2:30 Plumpton
This Class 2 Southern Cranes Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton features a competitive field of 13 over 2m4f116y on good ground. Several high-class performers line up, many with strong course records and proven ability on the surface, though the official ratings are tightly bunched between 113 and 133. The KTB Fit Scores identify Maldini Milano and Walk On High as the two most interesting on the numbers, both carrying OR 121 and boasting positive trainer and course reads at this venue.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Goodwin and Scorsese who tend to make the running. Several prominent racers such as Maldini Milano, Kocktail Bleu, Nardaran, Stream of Stars, Sixty Plus, Range and Bandjo are likely to track the leaders closely, setting up a race that could collapse late. This shape poses the key question of whether the prominent and front-running types can sustain their efforts or if the hold-up performers, notably Walk On High, Ike Sport and Tonaghneave Well, will be favoured by coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Maldini Milano KTB Selection78/100
Maldini Milano is a high-class performer who has won both starts at Plumpton and both starts at this trip. He is three from four on good ground and the yard's 28% strike rate at the track is above their overall figure. Lightly campaigned with only eight career runs, he was last seen finishing second in a stronger race. Paul Nicholls and Paddy Hanlon team up with a combined 18% strike rate, while the horse's prominent run-style should see him race handily on or close to the lead in a race with a strong pace. Stepping up in class today, this six-year-old retains plenty of upside and looks the one to beat on the supplied KTB material.
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2Walk On High75/100
Walk On High is a high-class performer with a rock-solid record on good ground and a perfect 1-1 strike rate at this track. Harry Fry's 34% strike rate at Plumpton from 56 runs is above his overall figure while Bryan Carver has a 19% record here from 42 rides. The nine-year-old steps up in trip today having already won at this distance in the past. His held-up run-style means he usually produces his effort late, which could be ideal given the strong pace likely to be set in this contest. With recent form of /115P- he enters in good order and must be respected as a major danger to the selection.
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3Kocktail Bleu68/100
Kocktail Bleu is a high-class performer on his figures with a solid recent record that includes two wins. He steps up in trip today having been competitive on good ground without winning, and this is his first run at Plumpton. Trainer Chris Gordon has a 19% strike rate here from 665 runs, above his 11% at other courses, while jockey Tom Cannon is making his first appearance at the track. Racing prominently and usually handily on or close to the lead, the six-year-old could be involved early in what is set to be a strongly run affair. Dropping in class from an OR of 126, he represents a trainer who knows the venue well.
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4Nardaran62/100
Nardaran is a high-class performer with a solid Plumpton record including a win from two starts here. Paul Nicholls has a 28% strike rate at the track from 299 runs, above his 23% elsewhere, while Sam Twiston-Davies also rides. The five-year-old has failed to place in six runs on good ground and is stepping up in trip today having been unsuccessful in two previous attempts at this distance. Usually racing prominently with high-confidence in that style, he will be on or close to the lead in a race with a strong pace. Recent form reads P663-6 and he carries an OR of 124.
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5Stream of Stars60/100
Stream of Stars is high-class on his day with a solid recent sequence of 3226-3 and an official rating of 127 that still looks competitive. He won here from two runs at Plumpton and has two wins plus five places from eight runs on good ground, though the trainer is 0 from 6 at the track. The eleven-year-old steps up in trip today having been placed without winning over this distance last time. Racing prominently with high confidence, he will be handily placed in a strongly run contest. Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies send him out with an 18% strike rate in this jockey-trainer combination.
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6Sixty Plus60/100
Sixty Plus is a smart performer who has run well over shorter trips here and arrives in decent form after two placed efforts. He steps up in trip today which is an open question given two previous runs at this distance brought no success. James Owen operates at a 28% strike rate at Plumpton in line with their record elsewhere while the 5lb claimer has limited course data.
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7Goodwin58/100
Goodwin is a high-class performer with a solid record here, winning three of five starts at Plumpton. He steps up in trip today having won twice from six at this distance, and his four wins from ten on good ground suggest the surface will suit. Chris Gordon has a 19% strike rate at Plumpton from 665 runs, above his 11% at other tracks, while jockey Fern O'Brien is having her first ride at the course.
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8Ike Sport54/100
Ike Sport is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent win before pulling up last time. He has shown only modest form in two runs at Plumpton and steps up in trip today having been placed but not won over this distance. The trainer's 14% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey has no established record here.
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9Let Him B53/100
Let Him B is a smart performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent win and has already scored at today's trip. He acts on good ground and the first-time headgear could sharpen him further. The yard's record at Plumpton is based on too few runs to judge while this is his first visit to the track.
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10Range50/100
Range is a high-class performer on his day with a solid official rating of 124 and recent form that includes a win and a fourth before a poor last run. He steps up in trip today having been unsuccessful in one previous try at this distance, while his record on good ground reads one win from five starts. The Sam Thomas yard holds a 17% strike rate at Plumpton from 18 runs and this is the horse's first appearance here.
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11Scorsese46/100
Scorsese is a smart performer who has run to a useful level on several occasions but has been inconsistent of late and was pulled up on his latest start. Only fifth when he tried this track previously and his record on good ground is modest with just one win from nine attempts. He drops back in trip today while wearing headgear for the first time.
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12Bandjo46/100
Bandjo is a smart performer who showed promise before a lacklustre return at Fontwell last month. He steps up in trip today to a distance that has not been tried, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 11 runs at Plumpton.
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13Tonaghneave Well43/100
Tonaghneave Well is a high-class performer on his day with a solid official rating of 127 and a career that includes useful placed efforts. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in one previous try at this distance and has shown only modest form on his last few starts. The yard records a 9% strike rate at Plumpton from 33 runs in line with their overall figure while Adam Wedge has no supplied record at the track.
KTB verdict
Maldini Milano stands out as the KTB Selection. He has won both starts at Plumpton and both starts at this trip, is three from four on good ground, and benefits from a yard with a strong 28% strike rate at the track. Lightly raced with only eight career starts and coming off a second in a stronger race, his prominent style should suit the anticipated strong pace. The main dangers are Walk On High, who boasts a perfect record at the track and rock-solid form on good ground, and Kocktail Bleu, who drops in class with a solid recent record.
KTB Selection Maldini Milano
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, 2 Nov. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Maldini Milano | 4/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Walk On High | 9/1 | Bet Victor, 12:09am |
| Kocktail Bleu | 9/4 | LiveScore Bet, 12:21am |
| Nardaran | 11/2 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Stream of Stars | 12/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Sixty Plus | 14/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:18am |
| Goodwin | 11/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Ike Sport | 16/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Let Him B | 7/2 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Range | 11/1 | BoyleSports, 12:12am |
| Scorsese | 22/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
| Bandjo | 20/1 | Bet Victor, 12:09am |
| Tonaghneave Well | 33/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:18am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:30 Plumpton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Plumpton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Plumpton results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Plumpton racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won both its starts at Plumpton and at today's trip?
Maldini Milano has won both starts at Plumpton and both starts at this trip.
How does the strong pace shape affect the race?
A strong pace is likely with two or more habitual front-runners and could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Plumpton among those represented?
Harry Fry has a 34% strike rate at Plumpton from 56 runs.
What first-time equipment is Let Him B wearing and how might it help?
Let Him B is wearing first-time headgear which could sharpen him further.
Which two runners tend to make the running in this field?
Goodwin and Scorsese tend to make the running or race on the pace.
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