1:20 Bath
This Class 6 apprentice handicap over 2m1f24y at Bath serves as a qualifier for the Bath Summer Stayers' Series on good to soft ground. A field of nine runners lines up, with the KTB Fit Scores suggesting a competitive but modest contest where the top four are separated by relatively narrow margins. Man Of The Sea heads the ratings on 59 despite his veteran status, while The Craftymaster, Emperor Dream and Lamlash complete the principals in a race that asks questions of several runners' suitability for the trip and surface.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a steadily-run affair with no obvious front-runner among the principals. Man Of The Sea and The Craftymaster are both typically held up, while Emperor Dream and Lamlash tend to race in mid-division. This setup suggests the race could be decided from off the pace in the straight, posing the key question of whether any horse can quicken effectively off a slow gallop on this good to soft surface.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Man Of The Sea KTB Selection59/100
- 2The Craftymaster50/100
- 3Emperor Dream48/100
- 4Lamlash46/100
- 5Mind Hunter39/100
- 6Everest38/100
- 7Corsican Caper36/100
- 8Sapphire Sirocco34/100
- 9Nora Barnacle31/100
The contenders
Man Of The Sea KTB Fit 59/100
Man Of The Sea is the KTB Selection. A 10-year-old with two course wins from seven starts at Bath, he arrives with a recent form line of 110-59 that includes victories last season. The Neil Mulholland yard posts an 8% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.9 from 185 runs, while Taylor Fisher has a 13% strike rate here with an A/E of 1 from 112 rides. He has shown he handles good to soft, recording one win and two places from five starts on the surface. His ability to act around Bath and proven stamina for the trip make him the one to beat from draw 4, with his hold-up style likely to suit the anticipated pace.
The Craftymaster KTB Fit 50/100
The Craftymaster is rated second on KTB Fit at 50. This six-year-old is dropping in class and brings strong recent form of 315146, showing consistent ability in similar company. Tony Carroll and Myla Coppins combine with a 15 from 68 record, an A/E of 1.49 and positive LSP of +£27.88. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Bath with an A/E of 1.02 from 849 runs, while the jockey is 20% at the track from a small sample. Unproven on good to soft having had no previous runs on the surface, he has shown little at the course in two starts. His hold-up run style could be well suited if the race develops slowly.
Emperor Dream KTB Fit 48/100
Emperor Dream sits on a KTB Fit of 48. The five-year-old has recent form of 9/903- and is yet to show his best at this trip. Daniel Steele has a notable 40% strike rate at Bath with an A/E of 2.23 from just five runs, while Millie Wonnacott is 11% at the venue with an A/E of 0.96 from 38 rides. He has had only one run on good to soft, failing to place, and has no course form on record. From draw 5 his mid-division style should see him in a workable position, though his overall profile remains modest.
Lamlash KTB Fit 46/100
Lamlash is the fourth principal with a KTB Fit of 46. This four-year-old brings recent form of 80-675 and has yet to make a significant impact in handicaps. Joe Tickle has a 14% strike rate at Bath with an A/E of 1.1 from 72 runs, and Matthew Lloyd Slater is operating at a 25% strike rate here with a strong A/E of 2.73 from eight rides. He has had two runs on good to soft without placing and finished sixth on his only previous visit to the course. Racing from the widest draw of 9, his mid-division preference will require a clear run if the race is truly run.
The rest of the field
Mind HunterKTB Fit 39/100
Mind Hunter has a KTB Fit of 39. The eight-year-old is dropping in class with recent form of 0/729- and has placed twice from ten starts on good to soft without winning. Bernard Llewellyn and Shay Farmer are 1 from 9 together, while the yard is 5% at Bath with an A/E of 0.55.
EverestKTB Fit 38/100
Everest is rated 38 on KTB Fit. A seven-year-old with recent form of 031724, he has placed twice from five starts on good to soft. Gary & Josh Moore and Jude Fernandes are 3 from 44 with an A/E of 0.76, though the yard is only 7% at Bath with a low A/E of 0.44.
Corsican CaperKTB Fit 36/100
Corsican Caper has a KTB Fit of 36 and is dropping in class. His recent form reads 4669-4 and he has placed four times from eight starts on good to soft. Kevin Frost is 4% at Bath with an A/E of 0.31, while Jack Callan is 5% at the track with an A/E of 0.38; he has three course runs without placing.
Sapphire SiroccoKTB Fit 34/100
Sapphire Sirocco is on 34 KTB Fit. The five-year-old has recent form of 213-83 but is unproven on good to soft. Barry John Murphy is 0% at Bath from six runs with an A/E of 0, and Mason Paetel is also 0% from nine rides at the venue.
Nora BarnacleKTB Fit 31/100
Nora Barnacle has the lowest KTB Fit on 31. This four-year-old has recent form of /06-76 and is unproven on good to soft. Dominic Ffrench Davis and Taryn Langley are 2 from 14 together with an A/E of 0.86, while the yard is 5% at Bath with an A/E of 0.62.
KTB verdict
Man Of The Sea is the KTB Selection. His course wins, proven effectiveness on good to soft and the Mulholland-Fisher combination at Bath give him the strongest profile in a race where several rivals have question marks. The selection's ability to handle the conditions and trip should allow him to capitalise on a likely steady pace. The Craftymaster is the most obvious danger as he drops in class with solid recent form, while Emperor Dream and Lamlash could improve their positions if the race falls their way. The remainder of the field look modest on the KTB ratings and have more to prove.
KTB Selection Man Of The Sea
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:31 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Man Of The Sea | 11/1 | 7Bet |
| The Craftymaster | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Emperor Dream | 22/1 | BresBet |
| Lamlash | 40/1 | 7Bet |
| Mind Hunter | 14/1 | Midnite |
| Everest | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Corsican Caper | 3/1 | Bet365 |
| Sapphire Sirocco | 11/4 | 7Bet |
| Nora Barnacle | 18/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 1:20 Bath. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Bath racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Bath?
Man Of The Sea has won two of his seven starts at Bath.
Who holds the best trainer strike-rate at the track among the principals?
Daniel Steele has a 40% strike rate at Bath with an A/E of 2.23 from five runs.
Which runners are unproven on good to soft ground?
The Craftymaster, Sapphire Sirocco and Nora Barnacle have had no runs on good to soft.
How many course wins has the KTB Selection recorded at this venue?
Man Of The Sea has two course wins from seven starts at Bath.
Which jockey has the highest strike-rate at Bath in this field?
Matthew Lloyd Slater has a 25% strike rate at Bath with an A/E of 2.73 from eight rides.
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