2:00 Ascot
A competitive Class 2 handicap steeplechase over 2m0f172y at Ascot on good ground brings together a field of 12 where the KTB Fit scores identify a clutch of high-class performers tightly bunched between 77 and 67. Martator tops the KTB rankings on 77 with a strong Ascot record, while Haas Boy, Boothill, Teddy Blue and Vanderpoel follow closely and all carry respected recent form or course credentials. The race features several class-droppers and a couple stepping up, set against a muddling pace shape that places emphasis on tactical positioning.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner the pace is expected to be muddling and tactical, suiting horses ridden close to the pace or able to produce a late effort once the tempo increases. Several principals are held-up types who will be looking for a strong gallop to unwind, while the prominent runners may try to secure a handy position early. The key question is whether the race develops enough pace for the closers or if those settled prominently can dictate matters and fend off challengers up the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Martator KTB Selection77/100
Martator is a high-class performer boasting a strong record at Ascot, where he has won three of his five starts. He steps up in trip today having previously won four times from twelve attempts at this distance, and his record of five wins from nine runs on good ground adds further encouragement. Venetia Williams holds a 16% strike rate at the track from 341 runs, in line with her record elsewhere, while Charlie Deutsch rides with a 27% strike rate at Ascot from 89 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he drops in class here off an official rating of 144 with recent form figures of 529U1-. The 9-year-old is the KTB selection.
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2Haas Boy73/100
Haas Boy is a high-class performer with solid recent form that includes two wins last season and a good second on his return. He won on his only previous visit to Ascot and has three wins from four starts at today's trip, though he steps back up in distance from 2m. The yard's record at the track is too small a sample to judge while he holds two wins from seven starts on good ground with four placed efforts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he steps up in class off an official rating of 120 with recent form figures of 2611-2. The 9-year-old is capable of playing a significant role if the race shape plays to his strengths.
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3Boothill72/100
Boothill is a high-class performer with a solid record at this track, where he has won three of his six starts. He steps up in trip today having won five times from ten attempts at this distance, and his record of three wins from ten runs on good ground adds further positives. Harry Fry posts a 23% strike rate at Ascot from 135 runs in line with the yard's record elsewhere, while Bryan Carver takes the ride. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he drops in class off an official rating of 137 with recent form figures of P5388-. At 11 years of age he retains the ability to figure prominently given his course form.
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4Teddy Blue71/100
Teddy Blue is a high-class performer with a solid Ascot record that includes a win from five starts at the track. He drops back from 2m6½f to a trip at which he has won twice from ten attempts and boasts five wins from eighteen runs on good ground. Harry Derham operates at a 22% strike rate at Ascot from 27 runs in line with his overall record, while Paul O'Brien has limited experience at the venue. Typically settling in midfield, he drops in class off an official rating of 144 with recent form figures of 531P3-. The 8-year-old looks sure to be involved if he can reproduce his best.
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5Vanderpoel67/100
Vanderpoel is a high-class performer who won on his only previous visit to Ascot. He has won at today's trip and his record on good ground reads one win from three starts. Ben Pauling holds a 17% strike rate at the track in line with his overall figure, while Callum Pritchard is yet to ride a winner from only five rides here. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he drops in class off an official rating of 141 with recent form figures of 32117-. The 7-year-old could capitalise on a prominent position in a race lacking an obvious front-runner.
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6Jour d'Evasion66/100
Jour d'Evasion is high-class on his day with ratings to match. He has been placed at Ascot without winning, drops back in trip having failed to score in one previous run at this distance, and holds a blank record from six starts on good ground; the yard's 15% strike rate at the track is in line with its record elsewhere.
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7Gore Point62/100
Gore Point is a high-class performer with a strong recent record of 111141 and an official rating of 133. He has won six times from twelve starts at this trip and holds four wins from ten runs on good ground; this is his first run at Ascot while the yard posts a 13% strike rate here from 80 runs in line with its record elsewhere.
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8Aeros Luck61/100
Aeros Luck is a high-class performer with solid recent form including three consecutive placed efforts last season and another third on return. He has placed three times from six starts on good ground and four times from thirteen at this trip though he is yet to win at either; the trainer has no recorded runners at Ascot while the jockey makes his first appearance here.
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9Glengouly60/100
Glengouly is a high-class performer with useful placed efforts at this level. He has won once from six starts on good ground and steps up in trip as a fresh question; the trainer has only four runs at Ascot which is too small a sample to judge and this is the horse's first appearance at the track.
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10Brookie57/100
Brookie is a high-class performer on his day with an official rating of 137 and proven ability at this trip where he has won once from nine starts. He steps up in distance from his last run over 1m7½f and has three wins from eight starts on good ground; he was pulled up on his only previous visit to Ascot while the trainer's 13% strike rate here from 80 runs is in line with his record at other courses.
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11Shakeyatailfeather54/100
Shakeyatailfeather is a high-class performer on his day but has been out of form for a while and finished no better than mid-division in his last five starts. He has two runs at Ascot without placing, drops back in trip having won twice from five at this distance, and shows four wins from ten on good ground; the trainer's 10% strike rate here sits below their 19% at other tracks.
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12Gabriel's Getaway46/100
Gabriel's Getaway is a high-class performer with solid placed form at Ascot, finishing second on his last visit. He drops back in trip having won at this distance in the past and holds four wins from thirteen starts on good ground; the trainer operates at a 13% strike rate at the track from 80 runs while this represents another run for the yard at the meeting.
KTB verdict
Martator stands out as the KTB selection. His high-class ability is backed by a strong record at Ascot where he has won three from five, he has won at this trip in the past, and his five wins from nine runs on good ground add plenty of encouragement. The combination of Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch at a track where both have proven records further strengthens his claims, and his held-up style should be well suited to the anticipated muddling pace. Main dangers include Haas Boy, who won on his only previous visit to Ascot and brings strong recent form, Boothill with his three course wins, Teddy Blue who drops back to a winning trip, and the prominent Vanderpoel who scored on his sole Ascot run.
KTB Selection Martator
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:03am, 31 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Martator | 17/2 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Haas Boy | 5/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Boothill | 9/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Teddy Blue | 10/1 | 7Bet, 12:03am |
| Vanderpoel | 9/2 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Jour d'Evasion | 20/1 | Bet Victor, 12:03am |
| Gore Point | 12/1 | 7Bet, 12:03am |
| Aeros Luck | 17/2 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Glengouly | 40/1 | 7Bet, 12:03am |
| Brookie | 12/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Shakeyatailfeather | 10/1 | 7Bet, 12:03am |
| Gabriel's Getaway | 7/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 Ascot. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ascot racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ascot results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Ascot 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 Ascot winning record among the principals?
Martator and Boothill have each won three times at Ascot, from five and six starts respectively.
How many of the principals are dropping in class?
Four of the five principals — Martator, Boothill, Teddy Blue and Vanderpoel — are dropping in class.
Which runner is the only prominent racer among the top five in the KTB Fit rankings?
Vanderpoel is the only prominent racer among the top five, with the other four all held up or settling in midfield.
Which horse steps up in trip having won most often at this distance?
Boothill steps up in trip having won five times from ten starts at this distance.
Who has the best strike rate at Ascot among the jockeys riding in this race?
Charlie Deutsch has a 27% strike rate at Ascot from 89 rides.
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