1:36 Huntingdon
This Class 4 maiden hurdle at Huntingdon over 2m3f137y on good ground brings together a compact field of six where the KTB Fit scores identify a clear top four. Scotto tops the figures on 65 with an unbeaten record from two starts, while Current Edition on 57, Seamy Appletart on 52 and Premiere Ligne on 47 complete the principals. The remaining pair, What's Your Game and Celine Man, sit lower on 40 and 38 respectively and look to have more to prove.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, driven by two or more habitual front-runners. Scotto and Premiere Ligne both tend to make the running or race prominently, while Current Edition, Seamy Appletart, What's Your Game and Celine Man usually race handily or close to the lead. This setup suggests the race could collapse late and therefore favour any horse with the ability to come from off the pace, posing the key question of which runner can best handle the anticipated strong gallop.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Scotto KTB Selection65/100
Scotto is an unbeaten 5-year-old with two quick wins over shorter trips and a full brother to useful winner Brayhill. The yard has a 26% strike rate at Huntingdon from 91 runs which is above their overall figure while Jonathan Burke has a 13% strike rate here in line with his record elsewhere. He steps up in trip today on ground he has won on twice from just two starts but the small overall sample means this remains a lightly-raced profile to treat with caution. As a front-runner he is likely to set the pace in a race where the strong gallop could cause problems for those up with him. The trainer and jockey combination carries a 23% strike rate from 101 runs together. With a Family line showing the dam has produced two winners from two other runners, Scotto remains the one to beat.
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2Current Edition57/100
Current Edition is a smart performer who has shown consistent placed form in four starts, most recently finishing a close second after a break. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question of him. The yard record a modest 8% strike rate at Huntingdon while Sam Twiston-Davies operates at 14% here, in line with his overall figure. Usually racing prominently, he will be close to the strong pace that is expected and will need to prove his stamina. He holds an official rating of 119 and has been placed on both starts on good ground without winning. The combination of trainer and jockey shows a 19% strike rate from 272 runs.
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3Seamy Appletart52/100
Seamy Appletart has shown steady placed form without winning, including at today's trip, and remains lightly raced after four starts. The drop back from 2m6f looks a sensible move though the small sample makes ground preference unclear. Trainer Nick Scholfield has a 14% strike rate at Huntingdon while jockey Harry Reed records 12% here, in line with his overall figure. He will race prominently in a race where the strong pace could stretch those up with the leaders. The trainer and jockey partnership shows a 14% strike rate from 49 runs. With form figures of 0525 he has been competitive but is yet to break his maiden.
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4Premiere Ligne47/100
Premiere Ligne has shown ability on good ground with two wins and five places from eight runs but steps up in trip today to a distance it has never tried. The yard records a 6% strike rate at Huntingdon from 35 runs which sits in line with their 13% elsewhere while Tom Cannon posts a 12% strike rate here from 270 rides also matching his overall figure. This first run at the track comes with medium data confidence and leaves the horse not fully exposed after 20 career starts. As a front-runner he is likely to be involved in setting what should be a strong pace. Dropping in class is a positive and he has a solid record on good ground. The trainer and jockey show an 11% strike rate from 9 runs together.
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5What's Your Game40/100
What's Your Game steps up markedly in trip today from a recent 1m4f run and that leaves it with a clear question to answer. It has shown some competitiveness on good ground with a placed effort from three starts but remains a maiden after ten career runs. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Huntingdon and the jockey's 0% from 23 rides here add to the unknowns. He will race prominently in a race with a strong pace expected.
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6Celine Man38/100
Celine Man is a modest performer who has struggled since returning from a break with two pulled-ups and a seventh. He has run twice at Huntingdon without placing and is 0-4 on good ground. Dropping back in trip today having been placed once at this distance, he will race prominently. The trainer and jockey show an 8% strike rate from 12 runs together and he holds an official rating of 68.
KTB verdict
Scotto is the KTB Selection and sets a high standard as an unbeaten 5-year-old with two wins already to his name and a pedigree that suggests further improvement is possible. His front-running style will be put to the test by the strong pace expected but the yard's strong record at Huntingdon adds to his appeal. Current Edition looks the main danger on the back of consistent placed form and an official rating of 119, though the trip increase is an unknown. Seamy Appletart and Premiere Ligne are next best with each having shown ability, while the remainder of the field face stiff tasks.
KTB Selection Scotto
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:21am, 28 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Scotto | 2/1 | Bet365, 12:08am |
| Current Edition | 5/4 | Virgin Bet, 12:08am |
| Seamy Appletart | 22/1 | William Hill, 12:08am |
| Premiere Ligne | 6/1 | Bet365, 12:08am |
| What's Your Game | 18/1 | 7Bet, 12:08am |
| Celine Man | 200/1 | 7Bet, 12:08am |
This is the narrative read of the 1:36 Huntingdon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Huntingdon racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Huntingdon results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Huntingdon racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping up in trip for the first time having shown consistent placed form?
Current Edition steps up in trip today for the first time having shown consistent placed form in four starts, most recently a close second.
What is the Family line for Scotto?
Full brother to Brayhill (3 wins from 12 runs). The dam has had 2 other runners, 2 of them winners.
Which runner has a 26% strike rate at Huntingdon for the trainer?
Scotto's trainer James Owen has a 26% strike rate at Huntingdon from 91 runs.
How many times has Celine Man run at Huntingdon and what is his record there?
Celine Man has run twice at Huntingdon: 8th, PU, with no win or place.
Which horse is dropping in class and stepping up in trip having shown ability on good ground?
Premiere Ligne is dropping in class and stepping up in trip today to a distance it has never tried, with two wins and five places from eight runs on good ground.
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