8:00 Leicester
A competitive Class 6 handicap over 1m4f at Leicester on good to soft ground brings together nine runners, several of whom arrive in reasonable form but with questions to answer about their ability to get their head in front at this level. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Cartwheel narrowly heading the numbers on 57, followed closely by The Bay Warrior on 55 and a pair on 49. Recent form is mixed across the field, but course placings and trainer strike rates at Leicester add layers to a race where stamina and how the pace unfolds could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
With several prominent runners in the field, including Maywedance drawn on the rail and Lednikov, the pace shape looks likely to be on the steady side early on before quickening in the straight. Cartwheel and Jack Andrea are expected to settle in mid-division, while The Bay Warrior and Naughty Niall can be ridden to get a nice position from their draws. The key question is whether the race will develop into a test of stamina up the straight or if a sharper end-to-end gallop will play into the hands of those with a turn of foot from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Cartwheel KTB Selection57/100
- 2The Bay Warrior55/100
- 3Naughty Niall49/100
- 4Jack Andrea49/100
- 5Divot45/100
- 6Maywedance44/100
- 7Kameel44/100
- 8Lednikov41/100
- 9Lawmans Blis31/100
The contenders
Cartwheel KTB Fit 57/100
Cartwheel tops the KTB Fit ratings on 57 and is the clear selection. A 4-year-old with recent form figures of 706063, he showed he can be competitive when finishing third on his sole start at this course. The Dylan Cunha yard has an 18% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 1.86, though the jockey Harry Burns is yet to score here from 16 rides. He has had two runs on good to soft without placing, but his placed effort over course and distance suggests the conditions should be suitable. From draw 5 he can be positioned to strike late, and he is taken to come out on top in a race where his overall profile edges it.
The Bay Warrior KTB Fit 55/100
The Bay Warrior is rated just behind on a KTB Fit of 55 and arrives with form figures of -96034. An 8-year-old with no previous experience of good to soft ground, he will need to prove himself on it, and he has no course form to call upon. However the Mark Usher and Silvestre De Sousa combination has been very productive with a 30% strike rate, an A/E of 2.11 and a healthy level-stakes profit. The jockey in particular has a strong 21% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 1.11. If he handles the surface he should be in the mix from his draw of 3, though the unknown of the going remains a concern.
Naughty Niall KTB Fit 49/100
Naughty Niall is on a KTB Fit of 49 and has form figures of 274260. A 5-year-old who has shown placed form at this track on two of his three starts, he has a solid record on good to soft having won one and placed in the other of his two runs on the surface. The Ian Williams yard posts a 10% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 0.83, while Jack Mitchell has a 20% strike rate here and an A/E of 1.34. From draw 8 he may need to be ridden positively, but his course placings and going affinity make him a definite player in what looks an open event.
Jack Andrea KTB Fit 49/100
Jack Andrea matches Naughty Niall on a KTB Fit of 49 and brings strong recent form of 612113. A 4-year-old who has been placed on both his starts on good to soft, he has also shown up well at Leicester with a third on his latest visit. The John Butler stable has a modest 4% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.51, and Jack Gilligan is still seeking his first Leicester winner from only two rides. Nevertheless his consistency, placed efforts on the surface and at the course, and handy draw of 6 mean he must be respected as one who tends to put his best foot forward.
The rest of the field
DivotKTB Fit 45/100
Divot has a KTB Fit of 45 and recent form of 23-235. A 4-year-old with only one run on good to soft which brought no placing, he has no course form. The William Knight and Daniel Muscutt partnership has an 8% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 0.72.
MaywedanceKTB Fit 44/100
Maywedance is rated 44 on KTB Fit with form figures of 574071. A 4-year-old with no experience of good to soft ground and no course form, he is ridden by Donagh Murphy who has a 0% strike rate at Leicester from two rides. The John O'Shea yard has an 8% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.77.
KameelKTB Fit 44/100
Kameel has a KTB Fit of 44 and recent form of -73952. A 4-year-old with one run on good to soft that produced no placing and no course form to speak of. The Jessica Macey stable has a 12% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 0.89, and Lewis Edmunds has a 9% strike rate here.
LednikovKTB Fit 41/100
Lednikov is on 41 KTB Fit with form of 891765. An 8-year-old who has been competitive on good to soft without winning, and who finished third on his only previous run at Leicester. The Ivan Furtado yard has a 9% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.89.
Lawmans BlisKTB Fit 31/100
Lawmans Blis has the lowest KTB Fit on 31 and form figures of 586614. An 8-year-old with four runs on good to soft that brought no win or place, and who finished third on his sole Leicester start. The Joey Ramsden yard is yet to strike at the track from three runs.
KTB verdict
Cartwheel is the KTB Selection and sets a clear standard on the numbers in a race where several have placed at the track without winning. His course third, trainer's solid record at Leicester and ability to be ridden for a late run from a fair draw give him the best chance of breaking his duck. The Bay Warrior is the most interesting danger if the good to soft ground does not prove against him, while Naughty Niall's course placings and proven ability on the surface make him a major player. Jack Andrea's recent consistency cannot be ignored either, but Cartwheel is the one to side with.
KTB Selection Cartwheel
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cartwheel | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| The Bay Warrior | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Naughty Niall | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Jack Andrea | 4/1 | William Hill |
| Divot | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| Maywedance | 13/2 | 7Bet |
| Kameel | 4/1 | 7Bet |
| Lednikov | 18/1 | William Hill |
| Lawmans Blis | 7/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 8:00 Leicester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leicester racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Leicester?
Cartwheel's trainer Dylan Cunha has an 18% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 1.86 from 28 runs.
How many of the principals have previous placed form at Leicester?
Three of the four principals have previous placed form at Leicester: Cartwheel, Naughty Niall and Jack Andrea.
Which runners are proven on good to soft ground?
Naughty Niall has a win and a place from two runs on good to soft, while Jack Andrea has been placed on both his starts on the surface and Lednikov has been competitive without winning.
Who has the best jockey record at the track among the principals?
Jack Mitchell riding Naughty Niall has a 20% strike rate at Leicester with an A/E of 1.34 from 131 rides.
What is the combined trainer and jockey strike rate for The Bay Warrior's connections?
The Mark Usher and Silvestre De Sousa combination has a 30% strike rate from 23 runs with an A/E of 2.11 and +£28.83 LSP.
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