1:35 Doncaster
A compact but competitive Class 3 nursery handicap for two-year-olds over 6f at Doncaster on soft ground. The six runners bring a mix of experience and potential, with official ratings ranging from 74 to 92 and recent form that includes both progressive types and those showing signs of inconsistency. KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, underlining a race where class, trip suitability and the ability to handle the conditions will be decisive.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner in a muddling, tactical pace shape, the race is likely to be decided by those able to secure a handy position early. Several runners, including the selection, prefer to race prominently or close to the pace, which should allow them to dictate or track the tempo effectively. The key question is whether those coming from midfield or held up can find the necessary gaps on soft ground when the pace eventually quickens.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Glamorize KTB Selection57/100
Glamorize is a fair two-year-old with a record of 201174 from six starts. Stepping up to 6f having raced mainly over 5f, he has been placed once at today's trip without winning. The half-sister to Manly Fireball comes from a dam that has produced three winners from four other runners to race. George Scott's 16% strike rate at Doncaster from 108 runs sits in line with his record elsewhere, while David Egan brings a 16% strike rate at the track from 198 rides. Usually prominent and racing handily, he is unproven on soft ground with no previous course form. His KTB Fit Score of 57 marks him out as the selection in a tactical affair.
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2Big Cigar54/100
Big Cigar is a useful performer who has already won twice at this trip from four attempts. His recent form of 151777 shows three poor efforts after the latest success, yet his official rating of 92 still makes him competitive in this grade. He is dropping in class and brings a small sample on soft ground that yielded no win or place. The Richard and Peter Fahey yard records an 8% strike rate at Doncaster from 40 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while Oisin Orr has a 6% strike rate at the track from 84 rides. Usually prominent and racing handily with medium confidence, he has no previous course form but looks sure to be involved.
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3Bulletsnap52/100
Bulletsnap has shown fair ability and arrives with a solid recent record of 3441 that includes a win at this trip last time out. He ran respectably when fourth on his only previous visit to Doncaster. Stepping up in class off an official rating of 87, he has one run on soft ground that brought no win or place. William Haggas posts an 18% strike rate at the track from 531 runs, in line with the yard's record elsewhere, and Tom Marquand has a 13% strike rate at Doncaster from 237 rides. Typically settling in midfield, he holds a KTB Fit Score of 52 and should be thereabouts if the muddling pace plays into his hands.
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4Mind Those Steps50/100
Mind Those Steps is a fair two-year-old who has won at this trip from six attempts and arrives off an official rating of 82 after recent placed efforts. Dropping in class, he is a half-brother to Twilight Spinner, a Group 3 winner with three wins from seven runs, while the dam has produced two winners from three other runners. He has been placed once from one run on soft ground but remains competitive without a win on it. Tim Easterby's 7% strike rate at Doncaster from 1,580 runs sits below the yard's 10% at other tracks, and David Allan has his own record at the venue. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his KTB Fit Score of 50 keeps him firmly in the mix.
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5Furturra43/100
Furturra is a fair two-year-old with a lengthy record of 15 runs and an official rating of 75 that matches that level. He has won at today's 6f trip but steps up in distance off the back of a string of modest efforts over 5f, while his one run on soft ground brought no win or place. The Tim Easterby yard has a 7% strike rate at Doncaster from 1,580 runs, below their 10% elsewhere, and this is the colt's first run here.
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6Lake Muritz37/100
Lake Muritz is a modest performer who has shown mixed form across six runs this year with a recent string of defeats after an early win. Stepping up to 6f today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at the trip, he was last seen over 5f. The dam has had two other runners, none of them a winner. Tim Easterby records a 7% strike rate at Doncaster from 1,580 runs which sits below their 10% at other tracks, and this unproven performer on soft ground has no previous course form.
KTB verdict
Glamorize is the KTB Selection. A fair two-year-old who has shown mixed form but possesses the right run style for this muddling, tactical race, he can capitalise on being ridden close to the pace on his first try at Doncaster. The selection's prominent racing style should suit the expected shape, and the yard's respectable record at the track adds further confidence. Main dangers are Big Cigar, who brings useful form at the trip and a high official rating, Bulletsnap, who is in solid nick after a recent win, and Mind Those Steps, who drops in class with a strong pedigree and proven ability on soft ground.
KTB Selection Glamorize
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:22am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorize | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:06am |
| Big Cigar | 5/1 | Bet365, 1:06am |
| Bulletsnap | 6/5 | Ladbrokes, 1:06am |
| Mind Those Steps | 9/2 | Bet365, 1:06am |
| Furturra | 16/1 | 7Bet, 1:06am |
| Lake Muritz | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:06am |
This is the narrative read of the 1:35 Doncaster. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Doncaster racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Doncaster results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Doncaster racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest pedigree link to Group success in the field?
Mind Those Steps, a half-brother to Twilight Spinner, a Group 3 winner with three wins from seven runs.
How many of the principals prefer to race prominently or close to the lead?
Two of the four principals, Glamorize and Big Cigar, usually race handily on or close to the lead.
Which runner has the highest official rating in the race?
Big Cigar, who carries an official rating of 92.
Which trainer has the best strike rate at Doncaster among those represented?
William Haggas, with an 18% strike rate at Doncaster from 531 runs.
Which horse is unproven on soft ground yet holds the highest KTB Fit Score?
Glamorize, who has no runs on soft and carries a KTB Fit Score of 57.
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