2:00 Wexford
This 2m0f100y maiden hurdle at Wexford on soft ground features a field of 16, many of them lightly raced or with modest form to date. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Caprison, McAllister and Go Loud all rated in the high 50s, underlining the open nature of the race and the scope for improvement from pedigree or switch to hurdles. With several runners unproven on soft ground and limited course experience, the contest looks set to reward the horse that handles the conditions and the likely strong pace best.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated, with two or more habitual front-runners ensuring an honest gallop that could collapse late in the race. Go Loud, Western Note, Lucky Valley and others are likely to contest the lead or race prominently, while Caprison and Eliodam tend to race handily just off that pace. This shape should favour horses that settle in mid-division or are held up, with the key question being which of the prominent runners can maintain their effort in the testing conditions or whether the hold-up types will be able to pick up the pieces late.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Caprison KTB Selection59/100
Caprison has shown little in two starts so far, finishing ninth and fifth without suggesting any immediate promise. The trip has not brought improvement and the small sample makes going suitability impossible to gauge on this soft ground. Trainer Gavin Cromwell has a 14% strike rate at Wexford from 198 runs in line with his record elsewhere while Mark Walsh records a 20% strike rate here from 92 rides above his 12% at other tracks. Usually races handily on or close to the lead, he could be well placed to track the strong pace that is expected. The KTB Selection comes into the race with a Fit rating of 59 and, while the bare form is modest, the booking of Walsh and the yard's consistent record at the venue provide some encouragement in an open-looking event.
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2McAllister58/100
McAllister has shown little in two bumper runs and remains very lightly raced. Half-brother to Grade 3 winner Mrs Milner, the dam has had three other runners, all of them winners, and the pedigree suggests he should improve for the switch to hurdling. Trainer Paul Nolan has a 14% strike rate at Wexford from 343 runs which is above their 9% at other courses while jockey Sean O'Keeffe records an 11% strike rate from 215 rides here in line with his 7% elsewhere. Typically settles in midfield, he is likely to be suited by the strong pace that is forecast. With a KTB Fit of 58, the horse remains open to progress now sent over hurdles on this soft ground.
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3Go Loud58/100
Go Loud has shown very little in two runs so far and arrives off the back of a pulled-up effort last time. The drop back to 2m is a fresh question while the soft ground remains unknown with such a small sample. Trainer and jockey both have established records at Wexford that sit in line with their figures elsewhere, with Cian Collins on 5% from 60 runs and Jordan Gainford recording 14% from 113 rides. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is sure to be to the fore in a race where a strong gallop is expected. Rated 58 on KTB Fit, the horse must improve markedly on what he has shown to date if he is to feature.
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4Walking Saint57/100
Walking Saint is a useful performer who showed ordinary form in four runs last season. He drops back to 2m today having failed to trouble the judge at that trip on his first two starts. Trainer Paul Nolan has a 14% strike rate at Wexford from 343 runs while the jockey records a 17% strike rate from 24 rides here. Typically settles in midfield, he should be well positioned to capitalise if the strong pace collapses late. With an official rating of 102 he brings the highest mark in the field, though the KTB Fit of 57 reflects that his form has been no better than modest to date and the soft ground adds an unknown element after one unplaced run on it.
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5Eliodam54/100
Eliodam has shown little so far with a recent form string of 0/FPP and pulled up on his only visit to Wexford. He has failed to trouble the judge in three starts at this trip and remains a maiden after four runs. The trainer and jockey both record 13% strike rates at the track in line with their figures elsewhere. Usually races handily on or close to the lead, he could be prominent in a race with a strong pace likely. The KTB Fit of 54 reflects the modest form to date, though the yard's record at Wexford offers some hope that he can find a bit more on this soft ground.
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6Poetic Parable53/100
Poetic Parable has shown little in two starts so far and remains lightly raced with only low-confidence data to go on. The trainer records a 13% strike rate at Wexford from 69 runs which sits in line with the 8% at other tracks while the jockey has a 17% strike rate here from six rides. The dam has produced one other non-winner and the horse has failed to trouble the judge in two runs at this trip. Usually held up, he could be suited by the expected strong pace.
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7Hee Hiles50/100
Hee Hiles has shown very little in three runs at this trip so far and remains hard to fancy on that bare form. The yard records a 13% strike rate at Wexford while the jockey is operating at a 6% strike rate here in line with his record elsewhere. Half-sister to Hardwired (5 wins from 38 runs) but with low data confidence this is a lightly-raced profile that must be treated with caution. Usually held up, he may benefit if the strong pace takes its toll.
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8Lyrical Park50/100
Lyrical Park has shown modest form in three runs and now tries first-time headgear after two heavy defeats this year. The drop back to 2m is an unknown and the small sample makes going suitability impossible to judge. Trainer O'Leary has a 0% strike rate from nine runs at Wexford while jockey O'Keeffe records a 15% strike rate here which is above his overall figure. Usually held up, he could be favoured by the race shape.
