2:00 York
This 22-runner Class 2 Heritage Handicap over six furlongs at York on good to firm ground features a competitive field of mostly useful handicappers, with several stepping up in class. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Musical Touch on 65, followed by Commanche Falls on 61 and Addison Grey on 59, indicating a race where current form, course experience and draw will be decisive. With the pace shape read as tentative on medium confidence and only limited evidence of a confirmed front-runner, the race lacks a clear speed map and could develop into a bit of a guessing game early on.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is tentative with medium confidence and only thin evidence of a likely front-runner, so the race is expected to be run at no more than an even gallop. Coul Angel is the most natural front-runner from his run-style while Red Spells Danger tends to race prominently, but with so few guaranteed pace angles the field may bunch early. That leaves the key question of whether those drawn on the far side can dominate or whether the race will fragment, with hold-up performers such as Rock Opera and Yes I'm Mali needing the gaps to appear at the right time.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Musical Touch KTB Selection65/100Musical Touch is a fair handicapper who has won once from three runs at York and also has a solid record at this trip with four wins from 16 starts.
- 2Commanche Falls61/100Useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 3Addison Grey59/100Useful performer who arrives in solid form after two seconds and a third from his last four starts.
- 4Pocklington57/100Pocklington is a useful performer who has shown strong form at this trip with three wins from 14 starts.
- 5Stratusnine56/100Useful performer who has been placed in all three runs at York without winning.
- 6Rock Opera55/100Rock Opera is a fair performer with a solid record at York, where he has been placed three times from seven runs without winning.
- 7Air Force One55/100Useful performer who has won once from seven runs at York and arrives in reasonable form after a solid third last time.
- 8Novello Lad54/100Novello Lad is a fair performer who has won five times over this trip from 18 attempts and shows a solid record on good to firm with three wins from 14 starts.
- 9Baldomero53/100Fair handicapper who has won three times at this trip but looks a shade below his best at the moment with a string of placed efforts rather than wins.
- 10Rousing Encore53/100Rousing Encore is a fair sort who has run creditably on several occasions at this track, including a win from ten starts.
- 11Veblen Good53/100Fair performer who has run well at this trip on his day, winning once from six attempts.
- 12Red Spells Danger53/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form this year and has already won twice at this trip.
- 13Utmost Respect53/100Fair performer who has shown mixed form at this track, finishing second on one of three runs here but also trailing in 14th on another occasion.
- 14Coul Angel51/100Useful performer who has been knocking on the door without winning lately and arrives here in reasonable form.
- 15Apollo One50/100Useful performer who has been a regular at this level yet has failed to land a blow in three runs at York.
- 16Yes I'm Mali50/100Yes I'm Mali is a fair performer who has run well here in the past, winning once from five starts at York.
- 17Havana Rum49/100Havana Rum is a fair performer who has been placed on his only visit to York and holds a solid 5-45 record at this trip.
- 18We Never Stop49/100Fair performer who has been a regular at York without much joy, finishing no better than ninth from nine runs here.
- 19Trilby46/100Trilby is a fair performer who has run six times at York without winning but has been placed twice and remains competitive at this level.
- 20Eternal Sunshine46/100Fair performer who has run seven times at York without winning but has placed here once.
- 21Evening Blues43/100Evening Blues is a fair 3 year old who has shown some placed form at this trip and was second over course and distance on his only visit to York.
- 22Fivethousandtoone38/100Fivethousandtoone is a fair performer who has run respectably at this track on three of his four visits, including a placed effort.
The contenders
Musical Touch KTB Fit 65/100
Musical Touch is a fair handicapper who has won once from three runs at York and also has a solid record at this trip with four wins from 16 starts. He arrives in form after a win and a second on his last two outings though he has never won on good to firm ground in three attempts. The Fahey yard posts a 9% strike rate here from 47 runs while apprentice Fentiman has limited data at the track. Stepping up in class from a wide draw in stall 19, he has the benefit of a recent winning run and proven course effectiveness that few of his rivals can match. His ability to handle the trip and the track makes him the one to beat on these terms.
Commanche Falls KTB Fit 61/100
Commanche Falls is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. Recent form is patchy but he has run well here in the past and handles good to firm ground with three wins from 16 starts. First-time headgear is now tried while the wide draw in stall 15 adds another question. At the age of nine he retains plenty of know-how and his course record of one win from nine runs gives him a foothold in a race where experience counts. The combination of Michael Dods and Connor Beasley has produced solid figures at York over a long period, though the patchy recent efforts suggest he will need to find a bit more.
Addison Grey KTB Fit 59/100
Addison Grey is a useful performer who arrives in solid form after two seconds and a third from his last four starts. He has won three times at this trip including on good to firm, which matches today's conditions, and the yard's 9% strike rate from 176 runs at York is respectable. Stall 17 is the main negative on this sharp track. Clive Cox has prepared him to go close in recent handicaps and Rossa Ryan's 13% strike rate at the track adds further appeal. The step up in class is the remaining concern, yet his consistency at the trip and on the ground suggests he should remain competitive from a wide draw.
Pocklington KTB Fit 57/100
Pocklington is a useful performer who has shown strong form at this trip with three wins from 14 starts. He has been placed once from four runs at York and is competitive on good to firm having placed once from three starts on the surface. The yard's modest 7% strike rate from 117 runs here tempers expectations. Drawn low in stall 2 he has a good chance to secure a handy position, and his placed efforts at the track show he is not out of place in this company. Geoff Oldroyd and Joanna Mason have combined for respectable returns at York, yet the absence of a win at the venue remains a slight reservation.
Stratusnine KTB Fit 56/100
Stratusnine is a useful performer who has been placed in all three runs at York without winning. He has shown consistent form at this trip with two wins from nine attempts and has also been competitive on good to firm ground. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at the track is a negative. James Doyle's 15% strike rate at York is a major plus and the horse's three placed efforts here underline his liking for the venue. Stepping up in class from stall 9, he has the run style and the course form to put himself in the shake-up once again, though a first win at York would be required to land this.
The rest of the field
Rock OperaKTB Fit 55/100
Rock Opera is a fair performer with a solid record at York, where he has been placed three times from seven runs without winning. He acts on good to firm ground and has four wins at this trip, though his recent form has been mixed. The yard has a 9% strike rate at the track from 47 runs.
Air Force OneKTB Fit 55/100
Air Force One is a useful performer who has won once from seven runs at York and arrives in reasonable form after a solid third last time. Steps up to 6f for the first time today having been placed without winning at the trip before, while first-time headgear is now added. Trainer operates at a 7% strike rate here from 117 runs.
Novello LadKTB Fit 54/100
Novello Lad is a fair performer who has won five times over this trip from 18 attempts and shows a solid record on good to firm with three wins from 14 starts. He arrives in decent form having won two of his last four races though he was well held in a stronger race last time. The trainer operates at a 5% strike rate from 345 runs at York while the jockey has a 12% record from 207 rides here.
BaldomeroKTB Fit 53/100
Baldomero is a fair handicapper who has won three times at this trip but looks a shade below his best at the moment with a string of placed efforts rather than wins. First visit to York and first-time headgear add unknowns while the trainer's modest 5% strike rate here from 197 runs is another negative. Placed twice from six runs on good to firm so the ground should be fine.
Rousing EncoreKTB Fit 53/100
Rousing Encore is a fair sort who has run creditably on several occasions at this track, including a win from ten starts. He has a solid record at today's trip and on good to firm ground, though his recent form has been patchy with a string of mid-pack finishes. The wide draw in stall 18 adds a negative on a track where the far side can often prove advantageous.
Veblen GoodKTB Fit 53/100
Veblen Good is a fair performer who has run well at this trip on his day, winning once from six attempts. He has solid placed form on good to firm and showed up with a placing when last seen here at York. The trainer's modest strike rate at the track is worth noting against the horse's own course experience.
Red Spells DangerKTB Fit 53/100
Red Spells Danger is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year and has already won twice at this trip. He has been placed twice from four runs at York without winning and his record on good to firm ground reads just two runs with no placed efforts. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at the track adds a note of caution.
Utmost RespectKTB Fit 53/100
Utmost Respect is a fair performer who has shown mixed form at this track, finishing second on one of three runs here but also trailing in 14th on another occasion. Steps up from 5f to 6f today having failed to win in two previous attempts at the trip. Trainer Richard & Peter Fahey have a 9% strike rate from 47 runs at York.
Coul AngelKTB Fit 51/100
Coul Angel is a useful performer who has been knocking on the door without winning lately and arrives here in reasonable form. Drawn widest in stall 20 and has only managed seventh from one previous run at York while the trainer's modest 5% strike-rate at the track adds little encouragement. Goes well enough on good to firm and has won at today's trip but needs to improve on recent efforts to figure.
Apollo OneKTB Fit 50/100
Apollo One is a useful performer who has been a regular at this level yet has failed to land a blow in three runs at York. Only one win from 15 runs on good to firm ground leaves him vulnerable if the pace is strong today, though he has scored over this exact trip. Trainer's small sample at the track offers no strong pointer.
Yes I'm MaliKTB Fit 50/100
Yes I'm Mali is a fair performer who has run well here in the past, winning once from five starts at York. He has shown consistent placed form on good to firm going and at this trip, though his recent efforts have been a bit up and down. First-time headgear is now applied and the trainer's modest strike rate at the track is noted.
Havana RumKTB Fit 49/100
Havana Rum is a fair performer who has been placed on his only visit to York and holds a solid 5-45 record at this trip. He has won once from seven runs on good to firm and the yard posts a 9 percent strike rate here from 47 runs. Recent form of 269533 shows he is competitive at this level without being the most progressive.
We Never StopKTB Fit 49/100
We Never Stop is a fair performer who has been a regular at York without much joy, finishing no better than ninth from nine runs here. Has won on good to firm and at today's trip but the recent form figures of 938002 show he is not in the best of heart at present. Trainer's modest 8 percent strike rate at the track adds little confidence from stall 13.
TrilbyKTB Fit 46/100
Trilby is a fair performer who has run six times at York without winning but has been placed twice and remains competitive at this level. He steps up from 5f to 6f having won at today's trip in the past, though the first-time headgear is an unknown. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 22 runs at the track.
Eternal SunshineKTB Fit 46/100
Eternal Sunshine is a fair performer who has run seven times at York without winning but has placed here once. Steps up from 5f to 6f today having won six times at this trip previously, and he acts on good to firm ground with two wins from seven starts. Jim Goldie has a modest 5% strike rate from 401 runs at the track while Lauren Young has limited experience here.
Evening BluesKTB Fit 43/100
Evening Blues is a fair 3 year old who has shown some placed form at this trip and was second over course and distance on his only visit to York. He has not really kicked on from his early promise though, with a string of modest efforts this season, and the first-time headgear is now needed. The yard's small sample at the track means little can be read into their record here.
FivethousandtooneKTB Fit 38/100
Fivethousandtoone is a fair performer who has run respectably at this track on three of his four visits, including a placed effort. He has won over today's trip in the past but is 0-13 on good to firm ground and has been out of the money on his last two starts. First-time headgear is now tried from a wide draw.
KTB verdict
Musical Touch stands out as the KTB Selection. He combines recent winning form, a solid record at both York and this trip, and the Fahey yard's respectable figures at the track. While the step up in class and wide draw require respect, his proven effectiveness here gives him the clearest profile. The main dangers are headed by Commanche Falls, who has course-and-distance form and first-time headgear to try, Addison Grey, who brings strong recent form and going suitability, and the consistent course performers Pocklington and Stratusnine.
KTB Selection Musical Touch
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has been placed in all three of its runs at York?
Stratusnine has been placed in all three runs at York without winning.
Who is the only horse in the field with a 100% strike rate at York?
Toby Moore has a 100% strike rate at York from one ride, riding Baldomero.
Which runner is stepping up to 6f for the first time today?
Air Force One steps up to 6f for the first time today having been placed without winning at the trip before.
How many wins has Musical Touch recorded at this trip?
Musical Touch has four wins from 16 starts at this trip.
Which horse has the widest draw and what is that draw?
Trilby has the widest draw in stall 22.
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