Horse profile
Hard To Handel (GB)
by Stimulation (IRE) out of Melody Maker (GB) (Diktat)
35 runs · 15 courses · from Aug 2014
As at 27 Oct 2026 · KTB archive: GB, Ireland & France · 2005–present, updated daily
No run recorded since 2 May 2017 — 3,465 days ago. Our archive can't say whether the horse is still in training.
Last run May 2017 · 6th of 9
4 wins · Wolverhampton (AW), Redcar & Windsor
Last raced off OR 64
KTB Profile
Hard To Handel (GB) is 4 from 35. Hasn't won since Dec 2016. Last raced off 64, 21lb below the career-high mark.
Based on 35 archived runs · updated 27 Oct 2026
KTB at a glance
OR ↓ 21lb off peak
- 4–35Wins / Runs
- 11.4%Strike rate
- 11 (31.4%)Placed
- −19.27£1 level staken=35 at SP
- 1.08Fair A/E n=35 · 0.94 incl. margin
- 85Highest OR
- 29dAvg between runs
A/E compares actual wins with what starting prices implied. "Fair" strips the bookmaker margin from the expectation, so favourites and longshots are judged on the same footing — figures near 1.00 mean the market priced this horse about right.
Official rating64↓ 21lb off peak
64
64–85
KTB Speed and Rating
KTB Speed
Best recent Speed 97
How fast the horse ran, as points against the day-corrected standard time for its course and distance: 100 is the median GB Class 4 handicap winner on that code; one point is 0.1% of the standard time. A, B or C is how much the day's card could tell us, not how good the run was. What this means →
Flat
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 27 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (AW) | 12 | 107A | 88.5 | — |
| Good to Soft | 2 | 100C | 77.5 | — |
| Good to Firm | 1 | — | — | — |
| Soft | 1 | — | — | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 27 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m – 1m1f | 10 | 107A | 91 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 6 | 100C | 85.5 | — |
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 16 figures from 16 runs · as at 3 Oct 2026 · a record, not a forecast
Both figures are KTB's own, computed from the archive; no vendor rating enters either. Every run's figure is on its form line below with its grade. Grades measure how much the archive could see, never the merit of the run.
Run style is derived from in-running commentary, which our data provider does not supply for this horse's races.
Pedigree intelligence
Sire
Progeny in our archive have won 8.2% of 1,723 runs since Jan 2008 (100 horses).
Strongest on good going: 11.4% from 368. Strongest over 1m5f – 2m (all codes): 12.4% from 145.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | 32 | 1 | 3.1% | −5.1 | — |
| Good to Firm | 282 | 18 | 6.4% | −1.8 | 0 from 8 |
| Good | 368 | 42 | 11.4% | +3.2 | 1 from 4 |
| Good to Soft | 209 | 16 | 7.7% | −0.5 | 1 from 4 |
| Soft | 202 | 22 | 10.9% | +2.7 | 0 from 2 |
| Heavy | 53 | 10 | 18.9% | +10.7 | — |
| Standard (AW) | 577 | 33 | 5.7% | −2.5 | 2 from 17 |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 395 | 42 | 10.6% | +2.4 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 746 | 51 | 6.8% | −1.4 | 1 from 5 |
| 1m – 1m1f | 256 | 17 | 6.6% | −1.6 | 1 from 24 |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 143 | 11 | 7.7% | −0.5 | 2 from 6 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 145 | 18 | 12.4% | +4.2 | — |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 33 | 2 | 6.1% | −2.1 | — |
| 2m5f – 3m | 5 | 1 | 20% | +11.8 | — |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Jan 2008 · as at 27 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
Dam
Melody Maker (GB) (Diktat)
4 siblings in the archive, 4 winners — best of them Haaf A Sixpence (GB) (8 wins).
