8:42 Carlisle
This Class 5 Racing TV Handicap over 1m1f at Carlisle on soft ground brings together a field of twelve three-year-olds where the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top. Hatamoto heads the figures on 57 with a string of placed efforts this term, while Espanita, Clocker, Scheffler and Cosmic Man follow closely between 51 and 53. The overall numbers suggest a competitive heat in which proven course form, trip suitability and soft-ground ability will be at a premium.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is muddling and tactical with no obvious front-runner, which should play to those capable of racing close to the pace or in midfield. Several runners, including Espanita, Attention Seeker, Unchartedterritory and Lightening Lad, like to race prominently or handy, while the likes of Clocker, Scheffler, Cosmic Man, Ephron, Ibn Altheeb and Mr Moonshine are held up. The key question is whether the race will develop into a sprint for the line up the straight or whether those with a bit of toe early can steal an advantage in a steadily run affair.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Hatamoto KTB Selection57/100Hatamoto has shown fair form in his five runs with an RPR of 81 and was placed on both starts this season including when runner-up over 1m on soft ground here l…
- 2Espanita53/100Espanita is a fair 3yo who won on AW over 7f in March but has failed to build on that in four runs since.
- 3Clocker52/100Clocker shaped with promise when fourth on her handicap debut at Newcastle in April and holds a fair RPR of 78 for a yard that operates at 18% strike rate here…
- 4Scheffler52/100Scheffler showed promise when third on his Lingfield debut over 7f but has finished down the field in both subsequent starts.
- 5Cosmic Man51/100Cosmic Man is a fair performer on his best figures but has been well held on both starts this year after a promising debut fourth over 6f here as a 2yo.
- 6Ephron51/100Ephron is a fair 3 year old who showed useful improvement when landing a Redcar handicap on his seasonal return before a creditable effort when fifth at Haydock…
- 7Attention Seeker49/100Attention Seeker is a fair 3-year-old who has shown consistent but limited ability, with an RPR of 78 and recent form figures of 77074 that include no wins in n…
- 8Balmoral Boy49/100Balmoral Boy has shown modest form across four runs with a best RPR of 74 and looks to need improvement after finishing eighth at 50-1 in a Doncaster handicap l…
- 9Unchartedterritory47/100Fair performer who has shown little progression across five runs and was only a respectable third of six at Nottingham last week over 1m2f.
- 10Lightening Lad46/100Modest performer who showed promise when second on debut at Newcastle last November but has failed to build on that in two subsequent starts.
- 11Ibn Altheeb45/100Modest performer who has dropped in the weights after two modest efforts this year.
- 12Mr Moonshine42/100Modest performer who has shown fair form at this level without winning in five starts.
The contenders
Hatamoto KTB Fit 57/100
Hatamoto has shown fair form in his five runs with an RPR of 81 and was placed on both starts this season including when runner-up over 1m on soft ground here last month. The drop back to 7f looked against him at Leicester where he stayed on for third so the step up to 1m1f today asks a fresh question of him. He typically settles in midfield and that should be an asset in a race lacking an obvious leader. The Tim Easterby yard has a 10% strike rate at Carlisle while Duran Fentiman is 8% from 269 rides here. He has been placed once from one run on soft ground and was second on his only previous visit to the course.
Espanita KTB Fit 53/100
Espanita is a fair 3yo who won on AW over 7f in March but has failed to build on that in four runs since. She steps up to 1m1f today having looked stretched at 8.3f on her recent turf debut and the small sample makes going suitability hard to pin down on soft ground. Usually races handily on or close to the lead, which could be useful given the muddling pace shape. Trainer Johnston has a 16% strike rate from 62 runs at Carlisle while Rowan Scott is operating at 9% from 135 rides here.
Clocker KTB Fit 52/100
Clocker shaped with promise when fourth on her handicap debut at Newcastle in April and holds a fair RPR of 78 for a yard that operates at 18% strike rate here from 51 runs. She steps up in trip to 1m1f today which is an unknown and her three runs leave going suitability unproven on soft ground. Usually held up and produces her effort late, she will be hoping the race develops some pace to run at. Connor Beasley has a modest 9% strike rate from 270 rides at Carlisle.
Scheffler KTB Fit 52/100
Scheffler showed promise when third on his Lingfield debut over 7f but has finished down the field in both subsequent starts. He now steps up in trip for the first time on handicap debut for a new yard while wearing first-time cheekpieces. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the race to fall right in a tactical affair. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate from 41 runs at Carlisle while the jockey is operating at 8% from 144 rides here. He remains unproven on soft ground.
Cosmic Man KTB Fit 51/100
Cosmic Man is a fair performer on his best figures but has been well held on both starts this year after a promising debut fourth over 6f here as a 2yo. He steps up to 1m1f for the first time today which asks a fresh question, while the soft ground remains unknown given only five career runs. Usually held up, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a race that could develop into a sprint. Kevin Ryan has a 14% strike rate from 418 runs at Carlisle and Tom Eaves a 7% strike rate from 612 rides here.
