5:25 York
The 5.25 York is a competitive Class 4 handicap over six furlongs on good ground with a maximum field of 22 runners. Several horses are dropping in class while others return to a venue where they have previously shown their best. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Rousing Encore and Musical Touch sharing the highest rating of 62, underlining what looks a wide-open York sprint.
How the race shapes up
With a large field and a pace shape that suggests plenty of early speed, the race is likely to be run at a strong gallop. Several prominent runners including Woven, Lord Roxby and Duran are expected to take up forward positions from their middle to high draws, while Rousing Encore is likely to come from further back. The key question is whether the leaders can hold on or if the race will fall to a strong traveller in the second half of the field.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Rousing Encore KTB Selection62/100
- 2Musical Touch62/100
- 3Woven60/100
- 4Territorial Knight57/100
- 5Lord Roxby57/100
- 6Westmorian56/100
- 7Bergerac55/100
- 8Irish Nectar55/100
- 9Bonnie's Boy54/100
- 10Winged Messenger53/100
- 11Yes I'm Mali53/100
- 12Duran51/100
- 13Lethal Nymph50/100
- 14Manila Scouse48/100
- 15Kats Bob46/100
- 16Grant Wood45/100
- 17Almarada Prince45/100
- 18Secret Guest43/100
- 19Kodiac Thriller43/100
- 20Archduke Ferdinand39/100
- 21El Bufalo38/100
- 22Sports Coach33/100
The contenders
Rousing Encore KTB Fit 62/100
Rousing Encore arrives with a KTB Fit of 62 and is the selection. A six-year-old with a win to his name at this track from nine attempts, he drops in class here which should help his cause. The Ruth Carr yard posts a 7% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.07, while James Sullivan has a 6% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.97. He has two wins from 15 starts on good ground and his recent form of -25504 shows consistency at this level. From draw 18 he is expected to come from off the pace in a race that should cut up.
Musical Touch KTB Fit 62/100
Musical Touch also tops the KTB Fit ratings on 62. A five-year-old with recent form of 600-17, he showed plenty when winning last time and now drops back to a track where he has run respectably without winning. The Richard & Peter Fahey stable has an 11% strike rate at York with a strong A/E of 1.79, though claiming jockey Jake Dickson is yet to score at the track from five rides. He has one win from four starts on good ground and his ability to race prominently could be an asset in a strongly-run contest.
Woven KTB Fit 60/100
Woven is next best on a KTB Fit of 60. Now a ten-year-old, he drops in class and has shown he remains competitive on good ground with five placed efforts from 14 starts, though he is yet to win on it. Michael Dods has a 10% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.02 and Connor Beasley matches that 10% strike rate with an A/E of 1.06. The horse has placed on three of his seven visits to York without winning and his recent form of 150-47 suggests he can still land a race of this nature if the pace collapses in front.
Territorial Knight KTB Fit 57/100
Territorial Knight holds a KTB Fit of 57. The four-year-old drops in class having shown placed form at this track on his third start here. Kevin Ryan’s 8% strike rate at York comes with an A/E of 0.85 and Tom Eaves has a 4% strike rate at the venue with an A/E of 0.62. With one win from six starts on good ground and recent form of 125-54, he remains of interest particularly if he can improve on his placed effort at York last season.
Lord Roxby KTB Fit 57/100
Lord Roxby completes the principals with a KTB Fit of 57. A four-year-old who has already won at this track from three attempts, he arrives in form having scored last time with figures of 62-901. Nigel Tinkler’s 6% strike rate at York is paired with an A/E of 0.84 while Alex Jary has a 4% strike rate at the track from limited rides. He has two wins from seven starts on good ground and his ability to race prominently from draw 14 makes him a likely player in a race with plenty of early pace.
The rest of the field
WestmorianKTB Fit 56/100
Westmorian has a KTB Fit of 56 and drops in class. A seven-year-old with placed form at York, his recent efforts have been modest.
BergeracKTB Fit 55/100
Bergerac holds a KTB Fit of 55 and drops in class. He has won twice at this track from 14 starts and remains capable on his day.