The wins came over 6f–1m; the highest grade won is Class 2 (Haaf A Sixpence (GB)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haaf A Sixpence (GB) | 30 | 8 | 7f–1m | Class 2 |
| Starlight Serenade (GB) | 12 | 2 | 7f–1m | Class 4 |
| Nassuvian Pearl (GB) | 6 | 1 | 6f | Class 6 |
| Noble Ballad (GB) | 13 | 1 | 7f | Class 6 |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (AW) | 17 | 2 | 12% | −6.75 |
| Good to Firm | 8 | 0 | 0% | −8.00 |
| Good to Soft | 4 | 1 | 25% | −2.27 |
| Good | 4 | 1 | 25% | −0.25 |
| Soft | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Class | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 4 | 17 | 0 | 0% | −17.00 |
| Class 5 | 10 | 2 | 20% | +0.75 |
| Class 6 | 5 | 2 | 40% | −0.02 |
| Class 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Class 3 | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton (AW) | 11 | 2 | 18% | −0.75 |
| Newcastle (AW) | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Redcar | 3 | 1 | 33% | −1.27 |
| Newbury | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Kempton (AW) | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Newmarket | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Salisbury | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Doncaster | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Ayr | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Thirsk | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Ripon | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Carlisle | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Beverley | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Windsor | 1 | 1 | 100% | +2.75 |
| Sandown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m – 1m1f | 24 | 1 | 4% | −20.25 |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 6 | 2 | 33% | −1.02 |
| 6f – 7f | 5 | 1 | 20% | +2.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy Aspell | 7 | 0 | 0% | −7.00 |
| Daniel Tudhope | 5 | 1 | 20% | −1.75 |
| Josh Doyle | 3 | 1 | 33% | −1.27 |
| Seb Sanders | 3 | 1 | 33% | +4.00 |
| Steve Drowne | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| David Nolan | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Phillip Makin | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Richard Kingscote | 2 | 1 | 50% | +1.75 |
| Paddy Pilley | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Paddy Vaughan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Shelley Birkett | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Adam Kirby | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Pat Dobbs | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Frederik Tylicki | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Patrick O'Donnell | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Silvestre De Sousa | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Oscar Pereira | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 17 | 1 | 6% | −10.00 |
| Cheekpieces | 11 | 2 | 18% | −5.52 |
| Blinkers | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Hood | 3 | 1 | 33% | +0.25 |
| Visor | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | 0% | −8.00 |
| 2016 | 16 | 2 | 13% | −11.02 |
| 2015 | 7 | 1 | 14% | −3.25 |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 25% | +3.00 |
Splits include every sample, however small — muted rows are under 3 runs. A one-from-one record is a fact, not a trend: read the Runs column before the strike rate.
Form
| Date | Course | Race | Pos | Btn | Wgt | OR | Spd | KTB | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 · 8 runs | ||||||||||
| 02 May 17+31d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Fclgf.com Handicap | 6/9 | 4½ | 9-7 | 64 | 88A | 63A | Paddy Aspell | 9/1 |
| 01 Apr 17+9d | Doncaster | Betway Apprentice Handicap | 13/20 | shd | 9-4 | 65 | 55C | 56A | Paddy Pilley | 16/1 |
| 23 Mar 17+17d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Sunbets.co.uk Handicap | 3/12 | 1¼ | 9-7 | 65 | 97A | 75A | Paddy Aspell | 33/1 |
| 06 Mar 17+9d | Wolverhampton (AW) | sunbets.co.uk Claiming Stakes | 6/8 | ½ | 9-0 | 69 | 85A | 71A | Paddy Aspell | 33/1 |
| 25 Feb 17+19d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Sunbets.co.uk Handicap | 6/12 | 2¾ | 9-7 | 70 | 89A | 72A | Paddy Aspell | 28/1 |
| 06 Feb 17+5d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Betway Handicap | 10/10 | 1½ | 8-12 | 73 | 107A | 59A | Paddy Aspell | 66/1 |
| 01 Feb 17+9d | Kempton (AW) | Matchbook Traders Conference Handicap (London Middle Distance Qualifier) | 11/12 | 7 | 9-1 | 73 | 86C | 51C | Paddy Aspell | 66/1 |
| 23 Jan 17+24d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Betway Middle Handicap | 3/12 | nse | 9-7 | 73 | 93A | 84A | Paddy Aspell | 100/1 |
| 2016 · 16 runs | ||||||||||
| 30 Dec 16+4d | Newcastle (AW) | Betway Handicap | 7/7 | 13 | 9-4 | 76 | 93C | 51C | Steve Drowne | 40/1 |