The rest of the field
EphronKTB Fit 51/100
Ephron is a fair 3 year old who showed useful improvement when landing a Redcar handicap on his seasonal return before a creditable effort when fifth at Haydock over 1m2f. He now drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried which asks a fresh question of him. Usually held up, the yard has an 11 percent strike rate at Carlisle from 45 runs while the jockey is operating at 17 percent from a small sample of six rides here. He remains unproven on soft ground.
Attention SeekerKTB Fit 49/100
Attention Seeker is a fair 3-year-old who has shown consistent but limited ability, with an RPR of 78 and recent form figures of 77074 that include no wins in nine starts. He has placed once from two runs on soft ground and is dropping back in trip to 1m1f having been well held over 1m2f last time. Usually races handily, Brian Ellison has a 12% strike rate from 486 runs at Carlisle while Joanna Mason is 8% from 105 rides here.
Balmoral BoyKTB Fit 49/100
Balmoral Boy has shown modest form across four runs with a best RPR of 74 and looks to need improvement after finishing eighth at 50-1 in a Doncaster handicap last time. He steps up to 1m1f for the first time today which asks a fresh question of him while the wide draw in stall 12 is far from ideal on soft ground. Nigel Tinkler has a 12% strike rate from 274 runs at Carlisle.
UnchartedterritoryKTB Fit 47/100
Unchartedterritory is a fair performer who has shown little progression across five runs and was only a respectable third of six at Nottingham last week over 1m2f. He drops back in trip to 1m1f where he has already been beaten once. Usually races handily, trainer and jockey both have established modest records at Carlisle and the yard's A/E of 0.72 suggests he will need to improve to take this. He remains unproven on soft ground.
Lightening LadKTB Fit 46/100
Lightening Lad is a modest performer who showed promise when second on debut at Newcastle last November but has failed to build on that in two subsequent starts. He steps up in trip to 1m1f for the first time today which his pedigree suggests could suit though it remains an unknown. Usually races handily, the trainer has a solid 15% strike rate at Carlisle from 93 runs while the jockey is operating at 10% from 30 rides here. He remains unproven on soft ground.
Ibn AltheebKTB Fit 45/100
Ibn Altheeb is a modest performer who has dropped in the weights after two modest efforts this year. He did win over today's trip on soft ground last season but has failed to fire in both starts on that surface since. First-time headgear is reached for while the yard and jockey both have established records here. Usually held up, he has two runs on soft with no win or place.
Mr MoonshineKTB Fit 42/100
Mr Moonshine is a modest performer who has shown fair form at this level without winning in five starts. He steps up in trip today having been gelded since his last run and that could help him settle better though the small sample on soft ground leaves his effectiveness on it open to question. Usually held up, trainer and jockey both have modest records at Carlisle.
KTB verdict
Hatamoto is the KTB Selection. He brings the best recent placed form, has already shown his liking for soft ground here when runner-up last month, and his midfield run-style looks ideal for the muddling pace expected. The step up to 1m1f is the main unknown but his RPR of 81 gives him a solid base. The main dangers are Espanita, who could make the running, and Clocker, who shaped with promise on handicap debut and represents a yard in form at the track.
KTB Selection Hatamoto
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 06:58 UTC, 9 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Hatamoto | 4/1 | 7Bet |
| Espanita | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Clocker | 13/2 | William Hill |
| Scheffler | 25/1 | 7Bet |
| Cosmic Man | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Ephron | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| Attention Seeker | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Unchartedterritory | 9/2 | William Hill |
| Lightening Lad | 15/2 | William Hill |
| Ibn Altheeb | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Mr Moonshine | 11/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 8:42 Carlisle. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Carlisle racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course form at Carlisle?
Hatamoto was second on his only run here and Cosmic Man was fourth on his sole visit.
Who has previous soft-ground experience?
Hatamoto has been placed once from one run on soft, Attention Seeker has placed once from two runs on soft, Clocker has one run on soft with no win or place, Cosmic Man has one run on soft with no win or place, Ibn Altheeb has two runs on soft with no win or place, Mr Moonshine has one run on soft with no win or place, and Ibn Altheeb won over today's trip on soft last season.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Scheffler is in first-time cheekpieces and Ibn Altheeb is in first-time headgear.
Which horses are stepping up or dropping in class?
Hatamoto and Attention Seeker are stepping up in class, while Scheffler, Unchartedterritory and Balmoral Boy are dropping in class.
Who are the prominent runners likely to be near the early pace?
Espanita, Attention Seeker, Unchartedterritory and Lightening Lad are all usually raced handily or prominently.
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