2:30 Southwell
This Class 5 handicap chase over 3m60y at Southwell on good ground forms part of the ARC Summer Chase Series and features a field of nine where the KTB Fit scores identify a clear top quartet headed by Huckleberry Sting on 73. The race brings together several smart performers on official figures, with RPRs clustered between 103 and 108, and recent form suggests a competitive renewal. Trainer and jockey combinations at the track add another layer, particularly for those with positive Southwell records.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated given the presence of multiple habitual front-runners including Limerick Leader, Friends Don't Ask and Anytrixwilldo, all of whom tend to race on or close to the lead. This could set the race up for hold-up performers to come through late as the pace collapses. The key question is whether the prominent and front-running brigade can dictate terms or if the race will fall into the lap of those ridden with more patience from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Huckleberry Sting KTB Selection73/100Smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track and trip.
- 2No More No68/100Smart performer who has won both starts at Southwell and arrives off the back of a recent success.
- 3Another Mystery62/100Smart on ratings and with a recent win to her name, Another Mystery arrives in decent form yet showed little on her only previous run here when tenth.
- 4Limerick Leader56/100Useful performer who arrives in solid form with five consecutive placed efforts including a second here over shorter.
- 5Friends Don't Ask54/100Useful performer on his day with a solid recent sequence of two placed efforts.
- 6Anytrixwilldo51/100Anytrixwilldo arrives in solid nick with recent placings and a useful RPR of 103 that matches his class read.
- 7Wings On Wheels49/100Useful performer who showed some promise when second in cheekpieces at Huntingdon in March before a lesser effort at Perth last month.
- 8Milan Milos48/100Milan Milos arrives in solid form after a last-time-out win and carries a smart rating for this level.
- 9Pleasure Garden40/100Pleasure Garden is a useful performer on his best days with a solid RPR of 95.
The contenders
Huckleberry Sting KTB Fit 73/100
Huckleberry Sting stands out as a smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track and trip. He boasts a win and a second from two runs at 3m and was placed on his only previous visit to Southwell, while his figures of RPR 108 and TS 93 mark him down as high-class for a Class 5. The seven-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late, a run-style that could be ideally suited if the strong pace materialises as expected. Trainer T Ellis has a 30% strike rate at Southwell with an A/E of 1.34 from 27 runs, while jockey Jack Andrews posts 21% at the same venue with an A/E of 1.29 from 52 rides. His record of one win from five on good ground adds further encouragement.
No More No KTB Fit 68/100
No More No is another smart performer who has won both starts at Southwell and arrives off the back of a recent success. He has won twice from three starts at this trip and holds a solid record on good ground with three wins from six runs. The seven-year-old usually races handily, on or close to the lead, which will see him right up there if the pace is as strong as suggested. Trainer Lawney Hill posts a 19% strike rate at Southwell with an A/E of 1.31 from 52 runs, and jockey David Bass operates at 14% with an A/E of 0.79 from 186 rides here. His course record of two wins from two starts underlines his affinity for the venue.
Another Mystery KTB Fit 62/100
Another Mystery is smart on ratings with an RPR of 108 and arrives with a recent win to her name, suggesting she comes into this in decent form. She has won twice over today's trip on good ground so the conditions look suitable enough, though she showed little on her only previous run here when tenth. The nine-year-old usually races handily, on or close to the lead, putting her in the thick of the strong-pace scenario. Trainer Sarah Humphrey has an 11% strike-rate at Southwell with an A/E of 1.21 from 72 runs while jockey Tabitha Worsley is operating at a modest 3% with an A/E of 0.47 from 99 rides. Her recent form of 53PU1- indicates ability but also some inconsistency.
Limerick Leader KTB Fit 56/100
Limerick Leader is a useful performer who arrives in solid form with five consecutive placed efforts including a second here over shorter. He steps up markedly in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance, while the first-time headgear is another unknown. The nine-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace, which will put him right at the forefront of what is expected to be a strong gallop. Trainer Nick Scholfield has a 0% strike rate at Southwell from one run, but jockey James Bowen has a solid 17% strike rate at the track from 118 rides. Dropping in class is a positive for this consistent sort.
The rest of the field
Friends Don't AskKTB Fit 54/100
Friends Don't Ask is a useful performer on his day with a solid recent sequence of two placed efforts from his form of PP-332. He has run three times at Southwell without placing and both trainer and jockey show modest 7% strike rates here, while he drops back in trip today having been placed once at this distance without winning.
AnytrixwilldoKTB Fit 51/100
Anytrixwilldo arrives in solid nick with recent placings and a useful RPR of 103 that matches his class read. He has never won in ten runs on good ground yet remains competitive at this level, while dropping back from 3m2f to a trip where he has placed twice in nine starts. The Jonjo O'Neill yard posts an 11% strike rate at Southwell from 36 runs and jockey Richie McLernon matches that figure from a much bigger sample.
Wings On WheelsKTB Fit 49/100
Wings On Wheels is a useful performer who showed some promise when second in cheekpieces at Huntingdon in March before a lesser effort at Perth last month. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. Trainer Ian Williams has a 14% strike-rate at Southwell from 161 runs while jockey Charlie Todd operates at 7% from 126 rides here.
Milan MilosKTB Fit 48/100
Milan Milos arrives in solid form after a last-time-out win and carries a smart rating for this level with an RPR of 107. He has already shown he stays this trip and acts on good ground. The trainer and jockey both have modest records at Southwell though that tempers expectations.
Pleasure GardenKTB Fit 40/100
Pleasure Garden is a useful performer on his best days with a solid RPR of 95. He has won three times on good ground from 13 attempts and steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from six runs at Southwell while the jockey has an 11% record from 27 rides here.
KTB verdict
Huckleberry Sting is the KTB Selection and looks to hold all the aces on the supplied figures and track record. His placed effort on his only previous visit to Southwell, allied to a win and second over 3m, plus high-class ratings for the grade, make him the one to beat, especially with trainer and jockey both in form at the venue and his hold-up style likely to benefit from the expected strong pace. No More No represents the chief danger having won both his starts at Southwell and arriving in winning form, while Another Mystery and Limerick Leader cannot be dismissed on their recent efforts and ability on official ratings.
KTB Selection Huckleberry Sting
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 06:58 UTC, 9 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Huckleberry Sting | 9/4 | 7Bet |
| No More No | 5/1 | William Hill |
| Another Mystery | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Limerick Leader | 10/3 | Bet365 |
| Friends Don't Ask | 9/1 | Sporting Index |
| Anytrixwilldo | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Wings On Wheels | 14/1 | William Hill |
| Milan Milos | 9/1 | William Hill |
| Pleasure Garden | 150/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 2:30 Southwell. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Southwell racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the likely strong pace?
Huckleberry Sting, who is usually held up and produces his effort late, as are Milan Milos and Wings On Wheels.
How many wins has No More No recorded at Southwell?
Two wins from two starts at the track.
What is Limerick Leader's record when trying this trip previously?
Failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance.
Which trainers have the strongest strike rates at Southwell in this field?
T Ellis has a 30% strike rate at Southwell with an A/E of 1.34, while Lawney Hill posts 19% with an A/E of 1.31.
Has Another Mystery performed well at Southwell before?
No, she showed little on her only previous run here when tenth.
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