1:40 Perth
This Class 4 maiden hurdle at Perth over 2m47y on good ground features a field of seven, several of whom arrive with placed form and solid recent efforts. The KTB Fit Scores identify Try Them as the clear top pick on 65, ahead of Crackalackin on 58, Biggles on 53 and St Just In Time on 51, with the remainder trailing some way behind. Overall the numbers point to a race that should be contested by horses with prior experience and placed efforts, though several bring question marks over the ground or trip.
How the race shapes up
With two confirmed front-runners in Tracker Issue and C'Est Pour Moi, and the pace shape rated as strong with high confidence, an early gallop is assured. Several others, including the principals Try Them, Crackalackin and Biggles, are habitual hold-up types who will look to produce their efforts late. This sets up the strong possibility of the pace collapsing in the latter stages, which would play into the hands of those racing off the speed and asking the key question of whether the prominent runners can sustain their efforts or if the hold-up brigade will sweep past late.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Try Them KTB Selection65/100Smart performer who has shown his best form since joining this yard.
- 2Crackalackin58/100Useful performer who has shown consistent placed form this year and has already been competitive at today's trip.
- 3Biggles53/100Biggles arrives in reasonable form having placed on his latest two starts and has shown he can handle this trip.
- 4St Just In Time51/100Smart performer who has been competitive without winning on good ground and at this trip.
- 5Tracker Issue51/100Tracker Issue brings some experience to a maiden at Perth having had 16 runs already this year.
- 6C'Est Pour Moi45/100C'Est Pour Moi has shown little in two starts to date, finishing well beaten on both occasions.
- 7Hawthorn Road42/100Hawthorn Road has shown very little in three runs to date and was well held when seventh over this trip here last time.
The contenders
Try Them KTB Fit 65/100
Try Them is a smart performer who has shown his best form since joining this yard. He finished a clear second over this trip and track last time and has the ratings to go close again. The trainer has a 14% strike rate at Perth with an A/E of 0.93 from 83 runs while the jockey posts a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.88 from 886 rides. He is placed from one run on good ground and was second on his only previous visit to Perth. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is the KTB Selection.
Crackalackin KTB Fit 58/100
Crackalackin is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form this year and has already been competitive at today's trip. First-time headgear is an interesting addition while the yard has a 33% strike rate at Perth with an A/E of 1.33 from six runs and the jockey boasts a 60% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 2.74 from five rides. He has not convinced on good ground in two previous attempts and has no course form on record. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he looks sure to be involved once more.
Biggles KTB Fit 53/100
Biggles arrives in reasonable form having placed on his latest two starts and has shown he can handle this trip. He has won on good ground though his record on it reads only one success from eight runs overall. The yard has a solid 25% strike-rate at Perth with an A/E of 1.06 from 12 runs while the jockey posts a 25% strike rate here with an A/E of 1.02 from four rides. This is the horse's first visit to the track and he is usually held up, though with limited evidence. At nine he is the veteran of the field but retains enough ability to feature.
St Just In Time KTB Fit 51/100
St Just In Time is a smart performer who has been competitive without winning on good ground and at this trip. He steps up in distance today having last run over 1m3f, which asks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is now added. The trainer has a 0% strike rate at Perth with an A/E of 0 from one run while the jockey has a 25% strike rate here with an A/E of 1 from four rides. He is placed once from three runs on good ground and typically settles in midfield, though with limited evidence. Stepping up in class adds another layer to his profile.
The rest of the field
Tracker IssueKTB Fit 51/100
Tracker Issue brings some experience to a maiden at Perth having had 16 runs already this year. The yard has a 16% strike-rate here with an A/E of 1.25 from 32 runs but the jockey is operating at 6% from 266 rides. He has never won or placed on good ground, has been beaten both times he has tried this trip and tends to make the running.
C'Est Pour MoiKTB Fit 45/100
C'Est Pour Moi has shown little in two starts to date, finishing well beaten on both occasions. The yard have a 17% strike-rate at Perth from six runs, though this lightly-raced 4-year-old brings a very limited profile and remains hard to assess with any confidence. He tends to make the running, steps up in class and both trip and ground look unknown quantities.
Hawthorn RoadKTB Fit 42/100
Hawthorn Road has shown very little in three runs to date and was well held when seventh over this trip here last time. The yard has a 10% strike-rate at Perth from 214 runs while the jockey is operating at 6% from 33 rides. First-time headgear is now fitted but with such a poor recent record this is a low-confidence profile and he remains unproven on good ground.
KTB verdict
Try Them stands out as the KTB Selection. He has shown his best form since joining the yard, finished a clear second over course and distance last time and possesses the ratings to take this. The trainer and jockey both hold solid records at Perth and his hold-up style should be ideally suited if the strong pace materialises as expected. Crackalackin is the most obvious danger given his consistent placed form, the first-time headgear and the strong yard and jockey figures at the track, while Biggles and St Just In Time cannot be ruled out if the race falls their way.
KTB Selection Try Them
This is the narrative read of the 1:40 Perth. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Perth racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the likely strong pace?
Try Them, Crackalackin and Biggles are all usually held up and produce their effort late, which should suit if the pace collapses.
What is the trainer and jockey combination record at Perth for the selection?
Trainer Patrick Neville has a 14% strike rate at Perth with an A/E of 0.93 from 83 runs; jockey Brian Hughes has a 15% strike rate with an A/E of 0.88 from 886 rides.
Has any horse in the field won on good ground?
Biggles has one win from eight runs on good ground; the others are either unproven, placed without winning or have no wins or places on the surface.
Which runners are making their first visit to Perth?
Crackalackin, Biggles, St Just In Time, Tracker Issue and C'Est Pour Moi have no course form on record.
What is the only course and distance performance among the principals?
Try Them ran once here and finished second.
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