9:00 Hamilton
This Class 6 handicap at Hamilton over 1m68y on good ground brings together an even field of 11 modest performers. Most of the runners are dropping in class, which adds an extra layer of competitiveness, while the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched between 60 and 39. The numbers point to a race that could be decided by how the prominent and held-up types interact in what is expected to be a genuinely-run contest.
How the race shapes up
With a genuinely-run pace shape and high confidence, a front-runner is likely to be pressed by several handy types from the outset. Hunterian is the one who tends to make the running or race on the pace, while prominent runners such as Spirit Catcher, The Sweet Escape, Condotti and Mwafaq should be on or close to the lead early. Held-up performers like Tees George, Pisanello, South Road, Motawaared and Millbuie will look to produce their efforts late off what should be a strong gallop. The key question is whether the prominent group can dictate matters or if the race will fall apart for the closers in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Perfidia KTB Selection60/100Modest performer who has won over this trip and at this track from just one visit.
- 2Tees George56/100Modest performer who arrives in decent nick after a Catterick win and placed effort.
- 3Spirit Catcher54/100Modest performer who arrives in decent nick with two seconds from his last three starts.
- 4The Sweet Escape53/100Modest performer who has won once at this trip from eight attempts and showed consistent form in similar company this year.
- 5Pisanello52/100Modest performer who has won twice at this track from 12 runs and drops back to a trip he has won at three times from 35 starts.
- 6Condotti51/100Modest performer who has not won in 11 starts and arrives here off the back of a poor reappearance effort.
- 7Mwafaq47/100Modest performer who arrives in solid form after two placed efforts at this trip from his last three starts.
- 8South Road43/100Modest performer who has shown little for some time and arrives here on the back of two poor efforts this year.
- 9Motawaared42/100Modest performer who has failed to build on his early promise and arrives in ordinary form.
- 10Millbuie40/100Modest performer who has been a regular at this track without winning in eight runs, finishing no better than fourth on his last three visits.
- 11Hunterian39/100Modest performer who has shown some promise on turf having finished placed in two of his last three starts.
The contenders
Perfidia KTB Fit 60/100
Perfidia is a modest performer who has won over this trip and at this track from just one visit. She has been consistent of late with form figures of 32135 and looks to have been given a reasonable chance from stall 5. Tim Easterby has a solid 14% strike rate at Hamilton from a big sample of 613 runs while the booking of 7lb claimer Jake Dickson is an interesting one given his 14% strike rate and 1.35 A/E at the track from seven rides. The filly has two wins from ten starts on good ground with six places and her RPR of 70 and TS of 60 underline her competitiveness at this level. Settling typically in midfield from draw 5, she drops in class and rates the one to beat.
Tees George KTB Fit 56/100
Tees George is a modest performer who arrives in decent nick after a Catterick win and a placed effort. He has won on good ground and at today's trip though his recent efforts suggest he needs things to fall just right. Adrian Nicholls has a solid 18% strike rate at Hamilton from 60 runs and the 5lb claimer Jack Nicholls takes the ride with a strong 31% strike rate and 1.41 A/E at the venue from 16 rides. The gelding's recent form reads 7-3418, he holds an RPR of 68 and this is his first visit to Hamilton. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he drops in class but will need the race to unfold favourably.
Spirit Catcher KTB Fit 54/100
Spirit Catcher is a modest performer who arrives in decent nick with two seconds from his last three starts. He drops back from 1m4f to a trip he has won at twice from 24 attempts while his record on good ground reads a respectable two wins and five places from 14 starts. Philip Kirby has a 7% strike rate at Hamilton from 68 runs and Clifford Lee takes the mount with a 15% strike rate and 0.88 A/E from 135 rides at the track. The seven-year-old holds an RPR of 74, his recent form is -00122 and this is his first visit to Hamilton. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he drops in class and is respected.
The Sweet Escape KTB Fit 53/100
The Sweet Escape is a modest performer who has won once at this trip from eight attempts and showed consistent form in similar company this year. He handles good ground but his record at it is nothing special with one win from six starts and one place. David Loughnane has a 9% strike rate at Hamilton from 34 runs and Rowan Scott rides with a 13% strike rate and 1.22 A/E from 305 rides at the venue. The four-year-old's recent form reads 616244, he holds figures of RPR 70 and TS 63, and he makes his first visit to Hamilton today. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he drops in class and enters the equation.
