What is James Best's strike rate?

James Best has won 329 of 4,818 rides since 2008, a strike rate of 6.8% (as at 15 November 2026). Figures are computed from our own results archive.

Which course does James Best do best at?

Fontwell by strike rate: 32 wins from 274 rides (11.7%) since 2008. Read from the 15 courses with the most rides on the same basis, and only those with at least 30 — a small sample cannot top the list, and a rarely-visited course is not in the comparison.

Which yard does James Best ride most for?

Martin Keighley, with 353 rides since 2008 — 7% of the total. That pairing has won 31 (8.8%).

Is James Best in form?

In the last 14 days: 17 rides, 1 winner, a strike rate of 5.9%. That is in line with the baseline of 6.8% since 2008.

What is James Best's Fair A/E?

0.99, from 4,813 rides with a computed fair probability since 2008. Fair A/E compares actual wins with a margin-stripped market expectation, so 1.00 is par: above it the wins came at bigger prices than the margin-free market implied, below it they did not.

Jockey profile

James Best

4,818 rides in the lifetime window · 1,928 individual horses

As at 15 Nov 2026 · KTB archive: 2005–present, updated daily

Last ride yesterday 100% of rides over jumps

Last 5 seasons Lifetime (2009→)

from 1 Jan 2008 — the aggregate floor: every horse in the window has a complete captured career behind it

329–4,818

Wins / Runs

6.8%

Strike rate

n=4,818

973 (20%)

Placed

0.99

Fair A/E

n=4,813 · 0.85 incl. margin

−1,601.17

£1 level stake

n=4,818 at SP · −33.2%

£3.86m

Prize money (window)

Strike by season

7.5%

KTB Rider Profile

Rides around 250 times a season, almost all over hurdles and fences, winning on 7% of them — level with the margin-free market read across the lifetime window (Fair A/E 0.99). Riding last-time-out winners the record reads 20% (334 rides).

Deterministic profile computed from 4,818 archived runs (lifetime window) · updated 15 Nov 2026

KTB at a glance 36.7% when favourite Martin Keighley: 8.8% from 353 LTO winners: 19.8% Claiming: 9.9% Rides the favourite in 4% of races

The read

The record is strongest at Doncaster (18.2%, n=33), clear of the rider's 6.8% baseline. Rides on last-time-out winners have been a positive signal at 19.8% (n=334, Fair A/E 1.22). Martin Keighley supplies 7% of the rides and edges the rider's average (8.8% vs 6.8%, A/E 1.03) — the market has that partnership priced right. The rider also reads well off a 0-7-day break (18.5%, n=108). 6 Group and Graded wins sit in the archive record — the biggest prize the rider has landed: the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree (Dec 2018, £84,195). The standout partner of the record: Cruise In Style (IRE) — 5 wins from 41 rides together.

Written from the figures on this page — every claim carries its sample. Descriptive, not a tip.

Riding patterns

the angles behind the record · vs 6.8% baseline

First ride on the horse · first captured pairing

4.8%−2.0

n=1,928 · A/E 0.89 · £1 −746.98

Last-time-out winners · previous run was a win

19.8%+13.0

n=334 · A/E 1.22 · £1 −9.59

Fresh horses · 61+ days off

5.4%−1.4

n=1,194 · A/E 1.01 · £1 −471.39

When favourite

36.7%

n=199 · A/E 1.23 · £1 +19.93

Claiming rides · riding with a claim

9.9%+3.1

n=689 · A/E 1.08 · £1 −194.21

Big fields · 14+ runners

4.4%−2.4

n=723 · A/E 1.20 · £1 −366.00

Group / Graded races · pattern & listed

6.8%+0.0

n=88 · A/E 1.41 · £1 −5.50

Each tile is the record in that situation vs the 6.8% baseline — descriptive splits with the sample always shown, for you to weigh. Tiles under 30 runs render muted. First rides are the first captured pairing of horse and rider; last-time-out winners are horses whose previous captured run was a win; claiming rides are runs where the rider carried a weight claim. Group / Graded covers pattern and listed races.