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9Western Note49/100
Western Note has shown very little in two starts so far and arrives here with a 6P- profile. The drop back from 2m4f to an untried 2m is a fresh question while the soft ground remains unknown given the tiny sample. Gordon Elliott's 13% strike rate at Wexford is in line with his overall record but Josh Williamson's 3% strike rate from 36 rides at the track is below his 11% elsewhere. Tending to make the running, he will be to the fore in what is likely to be a strong gallop.
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10John Gun48/100
Lightly raced with just two runs and recent form of 95. Has already been beaten here at Wexford when finishing fifth and now drops back in trip to 2m having failed to trouble the judge at that distance before. Trainer is 0-24 at the track while the jockey is operating at a 14% strike rate here. Usually races handily, he could track the leaders in a race with a strong pace anticipated.
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11Nameyourgame46/100
Nameyourgame is a fair maiden who has shown only modest form in three starts, finishing no better than third on debut. He drops back in trip today having failed to build on that initial effort, and the recent form figures suggest he is struggling to make an impact. The yard's 8% strike rate at Wexford is in line with their record elsewhere. Typically settles in midfield.
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12Thranduil45/100
Lightly raced with just two runs this year and both of them poor. The yard has a 14% strike rate at Wexford from 343 runs which is above their 9% at other tracks while the 7 lb claimer is 0 from 19 here. First-time headgear is tried on a horse whose half-brother won six times. Usually races handily on or close to the lead.
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13Lucky Valley43/100
Lucky Valley has shown mixed form in two starts at this trip, finishing second on one occasion but without a win to his name. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 13 runs at Wexford while the jockey operates at a 10% strike rate here from 198 rides, in line with his record elsewhere. With only two career runs overall and low data confidence this remains very much a lightly-raced profile that needs to be treated with caution. Usually races handily.
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14Le Vent d'Ex40/100
Le Vent d'Ex has shown very little in five starts with a recent form string of P-0000 and no wins in the family either. He drops back in trip today having failed to make an impact in two runs at this distance before. The trainer has only two runs at Wexford while the jockey is 0-6 here. Usually held up and produces its effort late, he could be suited by the strong pace that is likely.
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15Slea Head38/100
Slea Head is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time. He showed little on his only previous visit to Wexford and the trainer has a 0% strike rate from 11 runs at the track. Drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in six previous attempts at this distance and remains unproven on soft ground. Usually races handily on or close to the lead.
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16Magnificent Era37/100
Magnificent Era is a fair performer who has struggled since finishing fifth on his only previous visit to Wexford. He drops back in trip today having failed to win in four previous runs at this distance. The trainer is 0% from 11 runs at the track while the jockey is 2% from 52 rides here. Usually held up and produces its effort late, he may be favoured if the strong pace collapses.
KTB verdict
Caprison is named the KTB Selection. While he has shown little in two starts so far, finishing ninth and fifth without suggesting any immediate promise, the booking of Mark Walsh and the yard's solid 14% strike rate at Wexford from 198 runs provide grounds for expecting better. Usually racing handily, he should be well placed in a race where a strong pace is likely to test those up front. The main dangers are McAllister, whose pedigree as half-brother to Grade 3 winner Mrs Milner suggests improvement for hurdling, and Walking Saint, who brings the highest official rating of 102 despite only ordinary form last season. Go Loud and Eliodam are others who could feature if the prominent runners hold up in the testing conditions.
KTB Selection Caprison
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 2:09am, 26 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Caprison | 7/2 | BetTom, 12:35am |
| McAllister | 6/1 | BoyleSports, 12:35am |
| Go Loud | 16/1 | Betfred, 12:35am |
| Walking Saint | 2/1 | BoyleSports, 12:35am |
| Eliodam | 5/2 | Betfred, 12:35am |
| Poetic Parable | 40/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:09am |
| Hee Hiles | 18/1 | William Hill, 12:35am |
| Lyrical Park | 12/1 | Bet Victor, 12:35am |
| Western Note | 18/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:09am |
| John Gun | 25/1 | Betano, 12:35am |
| Nameyourgame | 16/1 | BetMGM, 12:35am |
| Thranduil | 80/1 | BoyleSports, 12:35am |
| Lucky Valley | 20/1 | BoyleSports, 12:35am |
| Le Vent d'Ex | 40/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:09am |
| Slea Head | 40/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:09am |
| Magnificent Era | 66/1 | Betfred, 12:35am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 Wexford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wexford racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Wexford results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Wexford racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are unproven on soft ground?
Caprison, McAllister, Go Loud, Poetic Parable, Hee Hiles, Lyrical Park, Western Note, John Gun, Thranduil, Lucky Valley, Le Vent d'Ex, Slea Head and Magnificent Era have no runs on soft ground.
How many habitual front-runners are in the field?
At least two, with Go Loud, Western Note, Lucky Valley and Slea Head all tending to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horses have course form at Wexford?
Eliodam was pulled up on his only visit, John Gun finished fifth, Slea Head finished fifth and Magnificent Era finished fifth; all others have no course form on record.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Wexford in this race?
Gavin Cromwell has a 14% strike rate at Wexford from 198 runs, matching Paul Nolan's 14% from 343 runs.
Which runners are likely to be held up in the race?
Poetic Parable, Hee Hiles, Lyrical Park, Le Vent d'Ex and Magnificent Era are all usually held up and produce their effort late.
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