1:30 York
The Sky Bet Rockingham Stakes is a competitive Listed event for two-year-olds over six furlongs on soft ground at York. An eleven-runner field features several useful performers with placed form or wins at the track, though most remain unproven on soft going. KTB's Fit ratings identify Agamemnon as the clear top pick on 72, with Cut A Dash next on 66 and a cluster of others between 58 and 45, underlining a race where course experience and trip suitability will be key.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present. Matteo and Angels Passing are both noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, which sets up a test that could see the pace collapse in the later stages. This shape is likely to favour horses coming from mid-division or held-up positions, with the key question being which of the closers can best time their effort as the leaders tire.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Agamemnon KTB Selection72/100
Agamemnon is a useful performer who has run to a decent level on several occasions including when finishing fourth over this course and distance on his only visit to York. He steps up from five furlongs today having already been placed twice over this trip without winning. The yard and jockey both go well at this track, with the trainer recording a 16% strike rate at York from 43 runs and an A/E of 1.34, while the jockey has a 22% strike rate from nine rides and an A/E of 1.57. He typically settles in midfield and has shown he is competitive on soft ground, having been placed once from one run. With an official rating of 102 and recent form figures of 183247, he arrives with solid claims from draw nine.
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2Cut A Dash66/100
Cut A Dash is a useful colt who has already won here on his only visit to York. He has shown consistent form at this trip with a placed effort among his three attempts and looks well suited by the stiff six furlongs. The yard has a solid 11% strike-rate at the track from a big sample of 354 runs while the jockey is equally at home here with a 13% strike rate from 123 rides. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, which should suit the expected strong pace. With no runs on soft ground he remains unproven on the going, though his course win and official rating of 100 from form figures of 14945 mark him down as a major player from draw eleven.
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3Hickory Lad58/100
Hickory Lad is a useful performer who has run well at this track, finishing third here on his penultimate start. He steps up from five furlongs to six furlongs today having already won once at the trip, though his sole soft-ground run brought no reward. Trainer and jockey both operate at a modest strike rate here, the trainer on 8% from 38 runs and the jockey on 7% from 228 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence in that assessment, he has an official rating of 99 and recent form figures of 213835. From draw seven and with a placing from one run at the course, he cannot be ruled out.
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4Love A Giggle57/100
Love A Giggle is a useful performer who has already won over this course. Recent form has been mixed with two poor efforts after a promising start and the trip looks on the short side for her. The trainer has a modest strike rate here from a large sample of 683 runs. Usually held up and producing her effort late on the limited evidence available, she remains unproven on soft ground. With an official rating of 90, form figures of 11040, a course win from two runs and draw three, she retains each-way interest despite the recent dips.
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5Big Cigar56/100
Big Cigar is a useful sort who has already won here and at today's trip. He drops back from seven furlongs after two ordinary efforts on quicker ground, though the yard's modest strike rate at York from 81 runs and the jockey's similar record from 206 rides add little encouragement. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he remains unproven on soft ground. Lightly raced overall with high data confidence from ratings and race history, he carries an official rating of 93 and recent form figures of 15177 from draw six, with a course win from two starts.
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6Battle Fever49/100
Battle Fever has shown consistent form as a fair 2-year-old, with three placed efforts from five runs including a second over this trip and another placing at York. He is well drawn in stall 4 and the yard's 8 percent strike rate from 1230 runs at the track is in line with expectations. The trip clearly suits but with only five runs on the board the soft ground remains an unknown.
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7Divine Whisper48/100
Divine Whisper is a fair performer who has shown consistent form in three runs this year, finishing second on this track last time. He steps up from 5f to 6f for the first time today, which asks a fresh question. The trainer holds an 8% strike rate from 53 runs at York while jockey Tom Marquand records 14% from 345 rides here. He remains unproven on soft ground.
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8Dubai Champion47/100
Dubai Champion is a useful performer who has mixed form this year but showed his best when second over 5f at this track last time. He steps up to 6f for the first time today having placed once at the trip without winning. Trainer and jockey both have modest 3% strike rates at York from large samples. He has placed on soft ground once from one run.
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9Spirit of Lyra47/100
Spirit of Lyra is a fair performer who has already won over today's 6f trip and shaped well when second at this track on her penultimate start. Dropping back from 7f looks a sensible move though the soft ground remains an unknown with only four runs on the board. The trainer and jockey both have solid York records that add some confidence.
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10Matteo46/100
Matteo is a fair 2yo who has shown useful early speed to win twice but has failed to build on that in two stronger races since. He was well held when seventh over this course and trip on his most recent start and has no placed form at six furlongs. The trainer's solid York record is offset by the jockey's modest strike-rate here. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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11Angels Passing45/100
Angels Passing is a fair performer who has already shown ability at this trip with a win from two starts. He has run twice here without placing and the yard and jockey both have modest strike rates at the track. Lightly raced with only three career runs so far so there is still scope for improvement. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
KTB verdict
Agamemnon is the KTB Selection. He has run to a decent level on several occasions and his fourth over this course and distance on his only visit to York reads well, while stepping up to six furlongs looks a positive given his placed efforts at the trip. The yard and jockey both go well at the track, which further strengthens his position in a race where the strong pace should suit his mid-division run style. Cut A Dash, with his course win and suitability to the stiff six, is the most obvious danger, while Hickory Lad, Love A Giggle and Big Cigar all have course form or placed efforts that keep them in the picture.
KTB Selection Agamemnon
This is the narrative read of the 1:30 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the York results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the York racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Matteo and Angels Passing both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
How many runners are unproven on soft ground?
Six runners have no runs on soft: Cut A Dash, Love A Giggle, Big Cigar, Divine Whisper, Spirit of Lyra and Matteo. Angels Passing is also unproven.
Which horse has the best York strike rate among the principals?
Agamemnon's trainer has a 16% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.34, and his jockey has 22% with an A/E of 1.57.
Who has already won over the course and distance?
None of the runners have a course-and-distance win; Agamemnon was fourth over C&D, while several others have course wins or placed form at six furlongs.
Which runners are stepping up in class?
Battle Fever, Divine Whisper and Spirit of Lyra are all stepping up in class.
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