Notable angles

vs their own baseline

On last-time-out winners 19.8% vs 6.8% · n=334

Off a 0-7-day break 18.5% vs 6.8% · n=108

At Doncaster 18.2% vs 6.8% · n=33

With C&D winners 13.3% vs 6.8% · n=376

With Seamus Mullins 14.6% vs 6.8% · n=123

With debutants 1.7% vs 6.8% · n=289

Descriptive splits ranked by divergence × sample — insight, not instruction. Every angle carries its N; nothing under 30 runs qualifies. Rows within 2pts of the baseline appear only when the market-relative read (Fair A/E) diverges, and show it.

Record by conditions

same window as header

Race type

TypeRWSR£1

Hurdle 2,682 132 4.9% −1,028.47

Chase 1,811 191 10.5% −301.08

NH Flat 315 6 1.9% −261.62

Flat 10 0 0% −10.00

Going

GoingRWSR£1

Good 1,915 126 6.6% −693.36

Good to Soft 1,129 80 7.1% −365.04

Soft 1,002 60 6% −459.47

Heavy 499 43 8.6% +32.49

Good to Firm 253 20 7.9% −95.79

Standard (AW) 18 0 0% −18.00

Firm 2 0 0% −2.00

Courses

CourseRWSR£1

Exeter 409 33 8.1% +200.46

Taunton 354 27 7.6% −113.97

Newton Abbot 342 24 7% −125.87

Wincanton 332 17 5.1% −201.61

Chepstow 307 25 8.1% −106.77

Worcester 305 14 4.6% −161.40

Fontwell 274 32 11.7% −48.82

Uttoxeter 252 16 6.3% −120.62

Stratford 195 18 9.2% −4.70

Plumpton 164 10 6.1% −68.12

Southwell 155 18 11.6% −28.26

Hereford 148 5 3.4% −113.25

Huntingdon 140 5 3.6% −85.06

Ludlow 140 8 5.7% −85.75

Ffos Las 140 11 7.9% −48.95

Class

ClassRWSR£1

Class 4 2,092 144 6.9% −665.29

Class 5 1,741 112 6.4% −616.97

Class 3 581 45 7.7% −218.12

Class 2 199 17 8.5% +0.58

Class 1 107 7 6.5% −15.00

Class 6 96 4 4.2% −84.37

Market position

In the bettingRWSRA/E£1

Favourite 240 84 35% 1.25 +24.68

2nd–3rd fav 681 108 15.9% 1.02 −105.85

4th–6th fav 1,556 96 6.2% 0.92 −448.50

7th+ in betting 2,341 41 1.8% 0.73 −1,071.50

Fair A/E per band is the tell: near 1.00 the market had it priced right; well above, the wins came where the market didn't expect them.

Distance

DistanceRWSR£1

2m1f – 2m4f 1,664 120 7.2% −627.60

1m5f – 2m 1,484 81 5.5% −423.29

2m5f – 3m 1,230 80 6.5% −478.87

Over 3m 433 48 11.1% −64.41

1m2f – 1m4f 4 0 0% −4.00

Under 6f 2 0 0% −2.00

6f – 7f 1 0 0% −1.00

By season

By seasonRWSR£1

2009 1 0 0% −1.00

2010 5 0 0% −5.00

2011 101 15 14.9% −2.79

2012 271 26 9.6% −96.07

2013 229 18 7.9% −115.14

2014 220 22 10% −46.45

2015 276 21 7.6% −67.27

2016 313 21 6.7% −169.50

2017 339 21 6.2% −127.00

2018 286 10 3.5% −213.62

2019 366 29 7.9% −110.11

2020 227 9 4% −100.42

2021 470 35 7.4% −129.70

2022 304 12 3.9% −186.21

2023 361 17 4.7% −162.45

2024 405 30 7.4% −158.28

2025 352 21 6% +190.63

2026 292 22 7.5% −100.79

Handicaps

HandicapsRWSR£1

Handicaps 3,198 279 8.7% −744.89

Field size

Field sizeRWSR£1

8-10 runners 1,675 103 6.1% −613.92

11-13 runners 1,207 52 4.3% −307.28

5-7 runners 1,078 126 11.7% −246.98

14-16 runners 564 26 4.6% −285.50

17+ runners 159 6 3.8% −80.50

2-4 runners 135 16 11.9% −66.99

Rows below n=30 are shown faded — a small sample is a fact, not a trend. Every figure carries its N.

