance | 15/2 | Bet365, 1:03am |
| Klub de Reve | 9/2 | William Hill, 1:03am |
| Kadastral | 4/1 | 7Bet, 1:03am |
| Taurus Bay | 3/1 | Bet365, 1:03am |
| We're Red And Blue | 12/1 | Bet365, 1:03am |
| He's Bresilian | 25/1 | 7Bet, 1:03am |
This is the narrative read of the 1:50 Aintree. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Aintree racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Aintree results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Aintree 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 the Aintree course?
Taurus Bay is the most proven at Aintree, having won on his only previous start here, while The Gray Ghost has a fourth, We're Red And Blue a tenth and the remainder have no course form on record.
How many of these runners are dropping in class?
Un Sens A La Vie, Dance And Glance, Klub de Reve and Taurus Bay are all dropping in class, while Kadastral and He's Bresilian are stepping up.
Which runners are expected to set or contest the strong pace?
Un Sens A La Vie and He's Bresilian are both front-runners likely to contest the lead, while The Gray Ghost, Dance And Glance, Kadastral, Taurus Bay and We're Red And Blue are all prominent racers who usually race handily or close to the lead.
What does the pace shape suggest for late-race positioning?
The strong pace, with two or more habitual front-runners, is likely to collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses according to the supplied pace shape.
Which horse has the strongest recent winning record at today's trip?
Dance And Glance has won three times at today's trip from seven attempts, Klub de Reve has won both starts at the trip, Un Sens A La Vie has won once from three attempts, and We're Red And Blue has won three times from 12 attempts.
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