2:25 York
The 2:25 at York is the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, a Group 3 contest for two-year-olds over seven furlongs on good ground. An eleven-runner field lines up in this Class 1 event where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with two principals tied on 65 and three others not far behind on 59 and 56. The race features several lightly raced types stepping up in class, and the KTB numbers highlight the strength of the Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore combination alongside horses with solid recent form at the trip.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, as two or more habitual front-runners are present in the line-up. Trean, Vega King, Siouxperb, Fuel The Jet and Clash Of Hearts all tend to make the running or race prominently, which sets up the likelihood of an honest gallop that could collapse in the closing stages. This shape would favour those with a hold-up style such as Haffner, Alfred Wallace, Big Cigar and Confucius, posing the key question of whether any prominent runners can withstand the late challenge from the closers.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Trean65/100Trean has shown mixed form in three runs, winning once at this trip but finishing only mid-division on his most recent start.
- 2Haffner KTB Selection65/100Smart 2yo with solid recent form of 212 and already a winner over today's 7f trip.
- 3Alfred Wallace59/100Smart 2-year-old with a solid record at this trip and on the ground.
- 4Big Cigar59/100Useful 2-year-old who has already won here over 6f on his sole visit to the track.
- 5Vega King56/100Useful colt who has already shown his ability with a win and a solid fourth from just two starts.
- 6Stardom Glory53/100Stardom Glory has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second in both runs here, and holds a fair level of ability.
- 7Gentle Hurricane52/100Gentle Hurricane made a winning start over 6f last time but steps up to 7f today, a distance that asks a fresh question.
- 8Confucius50/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placed efforts from five runs.
- 9Siouxperb47/100Siouxperb has shown fair ability in three runs, winning on debut before finishing second in a better race and then disappointing last time.
- 10Fuel The Jet46/100Fuel The Jet showed fair promise when winning a modest maiden over this trip on debut before finishing fifth in a stronger race last time.
- 11Clash Of Hearts44/100Fair performer who has shown consistent form, finishing second over 6f here on his penultimate start before a lesser effort last time.
The contenders
Trean KTB Fit 65/100
Trean has shown mixed form across his three starts to date, winning once over today's trip but only managing a mid-division finish on his most recent outing. He now tries first-time headgear as he steps up into this Class 1 at York, where the yard posts a 22% strike rate and an A/E of 1.28 from nine runs. W J Lee takes the ride and brings a 19% strike rate at the track from sixteen rides, adding further interest to the booking. His placed effort from two starts on good ground suggests he remains competitive on the surface even without a win to his name. As a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is likely to be prominent in a race where the pace is expected to be strong.
Haffner KTB Fit 65/100
Haffner arrives as a smart two-year-old boasting solid recent form of 212 and is already a winner over today's seven-furlong trip. Aidan O'Brien's 14% strike rate at York from 345 runs is respectable, while Ryan Moore's 16% strike rate from 646 rides here adds considerable strength in the saddle. With only three career starts he remains lightly raced overall, though the going is still something of an unknown having been placed on both his good-ground starts without winning. His held-up style, in which he usually produces his effort late, looks well suited to the strong pace that is forecast. Overall this profile carries plenty of upside as he steps into Group 3 company.
Alfred Wallace KTB Fit 59/100
Alfred Wallace is a smart two-year-old with a solid record at this trip and on the ground, having won twice from three starts at seven furlongs. He showed his best form when landing a York maiden on good going in July, underlining his effectiveness at the track and under these conditions with one win from two starts on good. Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark combine, though both have established but below-average records at York with respective strike rates of 10% and 8%. His held-up run style, in which he usually produces his effort late with high confidence, aligns well with the anticipated strong pace that could favour closers. The overall profile suggests he remains a live contender on his best form.
Big Cigar KTB Fit 59/100
Big Cigar is a useful two-year-old who has already won here over six furlongs on his sole visit to York, showing his liking for the track with one win from one run. The step up to seven furlongs now poses an unknown, while his lack of runs on good ground leaves his suitability to the surface open to question. Richard & Peter Fahey and Oisin Orr team up, with both holding modest strike rates at the track of 8% and 7% respectively. His held-up style, in which he usually produces his effort late, should see him well placed if the strong pace materialises as expected. The York course record remains a clear positive in an otherwise unproven profile at this trip and on this ground.