Jumping record

completion over obstacles · same window as header

78.9% completed · 4,493 obstacle rides (chases & hurdles)

CodeRCompFURPUBDOth

Chase 1,811 74.7% 63 43 341 3 8

Hurdle 2,682 81.7% 45 32 408 2 5

Chases and hurdles only — bumpers have no obstacles, so completion is not a question there. F fell · UR unseated rider · PU pulled up · BD brought down · Oth covers refusals, slip-ups, run-outs and the rare disqualification. Non-runners are excluded throughout. Rows under n=30 are shown faded. A descriptive record, not a tip.

Horses ridden

same window as header · most-raced first

HorseRWPlLast ran

Cruise In Style (IRE) 41 5 12 16 May 17

My Silver Lining (IRE) 26 5 14 29 Jan 26

Withy Mills (GB) 26 4 8 29 Jan 17

Moroder (IRE) 25 5 7 27 May 26

Winning Spark (USA) 22 3 11 8 Oct 18

Midnight Lira (GB) 21 5 10 4 Dec 15

Morfee (IRE) 20 4 8 19 Apr 26

Kingsmill Gin (GB) 19 2 6 7 Apr 24

Samson (GB) 19 2 6 29 Nov 18

Higgs (IRE) 18 2 9 2 Jun 25

Forget You Not (FR) 17 3 5 27 Nov 25

Walk In The Mill (FR) 17 5 9 16 Jan 21

Showing the 60 most-raced of the 1,928 horses ridden in this window — each ran at least 9 times. Horses with fewer runs aren't listed; search finds any horse since 2005. Runs, wins and places only: a strike rate or a return on a handful of runs is noise, so none is quoted per horse — each horse's full record is on its own page.

Current form

significance-gated

Last 14 days

Steady

1 from 17 5.9% · −0.9pts vs baseline

Last 14 days5.9%

Lifetime base6.8%

Shown only when the 14-day window is large enough to mean anything (n≥15). A cold run renders the same card with a quiet badge — never hidden.

By month

strike by month, lifetime

JFMAMJJASOND

666765957888

A jumps rider: the season runs Oct–Apr. Muted months are small samples (under 30 runs) — read them with the caution they deserve.

Riding for

same window · biggest samples first

Main yardMartin Keighley

7% of all rides
8.8% SR · A/E 1.03

TrainerRWSR£1

Martin Keighley 353 31 8.8% −121.57

Jackie Du Plessis 289 24 8.3% −67.99

Robert Walford 270 26 9.6% −57.42

Philip Hobbs 230 26 11.3% −51.32

Kevin Bishop 198 18 9.1% −10.58

Caroline Keevil 189 17 9% −62.77

Sarah-Jayne Davies 179 7 3.9% −111.67

Neil Mulholland 174 16 9.2% −18.71

Sophie Leech 129 9 7% −46.37

Seamus Mullins 123 18 14.6% +92.66

Nigel Hawke 102 7 6.9% +245.90

Harriet Dickin 100 6 6% −64.50

Muted rows are under 30 rides.

Career highlights

lifetime archive, 2009→

329

Archived wins

Pattern / graded wins

£3.86m

Prize money

2021

Best season · 35 wins

Walk In The Mill (FR) — Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course) Aintree · Dec 2018 · Grade 3

£84,195

Walk In The Mill (FR) — Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course) Aintree · Dec 2019 · Grade 3

£84,195

Nickle Back (IRE) — Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Sandown · Feb 2024 · Grade 1

£57,620

Notable horses

Cruise In Style (IRE) My Silver Lining (IRE) Moroder (IRE) Midnight Lira (GB) Walk In The Mill (FR) Mr Medic (GB)

Sires of the horses ridden

progeny record · win % by ground and trip

Kayf Tara (GB) 6.5% · 6–92

Progeny have won 12.6% of 13,772 runs since 2008 (1,148 horses). Strongest on Heavy going: 16.2% from 1,708.

Midnight Legend (GB) 8% · 7–87

Progeny have won 14.2% of 8,312 runs since 2008 (494 horses).

Getaway (GER) 7.2% · 6–83

Progeny have won 11.3% of 11,049 runs since 2016 (1,035 horses). Strongest on Good to Firm going: 23.1% from 134.

Mahler (GB) 12.3% · 10–81

Progeny have won 10.8% of 8,902 runs since 2014 (790 horses). Strongest on Good to Firm going: 15.1% from 119.

Milan (GB) 6.4% · 5–78

Progeny have won 11.3% of 16,893 runs since 2008 (1,465 horses).

Definite Article (GB) 12.9% · 8–62

Progeny have won 10.5% of 5,617 runs since 2008 (527 horses). Weakest on Standard (AW) going: 5.1% from 138. Weakest over 1m2f – 1m4f (all codes): 4.3% from 211.

Top line: the rider's own record with each sire's runners (win %, wins–runs), same window as the header; faded under 30 runs. Beneath it: every run by that sire's progeny in our archive since 2008, as at 15 Nov 2026 — what they have done, not a forecast. A going or a distance is named only where at least 100 progeny runs sit 3 or more points from the sire's own win rate. Distance bands cover Flat and jumps together.

The record

latest 50 of 4,818 · newest first

The latest 50 of 4,818 archived rides, newest first. The full record runs from 19 November 2009 to 14 November 2026.

DateCourseHorseRaceFinishSP

14 Nov 26 Uttoxeter Pdq Workspace (GB)T: Sarah Hollinshead 1664 Biere Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)Class 5 · 16f · Good · 12 ran 12th 80/1

14 Nov 26 Uttoxeter Kalhandrion (FR)T: Richard Hobson Hobgoblin Handicap Steeple Chase (GBB Race)Class 4 · 24f · Good · 7 ran 5th 9/1

14 Nov 26 Uttoxeter Moi Mon Vieux (FR)T: Richard Hobson Karina's 60th Birthday Celebration Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 16f · Good · 12 ran 3rd 16/1

12 Nov 26 Hereford Lucky Sevens (GB)T: Nikki Evans CopyBet Overnight Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 16f · Good To Firm · 9 ran 4th 40/1

12 Nov 26 Hereford Sir Vinnie Kent (IRE)T: Sarah-Jayne Davies Paul Fergusons Jumpers To Follow EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Race (Qualifier) (GBB Race)Class 4 · 16f · Good To Firm · 12 ran PU 300/1

11 Nov 26 Warwick Nervousdisposition (GB)T: Pat Phelan Farol Fillies' "Junior" National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race)Class 5 · 16f · Good · 7 ran 3rd 11/1

10 Nov 26 Lingfield Play On Court (IRE)T: Harriet Dickin Careersinracing Step On Track Programme Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 16f · Good · 9 ran 7th 18/1

08 Nov 26 Sandown Clementshill Lad (IRE)T: Harriet Dickin Best Odds At Oddschecker Novices' Hurdle Race (GBB Race)Class 3 · 20f · Good To Soft · 3 ran 2nd 18/1

05 Nov 26 Newcastle Hubris (GB)T: Sara Ender attheraces.com/marketmovers "Junior" National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race)Class 5 · 17f · Good · 9 ran 3rd 12/1

05 Nov 26 Newcastle Got A Dream (IRE)T: Nicky Martin Racing At The Heart Of Our Community Handicap Hurdle Race (Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier)Class 4 · 24f · Good · 8 ran 8th 13/2

