2:00 Wetherby
This Class 4 novice stakes over seven furlongs at Wetherby features an eleven-runner field of largely unexposed types on good ground. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with only four points separating the first five in the list, underlining how difficult it is to be certain about their relative merits given the small samples involved. Crossbar arrives off the back of a winning debut, while several others bring placed efforts or debut promise, and the race will provide important clues about which can progress into handicaps.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a fairly even gallop with no obvious front-runner dominating. Several runners, including Crossbar from a low draw, Machadadorp and Blue Icon, have shown they can race prominently or in mid-division, while Tago Mago and others may settle further back. The key question is whether the race will be decided by those who can quicken off a steady tempo or if the track's draw bias over seven furlongs will favour those nearer the rail from stalls two through six.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Crossbar KTB Selection62/100Crossbar showed ability when winning his only start over this trip.
- 2Machadadorp60/100Machadadorp showed fair form when winning a 7f maiden on good ground last time after a modest debut.
- 3Tago Mago58/100Tago Mago showed some promise when third on debut over this trip and should improve with that run behind him.
- 4Blue Icon57/100Blue Icon has shown little in two starts to date and needs to improve markedly to figure here.
- 5Twin And Tonic50/100Twin And Tonic is a newcomer whose bare form cannot be judged.
- 6Our Randolph48/100Our Randolph showed little promise in two runs last year, finishing seventh of eight then last of eight.
- 7Hawksworth48/100Hawksworth showed very little on his debut over 1m2f and now drops back sharply in trip to 7f, which asks a fresh question of him.
- 8Invaluable Eye47/100Invaluable Eye showed some promise when fifth on debut over 1m.
- 9Rogue Invincible42/100Rogue Invincible showed little after a slow start on debut over this trip at Redcar.
- 10Retro Rocket42/100Retro Rocket has only one career run behind him and steps back from 1m to 7f for the first time.
- 11Whatever Bruce39/100Whatever Bruce is a newcomer with no racecourse experience.
The contenders
Crossbar KTB Fit 62/100
Crossbar showed ability when winning his only start over this trip. The small sample means his level is hard to pin down and the yard has sent just four runners here. Lightly raced with low confidence data so any strong view would be guesswork. Clive Cox has a 25% strike rate at Wetherby with an A/E of 1.35 from four runs, while Callum Rodriguez brings a 17% strike rate at the track from 24 rides. He steps up in class having scored on debut and remains unproven on good ground with no previous course form.
Machadadorp KTB Fit 60/100
Machadadorp showed fair form when winning a 7f maiden on good ground last time after a modest debut. He has the right trainer for the track and Oisin Murphy takes the ride. Lightly raced with scope to improve further but still has to prove himself in a handicap. Andrew Balding posts a 20% strike rate at Wetherby with an A/E of 0.77 from 20 runs, and Murphy is even stronger at 33% from nine rides with an A/E of 1.39. He has recorded one win from one run on good going and has no course form on record.
Tago Mago KTB Fit 58/100
Tago Mago showed some promise when third on debut over this trip and should improve with that run behind him. The yard's small sample at Wetherby offers no real guide while the colt's sole start also leaves going preferences and overall ability hard to pin down. Stall nine looks no help on a track where the draw can matter over seven furlongs. Jamie Osborne has a 50% strike rate at the track from four runs with an A/E of 4.49, though P J McDonald is operating at 11% from 94 rides with an A/E of 0.95. He steps up in class having been placed on debut and remains unproven on good ground with no course form.
Blue Icon KTB Fit 57/100
Blue Icon has shown little in two starts to date and needs to improve markedly to figure here. The yard has only four runs at Wetherby which is too small a sample to judge while the lightly-raced profile means both the going and his ability at this trip remain unknown. Cam Hardie has a modest record at the track but that is based on a decent-sized sample of rides. Richard & Peter Fahey record a 25% strike rate at Wetherby with an A/E of 1.54 from four runs, and Hardie is at 7% from 54 rides with an A/E of 1.15. He has one run on good without placing and has no course form on record.
Twin And Tonic KTB Fit 50/100
Twin And Tonic is a newcomer whose bare form cannot be judged. The yard has a solid 16% strike rate from 49 runs at Wetherby with an A/E of 1.39. Sales and pedigree background will decide whether this one is worth any interest on debut. Roger Fell and Oisin McSweeney combine with a 12% strike rate from 17 runs and an A/E of 1.00. By Century Dream, he has no course win on record and his pedigree carries a 0% overall win rate from five runners on this type of surface.
The rest of the field
Our RandolphKTB Fit 48/100
Our Randolph showed little promise in two runs last year, finishing seventh of eight then last of eight. He drops back from a mile to 7f today, a trip he has already tried without success. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at Wetherby adds little encouragement and with only two career runs the overall picture remains tentative.
HawksworthKTB Fit 48/100
Hawksworth showed very little on his debut over 1m2f and now drops back sharply in trip to 7f, which asks a fresh question of him. The yard's record at Wetherby is modest at 8% from 12 runs. With only one run on the board overall, this remains very much unknown territory.
Invaluable EyeKTB Fit 47/100
Invaluable Eye showed some promise when fifth on debut over 1m. The drop back to 7f today asks a fresh question of this lightly raced 3-year-old and the small sample means any assessment must be cautious. The Easterby yard has a 9% strike-rate at Wetherby from 68 runs while Garritty has limited course experience.
Rogue InvincibleKTB Fit 42/100
Rogue Invincible showed little after a slow start on debut over this trip at Redcar. The yard has a 15 percent strike rate at Wetherby from 13 runs. Everything else about this lightly raced colt remains unknown on a small sample.
Retro RocketKTB Fit 42/100
Retro Rocket has only one career run behind him and steps back from 1m to 7f for the first time. The drop in trip poses a fresh question for a horse with such limited exposure. Martin Keighley’s 10% strike rate from 49 runs at Wetherby offers modest encouragement though the small sample means this remains very much an unknown quantity.
Whatever BruceKTB Fit 39/100
Whatever Bruce is a newcomer with no racecourse experience. The yard has a 0% strike rate from six runs at Wetherby which adds a note of caution on debut. Pedigree and sales background will need to be decent to overcome the trainer's modest record here.
KTB verdict
Crossbar is the KTB Selection. He showed ability when winning his only start over this trip and remains lightly raced, with the small sample making his exact level hard to pin down yet giving him scope in a race where many bring limited information. Clive Cox's 25% strike rate at Wetherby from four runs adds a positive note, and the selection can build on that debut success. The main dangers are headed by Machadadorp, who has already won a 7f maiden on good ground and benefits from the booking of Oisin Murphy, while Tago Mago's debut promise cannot be dismissed despite the wide draw.
KTB Selection Crossbar
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 Wetherby. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wetherby 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 Wetherby in this field?
Tago Mago's trainer Jamie Osborne has a 50% strike rate at Wetherby with an A/E of 4.49 from four runs.
How has Machadadorp performed on good ground?
Machadadorp has one win from one run on good ground.
What draw concerns are highlighted for Tago Mago?
Stall nine looks no help on a track where the draw can matter over seven furlongs.
Which trainer has sent the most runners to Wetherby in this race?
Roger Fell has a 16% strike rate at Wetherby from 49 runs.
Why is the form of Crossbar difficult to assess precisely?
The small sample means his level is hard to pin down and the yard has sent just four runners here.
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