Vega King KTB Fit 56/100
Vega King is a useful colt who has already shown his ability with a win and a solid fourth from just two starts. He drops back to seven furlongs today having scored at the trip on debut, which looks a sensible move as he steps up in class. K R Burke and Clifford Lee combine with respective strike rates at York of 9% and 11%, both operating at a steady level without setting the place alight. His front-running style, in which he tends to make the running or race on the pace, means he is likely to be to the fore in what is forecast to be a strong gallop. With only two runs in the book he retains scope for improvement at this level.
The rest of the field
Stardom GloryKTB Fit 53/100
Stardom Glory has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second in both runs here, and holds a fair level of ability. He steps up in class and to seven furlongs, an unknown at this stage, while Hugo Palmer's modest 7% strike rate at York is a negative despite James Doyle's solid 15% record; his going form offers some encouragement with one win from three starts on good.
Gentle HurricaneKTB Fit 52/100
Gentle Hurricane made a winning start over six furlongs last time but steps up to seven furlongs today, a distance that asks a fresh question. Andrew Balding holds a solid 14% strike rate at York from 496 runs while Oisin Murphy is operating at 15% from 325 rides here; with only one run on the board and a going sample too small to judge, this remains a lightly-raced prospect that needs to be treated with caution.
ConfuciusKTB Fit 50/100
Confucius is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placed efforts from five runs. He steps up to seven furlongs for the first time today having been mostly campaigned at six furlongs, which asks a fresh question, while Aidan O'Brien has a solid 14% strike rate at York from a big sample; Wayne Lordan is operating at a modest 3% here from 34 rides.
SiouxperbKTB Fit 47/100
Siouxperb has shown fair ability in three runs, winning on debut before finishing second in a better race and then disappointing last time. He steps up to seven furlongs, an unknown at this stage, while Archie Watson has an 8% strike rate from 72 runs at York and Hector Crouch has a 14% strike rate from 84 rides here.
Fuel The JetKTB Fit 46/100
Fuel The Jet showed fair promise when winning a modest maiden over this trip on debut before finishing fifth in a stronger race last time. Tom Clover has a modest 6% strike-rate at York from 34 runs while Neil Callan sits on a 7% record from 459 rides here; with only two runs in the book this remains a low-confidence profile that needs to improve to figure at this level.
Clash Of HeartsKTB Fit 44/100
Clash Of Hearts is a fair performer who has shown consistent form, finishing second over six furlongs here on his penultimate start before a lesser effort last time. He steps up to seven furlongs for the first time today, which asks a fresh question, while Adrian Keatley's modest 6% strike rate at York offers little encouragement and the jockey is 0% from seven rides at the track.
KTB verdict
Haffner stands out as the KTB Selection in a race where the pace shape is expected to play a significant role. His smart profile, solid recent form of 212 and prior success over seven furlongs give him a clear edge, while the Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore combination brings proven strength at York even if their strike rates are not the highest. The hold-up style looks ideally suited to the strong pace that is likely to unfold, allowing him to come from off it as the leaders potentially tire. Alfred Wallace and Big Cigar represent the main dangers on the back of their respective York success and strong recent efforts at the trip, with both also set to benefit from the race shape. Trean and Vega King may go well early from the front but will need to prove they can see it out against this calibre of opposition.
KTB Selection Haffner
This is the narrative read of the 2:25 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 is most suited to the expected strong pace?
Haffner, whose held-up style usually sees him produce his effort late, is well placed to capitalise if the strong pace collapses.
How many front-runners are likely to contest the early lead?
At least two habitual front-runners are present, with Trean, Vega King, Siouxperb, Fuel The Jet and Clash Of Hearts all tending to race prominently.
Which horses have already won over today's seven-furlong trip?
Haffner has won over seven furlongs, Vega King scored at the trip on debut, and Fuel The Jet won a maiden over this trip.
Which runner has previous winning form at York?
Big Cigar has won here over six furlongs on his sole visit, while Alfred Wallace landed a York maiden on good going.
Which trainers hold the strongest strike rates at York in this field?
P Twomey has a 22% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.28, while Andrew Balding has 14% from 496 runs and Aidan O'Brien 14% from 345 runs.
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