04 Nov 26 Chepstow Man Maid (GB)T: Harriet Dickin Floyds Turfcare & Weed Solutions Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 19.5f · Good To Soft · 16 ran 5th 22/1

04 Nov 26 Chepstow Sage Green (IRE)T: Syd Hosie DragonBet Handicap Steeple Chase (GBB Race)Class 4 · 19.5f · Good · 8 ran 1st 12/1

04 Nov 26 Chepstow Saint Invictus (IRE)T: Syd Hosie Free Tips On attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle Race (GBB Race)Class 4 · 19.5f · Good To Soft · 14 ran 6th 300/1

03 Nov 26 Lingfield Just Aidan (IRE)T: Harriet Dickin attheraces.com/marketmovers Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 19.5f · Good · 9 ran 5th 10/1

03 Nov 26 Lingfield Daring To Dream (GB)T: Harriet Dickin Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Mares' Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 16f · Good · 9 ran 5th 6/1

02 Nov 26 Plumpton Thankyouandplease (FR)T: Syd Hosie Southern Access Platforms Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 4 · 16f · Good · 6 ran 3rd 14/1

02 Nov 26 Plumpton Chase The Status (IRE)T: Max Young Cappagh Browne Utilities Ltd Maiden Hurdle Race (GBB Race)Class 4 · 20.5f · Good · 7 ran 7th 150/1

01 Nov 26 Worcester Rest Is The Best (IRE)T: Harriet Dickin Copybet Overnight Best Odds Guaranteed Novices' Handicap Hurdle RaceClass 5 · 23f · Good To Soft · 9 ran 6th 20/1

01 Nov 26 Worcester Dynamite Defense (IRE)T: Sarah-Jayne Davies Copybet For Premier League Profit Boosts Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase (GBB Race)Class 4 · 20f · Good To Soft · 15 ran 11th 125/1

30 Oct 26 Uttoxeter A Dublin Job (IRE)T: Sarah-Jayne Davies Ted Anderson Dixon Handicap Steeple ChaseClass 5 · 20f · Good · 11 ran 8th 33/1

Drawn from the whole archive (2005 onwards), so it can include runs outside the window the header statistics cover. Non-runners are not listed. A finish shown in letters is a non-completion (F fell · UR unseated · PU pulled up · BD brought down).

KTB’s figures

the forward record · since 5 Oct 2026

KTB’s figures on this rider’s mounts since 13 Oct 2026: the KTB Selection in 2 runs (won 0) · top-rated on KTB Rating in 2 runs (won 1) · fastest on KTB Speed in 5 runs (won 0, 1 did not run) · to 14 Nov 2026.

Each pick was a KTB figure’s choice before the off — the published KTB Selection, the top-rated horse on KTB Rating, the fastest on KTB Speed — settled against the result the next morning and never worked out again; “did not run” is counted apart. GB and Irish races only. A record of weeks so far: read it as a count, not a verdict.

Quick answers

What is James Best's strike rate?: James Best has won 329 of 4,818 rides since 2008, a strike rate of 6.8% (as at 15 November 2026). Figures are computed from our own results archive.
Which course does James Best do best at?: Fontwell by strike rate: 32 wins from 274 rides (11.7%) since 2008. Read from the 15 courses with the most rides on the same basis, and only those with at least 30 — a small sample cannot top the list, and a rarely-visited course is not in the comparison.
Which yard does James Best ride most for?: Martin Keighley, with 353 rides since 2008 — 7% of the total. That pairing has won 31 (8.8%).
Is James Best in form?: In the last 14 days: 17 rides, 1 winner, a strike rate of 5.9%. That is in line with the baseline of 6.8% since 2008.
What is James Best's Fair A/E?: 0.99, from 4,813 rides with a computed fair probability since 2008. Fair A/E compares actual wins with a margin-stripped market expectation, so 1.00 is par: above it the wins came at bigger prices than the margin-free market implied, below it they did not.