2:18 Hereford
This Class 4 division of the juvenile maiden hurdle at Hereford over 2m53y on good to firm ground features a field of ten three-year-olds, several of whom remain lightly raced and unexposed over hurdles and this trip. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Our Wee Horse just heading the list on 59, followed closely by Aukus on 57, while the remainder sit in the mid-40s. With a strong pace shape anticipated and several habitual front-runners declared, the race is likely to test stamina late on and place emphasis on those capable of quickening off a strong gallop.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is expected with at least two, and possibly three, habitual front-runners present in Poetry of Time, Aukus and Meritocratic. The early tempo should be genuine, which raises the possibility of the race collapsing in the latter stages and playing into the hands of horses that settle in mid-division or are held up. The key question is whether any of the prominent racers can sustain the gallop or if the race will fall to a hold-up performer coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Our Wee Horse KTB Selection59/100
Our Wee Horse showed fair promise when second on debut over slightly further and now drops back in trip, which poses a fresh question while the small sample makes his going and overall ability hard to pin down. He is a half-brother to Thunder Rock, a tough Listed winner with 12 wins from 30 runs, and the dam has had five other runners of which three were winners. Harry Derham brings a 19% strike rate at Hereford from 16 runs, while Paul O'Brien has a 13% record at the track from 46 rides. The yard's overall trainer-jockey combination stands at 23% from 566 runs. Our Wee Horse typically settles in midfield, though with limited evidence, and he is the KTB Selection.
-
2Aukus57/100
Aukus has shown enough in five runs to suggest he is at least fair, though he remains lightly raced and not fully exposed. He steps up in class and in trip today, the latter a fresh question. Nicky Henderson boasts a 34% strike rate at Hereford from 252 runs, well above his 22% at other courses, and Nico de Boinville partners him with a 35% record at the track from 40 rides. Their overall trainer-jockey record stands at 25% from 2681 runs. Aukus tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence, though he has two runs on good to firm without a win or place.
-
3Echo Valley47/100
Echo Valley has some racecourse experience but remains lightly raced and not fully exposed after eight starts. He steps up in class while the yard's 12% strike rate at Hereford from 139 runs is in line with their record elsewhere. The three-year-old has shown little on good to firm ground or at this trip so far, and this first run at Hereford adds another unknown. Ben Poste rides with a 6% strike rate at the track from 239 rides, and their trainer-jockey combination stands at 8% from 652 runs. Echo Valley typically settles in midfield with medium confidence.
-
4Just Call Me Mo46/100
Just Call Me Mo has shown only modest form in eight starts this year and drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge at a slightly longer distance last time out. The yard's 1% strike rate at Hereford from 103 runs is in line with their 4% at other tracks. The 7 lb claimer Miss Jess Stewart has a 20% strike rate at Hereford from five rides, though the trainer-jockey record overall is 6% from 18 runs. Just Call Me Mo is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence, and he has one run on good to firm with no win or place.
-
5Solar Jet46/100
Solar Jet has shown very little so far with two pulled-up efforts from four career starts. He is a half-brother to Ice Jet who won four times from 18 runs, but that is the main positive in a profile that otherwise remains short on encouragement. The Dan Skelton yard has a 25% strike rate at Hereford from 146 runs in line with their record elsewhere, though Tristan Durrell has a 4% strike rate at the track from 24 rides and their trainer-jockey combination stands at 13% from 762 runs. Solar Jet is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence, and he has one run on good to firm with no win or place.
-
6Poetry of Time45/100
Poetry of Time is a three-year-old with six runs on the board but remains lightly raced on this going where he has won his only start. He steps up markedly in trip today from 7f and that distance increase is an entirely fresh question. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from nine runs at Hereford and he tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
-
7Here I Bow44/100
Here I Bow is a 3-year-old with 10 runs on the board yet remains lightly exposed after dropping back from Flat starts. He steps up sharply in trip today to 2m0¼f, which is an entirely fresh question, while first-time headgear is also applied. The yard's 13% strike rate at Hereford is in line with their record elsewhere, though the colt has shown no win or place form from four runs on good to firm and he typically settles in midfield with medium confidence.
-
8Miss Pretty44/100
Miss Pretty has shown modest ability in five runs over shorter trips and now steps up markedly in distance as a fresh question. The yard records a 6% strike rate at Hereford from 17 runs. With only medium data confidence and a going sample too small to judge, her prospects remain open but unproven at this trip and she is usually held up with medium confidence.
-
9Stepanov44/100
Stepanov has six runs on the board and remains lightly raced overall. The trip is a clear step up from his latest 1m3f effort and poses a fresh question. The dam has produced just one other runner that failed to win and he usually races handily, on or close to the lead with medium confidence.
-
10Meritocratic40/100
Meritocratic has shown some ability in ten starts but remains unexposed at this trip after stepping up from 1m last time. He has been competitive on good to firm ground without winning and now makes his first appearance at Hereford. The trainer holds a 13 percent strike rate at the track and he tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
KTB verdict
Our Wee Horse is the KTB Selection. He showed fair promise when second on debut over slightly further, is bred to be useful as a half-brother to the tough Listed winner Thunder Rock, and comes from a yard with a solid 19% strike rate at Hereford. The drop in trip is a question to answer, as is the ground, yet he has the best of the KTB Fit Scores and should be suited if the race develops as strongly as anticipated. The main dangers are Aukus, who brings strong trainer and jockey form at the track along with a prominent run-style, and the more experienced but modest performers such as Just Call Me Mo and Echo Valley, who could be helped by the testing pace shape.
KTB Selection Our Wee Horse
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:16am, 26 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Our Wee Horse | 5/6 | BetTom, 12:15am |
| Aukus | 12/1 | BetTom, 12:15am |
| Echo Valley | 33/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Just Call Me Mo | 100/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Solar Jet | 80/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Poetry of Time | 11/4 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Here I Bow | 35/1 | 7Bet, 12:15am |
| Miss Pretty | 9/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Stepanov | 9/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
| Meritocratic | 10/1 | Bet365, 12:15am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:18 Hereford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hereford racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Hereford results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Hereford racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is the half-brother to the Listed winner Thunder Rock?
Our Wee Horse, whose dam has had five other runners of which three were winners.
How does the strong pace shape affect the race?
The presence of two or more habitual front-runners means the pace looks strong and could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
Which runners are noted as habitual front-runners or prominent?
Aukus, Poetry of Time and Meritocratic tend to make the running or race on the pace, while Stepanov usually races handily.
What is the Hereford strike rate for Nicky Henderson at this track?
34% strike rate at Hereford from 252 runs.
Which horse is making its first appearance at Hereford and has been competitive on good to firm without winning?
Meritocratic.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies