2:10 Doncaster
This Class 2 handicap over 6f at Doncaster on soft ground features a field of 15, with the KTB Fit ratings highlighting a competitive but not overwhelmingly deep contest. Fine Interview heads the KTB numbers on 65, followed by a cluster around the 60 mark, underlining that course form, soft-ground ability and draw could prove decisive in a genuinely-run race. Several runners arrive in solid recent order while others need to bounce back from patchy form, and the overall KTB view is that proven performers at this venue and on the surface hold the stronger claims.
How the race shapes up
A genuinely-run pace shape is expected with a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types, creating a fair test. Goldmoyne is poised to make the running from his wide draw while Dark Thirty, Pilu, City Captain, Station X, Musical Touch and Brighton Boy are all prominent or handy runners who will be looking to secure forward positions early. This sets up a race where the key question is whether the pace holds up or if those coming from midfield and held-up positions, such as Fine Interview, Lakers, Kodi Lion, Toyotomi and Rousing Encore, can time their efforts to best effect on the testing ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Fine Interview KTB Selection65/100
Fine Interview is a useful performer who has won three of his five starts at Doncaster and holds a strong record on soft ground with five wins from nine runs. He has also won six times at this trip from 16 attempts and arrives off an official rating of 97 after recent form figures of 10740. Trainer Hamad Al Jehani operates at a 28% strike rate here from 18 runs while James Doyle is aboard. Typically settling in midfield, he is expected to drop in behind the prominent group before delivering his effort. His proven record at the track and on the surface gives him a clear edge in this company.
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2Dark Thirty60/100
Dark Thirty is a useful performer who has won once from three runs at this track and holds a strong recent record at the trip with six wins from 24 starts. He has placed once from four runs on soft ground without winning but remains competitive at this level. The trainer's 12% strike rate at Doncaster is in line with their record elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he is likely to be prominent in a race that should unfold at a genuine gallop. From draw 11 he can press the pace and looks sure to give his running once more.
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3Goldmoyne60/100
Goldmoyne is a useful performer who has run to a similar level all year and placed when last seen over course and distance. He has only one run on soft ground and that produced no joy, while the wide draw in a big field is a straightforward negative. Trainer James Owen continues to operate at his usual level here. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is set to go forward from stall 14. While the draw and ground both count against him, his consistency at this level means he cannot be entirely ruled out if he can overcome those obstacles.
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4Pilu60/100
Pilu is a useful performer who has won three of his eight starts at this trip and arrives in solid form after a 110 success last time. He makes his first appearance at Doncaster today with no prior runs here across his ten starts, while the yard's 16% strike rate here from 45 runs is in line with their record elsewhere. Connections are unproven on soft ground with no previous runs on it. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he should be forward in a race that is set to be genuinely run. The lack of experience on the surface and at the track leaves him with questions to answer.
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5City Captain57/100
City Captain is a fair performer who arrives in solid form with recent wins and places from a string of 19 runs this year. He has a strong record on soft ground with three wins from four starts and has won five times over today's 6f trip, though he steps up in distance from his latest 5f run. The yard operates at a 20% strike rate here at Doncaster which is in line with their record elsewhere, but he was well held on his only previous visit to the track. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he is set to be prominent from draw 7. While the class rise and previous course run are concerns, his soft-ground prowess keeps him in the picture.
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6Station X54/100
Station X is a useful performer who arrives in solid form with recent wins and a career record of 24 runs showing plenty of racing experience. He has won here from three starts at Doncaster and holds a 1-from-4 record on soft ground with three placings, while also having six wins from 14 starts at this trip. The trainer's 6% strike rate at the track from 400 runs sits below their 10% at other courses.
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7Lakers54/100
Lakers is a useful performer who has won twice at this trip from nine attempts and has shown he can be competitive on soft ground with a placed effort from two starts. He has been thereabouts in several strong races this year yet his two runs at Doncaster have produced no win or place. The yard's 14% strike rate here is in line with their record elsewhere.
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8Kodi Lion53/100
Kodi Lion is a useful performer who has run well at this track once before when second. He drops back to his winning trip today having been out of form on his last two starts over further. Trainer operates at a 9% strike rate here which is in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Cieren Fallon has a 12% strike rate at Doncaster from 25 rides.
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9Fahrenheit Seven51/100
Fahrenheit Seven is a useful performer who has placed on this track and shown he handles soft ground. Three wins at today's trip from nine attempts underline his effectiveness at the distance, though his recent form of 700800 suggests he is not at his peak right now. Trainer records a 6% strike rate at Doncaster from 111 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while Oliver Stammers rides from stall 13 of 15.
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10Toyotomi50/100
Toyotomi is a useful performer on his day with an official rating of 93 and a recent form line that includes a win and a placed effort on soft ground. He has won at this trip from 15 attempts and holds a 1-from-5 record on soft, though the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer David O'Meara has a 9% strike rate at Doncaster from 818 runs which is below his 12% at other courses while jockey Mark Winn has no supplied record at the track.
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11Advertised49/100
Advertised is a useful performer who has run to form on several occasions without winning often. He has won at this trip but showed no spark on soft ground in the only try and makes a first appearance at Doncaster today. Trainer records a 5% strike rate here from 88 runs, below the 12% at other courses.
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12Golden Mind48/100
Golden Mind is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. Recent form is poor but the official rating of 92 still gives him a chance if he can bounce back. Trainer records an 8% strike rate at Doncaster from 40 runs while the jockey has limited experience here.
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13Rousing Encore45/100
Rousing Encore is a fair performer who has been placed twice from four runs at Doncaster without winning. He has won on soft ground and at today's trip, though his recent form of 030522 shows a mix of results rather than any dominant pattern. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Doncaster is below their 9% at other courses.
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14Musical Touch44/100
Musical Touch is a fair performer who has mixed form this year and ran creditably when third over course and distance on his only visit to Doncaster. He has won four times at this trip but has shown little on soft ground in two attempts. The yard's 8% strike rate at the track is in line with their record elsewhere.
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15Brighton Boy42/100
Brighton Boy is a fair performer who has won three times at this trip from 11 starts and holds an official rating of 87. He has shown ability on soft ground with one win and a place from three runs but was well beaten on his only previous visit to Doncaster. The Tim Easterby yard has a 7% strike rate here from 1,580 runs which is below their 10% at other tracks while David Allan has a 9% strike rate at the course from 356 rides in line with his record elsewhere.
KTB verdict
Fine Interview stands out as the KTB Selection. He boasts an excellent record at Doncaster, where he has won three of five starts, and a fine strike rate on soft ground that matches the expected conditions. His ability to settle in midfield before producing a strong run looks well suited to the genuinely-run pace that is anticipated. The main dangers are likely to come from Dark Thirty, who can race prominently and has track form, and Goldmoyne, who may set the fractions despite the wide draw. City Captain and Pilu also merit respect on their recent efforts, but Fine Interview has the strongest combination of course, ground and fitness.
KTB Selection Fine Interview
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:23am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Interview | 4/1 | Bet365, 1:11am |
| Dark Thirty | 28/1 | Midnite, 1:11am |
| Goldmoyne | 9/1 | Midnite, 1:11am |
| Pilu | 16/1 | Bet Victor, 1:11am |
| City Captain | 12/1 | Bet365, 1:11am |
| Station X | 9/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Lakers | 28/1 | Bet Victor, 1:11am |
| Kodi Lion | 18/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Fahrenheit Seven | 66/1 | Bet Victor, 1:11am |
| Toyotomi | 11/2 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Advertised | 11/2 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Golden Mind | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Rousing Encore | 12/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Musical Touch | 33/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
| Brighton Boy | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:11am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:10 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 best course record at Doncaster?
Fine Interview has won three of his five starts at Doncaster.
How many runners are prominent or front-running in this race?
Goldmoyne, Dark Thirty, Pilu, City Captain, Station X, Musical Touch and Brighton Boy are all prominent or front-running types.
Which horse steps up in class from a recent win?
Pilu arrives in solid form after a 110 success last time and steps up in class.
Who has the strongest soft-ground record among the principals?
Fine Interview has five wins from nine runs on soft while City Captain has three wins from four on soft.
Which runner is making its first appearance at Doncaster?
Pilu, Advertised and Toyotomi have no course form on record.
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