Irish NectarKTB Fit 55/100
Irish Nectar has a KTB Fit of 55 and has won at York before. His recent form has been ordinary but the booking of Connor Planas, who has a 23% strike rate at the track, is interesting.
Bonnie's BoyKTB Fit 54/100
Bonnie's Boy is rated 54 on KTB Fit. He has placed at York and the Fahey stable’s record at the track offers hope despite ordinary recent form.
Winged MessengerKTB Fit 53/100
Winged Messenger has a KTB Fit of 53. He has placed at this track on his only start here and arrives on the back of a solid recent effort.
Yes I'm MaliKTB Fit 53/100
Yes I'm Mali holds a KTB Fit of 53 and drops in class. A previous winner at York, he has been in decent form of late.
DuranKTB Fit 51/100
Duran is rated 51 on KTB Fit. He has won twice at this track from four starts and his prominent running style could see him go well.
Lethal NymphKTB Fit 50/100
Lethal Nymph has a KTB Fit of 50 and drops in class. He has placed at York but recent form has been patchy.
Manila ScouseKTB Fit 48/100
Manila Scouse holds a KTB Fit of 48 and drops in class. He has placed at this track and is capable of a bold show.
Kats BobKTB Fit 46/100
Kats Bob is rated 46 on KTB Fit. A previous winner at York, his recent form has been below par.
Grant WoodKTB Fit 45/100
Grant Wood has a KTB Fit of 45 and drops in class. His sole York start was poor.
Almarada PrinceKTB Fit 45/100
Almarada Prince holds a KTB Fit of 45. He has placed at this track but recent form is modest.
Secret GuestKTB Fit 43/100
Secret Guest is rated 43 on KTB Fit. He has won on good ground but his York form is weak.
Kodiac ThrillerKTB Fit 43/100
Kodiac Thriller has a KTB Fit of 43 and drops in class. He has placed on good ground but his sole York run was moderate.
Archduke FerdinandKTB Fit 39/100
Archduke Ferdinand holds a KTB Fit of 39. He has placed at York but the trainer’s record at the track is poor.
El BufaloKTB Fit 38/100
El Bufalo is rated 38 on KTB Fit. He has shown ability on good ground but has no course form.
Sports CoachKTB Fit 33/100
Sports Coach has the lowest KTB Fit on 33 and drops in class. His record at York is modest.
KTB verdict
Rousing Encore is the KTB Selection. He combines a solid course record with a drop in class and a trainer and jockey who both operate at a level close to their expected figures at York. His ability to settle off the pace should be an advantage if the race develops into a strong early gallop. Musical Touch, Woven and Lord Roxby, who has already won here, look the most obvious dangers while the likes of Territorial Knight and Duran cannot be ruled out in a race where several runners have claims.
KTB Selection Rousing Encore
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:32 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Rousing Encore | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Musical Touch | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Woven | 9/1 | 7Bet |
| Territorial Knight | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Lord Roxby | 9/1 | Bet Victor |
| Westmorian | 40/1 | Bet365 |
| Bergerac | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Irish Nectar | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Bonnie's Boy | 33/1 | Bet365 |
| Winged Messenger | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Yes I'm Mali | 15/2 | 7Bet |
| Duran | 14/1 | 7Bet |
| Lethal Nymph | 12/1 | Bet Victor |
| Manila Scouse | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| Kats Bob | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Grant Wood | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Almarada Prince | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Secret Guest | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Kodiac Thriller | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Archduke Ferdinand | 14/1 | Bet Victor |
| El Bufalo | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Sports Coach | 25/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 5:25 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won at York from the fewest starts?
Lord Roxby has won here from three starts.
Who has the strongest trainer A/E at York among the principals?
Richard & Peter Fahey with an A/E of 1.79 from 19 runs.
Which runner has the best recent winning form at this track?
Duran has two wins from four starts at York.
How many of the principals are dropping in class?
Three of the five principals are dropping in class.
Which jockey has the highest strike rate at York in the whole field?
Connor Planas with a 23% strike rate at York from 13 rides.
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