| 26 Dec 16+14d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Betway Middle Handicap | 8/10 | 1 | 9-12 | 76 | 85A | 69A | Steve Drowne | 25/1 |
| 12 Dec 16+23d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Betway Selling Stakes | 1/5 | 9-9 | 76 | 55C | 77B | Daniel Tudhope | 9/4 | |
| 19 Nov 16+18d | Wolverhampton (AW) | sunbets.co.uk Claiming Stakes | 8/11 | ¾ | 9-2 | 78 | 87A | 73A | Josh Doyle | 7/1 |
| 01 Nov 16+25d | Redcar | racinguk.com/daypass Claiming Stakes | 1/4 | 9-5 | 78 | 100C | 69B | Josh Doyle | 8/11F | |
| 07 Oct 16+14d | Newcastle (AW) | Download The At The Races App Handicap | 11/13 | hd | 9-4 | 81 | 106B | 70A | David Nolan | 5/1 |
| 23 Sep 16+8d | Newmarket | Shadwell Farm Handicap (Silver Cambridgeshire) | 9/20 | ½ | 9-7 | 84 | 88C | 82A | Daniel Tudhope | 25/1 |
| 15 Sep 16+19d | Ayr | Hillhouse Quarry Supporting The Ayrshire Hospice Handicap | 8/14 | ½ | 9-8 | 84 | 103C | 77A | Phillip Makin | 17/2 |
| 27 Aug 16+21d | Redcar | Pinnacle Racing Syndicate Shares Available Now Handicap | 7/14 | ½ | 9-7 | 85 | — | 82A | Paddy Vaughan | 12/1 |
| 06 Aug 16+7d | Redcar | Pinnacle Racing Syndicate Shares Now Available Handicap (Pinnacle Cup Straight Mile Qualifier) | 7/12 | 1¼ | 9-11 | 85 | — | 76A | Shelley Birkett | 11/2 |
| 30 Jul 16+14d | Thirsk | Totescoop6 Thirsk Summer Cup Handicap | 2/14 | 1 | 9-1 | 85 | — | 88A | Josh Doyle | 14/1 |
| 16 Jul 16+24d | Ripon | Vw Van Centre (west Yorkshire) Handicap | 4/8 | 1¼ | 10-0 | 85 | — | 88A | Phillip Makin | 7/1 |
| 22 Jun 16+18d | Carlisle | Bookies.com Carlisle Bell Handicap | 16/16 | 82 | 9-6 | 85 | — | 53C | Daniel Tudhope | 11/2 |
| 04 Jun 16+9d | Newcastle (AW) | Lrb Plumbing & Heating Handicap | 3/13 | 2¼ | 10-0 | 85 | — | 94A | David Nolan | 7/2 |
| 26 May 16+16d | Newcastle (AW) | Surgo Construction Handicap | 2/13 | shd | 9-4 | 82 | — | 95A | Daniel Tudhope | 5/1C |
| 10 May 16+200d | Beverley | James 'Doug' Norris Is 60 Today Handicap | 3/13 | 1¾ | 9-6 | 83 | — | 92A | Daniel Tudhope | 9/1 |
| 2015 · 7 runs | ||||||||||
| 23 Oct 15+70d | Newbury | Berry Bros & Rudd Magnum Handicap | 5/11 | nk | 9-6 | 84 | — | 84A | Adam Kirby | 8/1 |
| 14 Aug 15+34d | Newbury | Christopher Smith Associates Handicap (Str) | 2/7 | ¾ | 9-7 | 80 | — | 100A | Pat Dobbs | 9/2 |
| 11 Jul 15+13d | Salisbury | Ferndene Farm Handicap | 5/6 | ½ | 9-3 | 80 | — | 61C | Frederik Tylicki | 7/2 |
| 28 Jun 15+9d | Windsor | Download And Bet With The Ladbrokes App Handicap | 1/8 | 9-6 | 74 | — | 90A | Richard Kingscote | 11/4 | |
| 19 Jun 15+29d | Newmarket | Triconnex - South West Handicap | 8/15 | ½ | 9-0 | 75 | — | 78A | Patrick O'Donnell | 8/1 |
| 21 May 15+34d | Sandown | ApolloBet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap | 6/10 | 1¼ | 9-0 | 78 | — | 71A | Richard Kingscote | 20/1 |
| 17 Apr 15+177d | Newbury | Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap (Str) | 6/12 | 1¼ | 8-5 | 79 | — | 69A | Silvestre De Sousa | 25/1 |
| 2014 · 4 runs | ||||||||||
| 22 Oct 14+26d | Kempton (AW) | BetBright Mobile App Nursery | 8/10 | 1¼ | 9-5 | 79 | — | 62A | Seb Sanders | 7/1 |
| 26 Sep 14+15d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Bet toteexacta Maiden Stakes (Div 2) | 1/8 | 9-5 | — | — | 87A | Seb Sanders | 6/1 | |
| 11 Sep 14+13d | Wolverhampton (AW) | Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Maiden Stakes (Div 2) | 6/8 | nk | 9-5 | — | — | 75A | Seb Sanders | 3/1 |
| 29 Aug 14 | Salisbury | Bathwick Tyres Maiden Auction Stakes | 5/13 | 1¼ | 8-9 | — | — | 71A | Oscar Pereira | 33/1 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Hard To Handel won?
- Hard To Handel (GB) won 4 of 35 archived starts between 2014 and 2017, a strike rate of 11.4%. Placed 11 times in total (31.4% of starts).
- Who trained Hard To Handel?
- Hard To Handel (GB) was trained by Clare Ellam on the most recent run on record, at Wolverhampton (AW) on 2 May 2017.
- Who is Hard To Handel's sire?
- Hard To Handel (GB) is by Stimulation (IRE) out of Melody Maker (GB), whose sire is Diktat.
- What going does Hard To Handel prefer?
- Hard To Handel (GB) has the best record on good to soft going: 1 win from 4 starts (25%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Hard To Handel's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 64, from the run on 2 May 2017. The highest on record is 85.
- What is Hard To Handel's sire's record?
- Stimulation (IRE)'s progeny in our archive have won 8.2% of 1,723 runs since Jan 2008 (100 horses), Flat and jumps together. Strongest on good going: 11.4% from 368. Strongest over 1m5f – 2m (all codes): 12.4% from 145.
- Who are Hard To Handel's siblings?
- Out of Melody Maker (GB), Hard To Handel (GB) has 4 other produce in our archive, 4 of them winners. Most wins: Haaf A Sixpence (GB) (8). Highest grade won: Class 2 (Haaf A Sixpence (GB)). The wins came over 6f–1m. As at Oct 2026.