Pisanello KTB Fit 52/100
Pisanello is a modest performer who has won twice at this track from 12 runs and drops back to a trip he has won at three times from 35 starts. His recent form is ordinary with figures of 5-9845 and his Topspeed figure of 50 suggests he is not running to his best at present. David O'Meara has a solid 18% strike rate at Hamilton from 405 runs while 7lb claimer Conor Whiteley is an unknown quantity at the track with a 0% strike rate from two rides. The nine-year-old holds an RPR of 72, he has won here and his run-style is to be held up and produce his effort late. He remains capable at this level on his day.
The rest of the field
CondottiKTB Fit 51/100
Condotti is a modest performer who has not won in 11 starts and arrives here off the back of a poor reappearance effort. He drops back to a trip at which he has placed without winning and acts on good ground, with Hugo Palmer holding a solid 25% strike rate at Hamilton from 51 runs.
MwafaqKTB Fit 47/100
Mwafaq is a modest performer who arrives in solid form after two placed efforts at this trip from his last three starts. He has won on good ground, the yard’s modest strike-rate at Hamilton is offset by the 5lb claimer and first run here adds a question mark but the ratings and recent consistency give him a solid chance in this grade.
South RoadKTB Fit 43/100
South Road is a modest performer who has shown little for some time and arrives here on the back of two poor efforts this year. He has never won or placed on good ground from three attempts and was also beaten on his only run at this trip, with the trainer holding an 11% strike rate from nine runs at Hamilton.
MotawaaredKTB Fit 42/100
Motawaared is a modest performer who has failed to build on his early promise and arrives in ordinary form. He drops back to a trip he has placed at before though he is yet to win over it, first-time headgear is now reached for and the trainer has a solid 10% strike-rate at the track from a huge sample of runners.
MillbuieKTB Fit 40/100
Millbuie is a modest performer who has been a regular at this track without winning in eight runs, finishing no better than fourth on his last three visits. He drops back in trip today having been well held over 1m2f last time, though he has placed once at a mile without winning and the trainer's modest 4% strike rate here from 110 runs offers little encouragement.
HunterianKTB Fit 39/100
Hunterian is a modest performer who has shown some promise on turf having finished placed in two of his last three starts. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance from four attempts, the return to 8.5f may not help on pedigree and the trainer has a 12% strike rate from 150 runs at Hamilton.
KTB verdict
Perfidia stands out as the KTB Selection. A modest performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from just one visit, she has been consistent of late and is given a reasonable chance from stall 5 with the Easterby yard in solid form here and the claimer an interesting booking. The selection can settle in midfield before delivering her challenge. Main dangers are headed by Spirit Catcher, who arrives in decent nick with recent placed form and drops to a trip he has won at twice, and Tees George, who is in good order and benefits from a strong jockey booking on his first visit. The Sweet Escape and Pisanello add further depth to what looks a competitive Class 6.
KTB Selection Perfidia
This is the narrative read of the 9:00 Hamilton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hamilton racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has previous winning form at Hamilton Park?
Perfidia has won here from one visit and Pisanello has won twice at this track from 12 runs.
How does the race's pace shape influence the prominent runners?
The genuinely-run pace shape means prominent runners such as Spirit Catcher, The Sweet Escape, Condotti and Mwafaq are likely to be involved early, racing on or close to the lead while being pressed.
Which runners are dropping in class for this handicap?
Perfidia, Tees George, Spirit Catcher, The Sweet Escape and Motawaared are all dropping in class.
Who are the trainers with the strongest strike rates at Hamilton in this field?
Hugo Palmer has a 25% strike rate at Hamilton from 51 runs, while David O'Meara and Adrian Nicholls both have 18% strike rates at the track.
Which horse is making its first appearance at Hamilton?
Tees George, Spirit Catcher, The Sweet Escape, Mwafaq, South Road, Motawaared and Hunterian have no course form on record.
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