2:33 Haydock
This Class 4 nursery at Haydock over an extended mile on soft ground brings together seven two-year-olds, several of whom are dropping in class while others step up. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Thebesthasyetocome heading the numbers on 59, followed by Girl Scout on 54, Asgar on 52 and Noble Prince on 51. Recent form is mixed but the race features several lightly raced sorts with placed efforts at this level or below, and the soft surface will test unproven runners.
How the race shapes up
With a strong pace confidently predicted, the presence of two habitual front-runners in Keep Grating and Blanquita sets up a test that could see the leaders come back to the field late. Asgar is likely to race prominently, while the two hold-up performers Thebesthasyetocome and Noble Prince, along with the mid-division Girl Scout and held-up Real Edition, are positioned to pounce if the pace collapses. The key question is whether the prominent and front-running types can dictate matters or if the race will fall into the lap of the patient riders from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Thebesthasyetocome KTB Selection59/100
Thebesthasyetocome is a fair two-year-old with placed form at a lower level and a win on soft ground from its only attempt. It steps up in trip today having looked stretched at 6f last time, so stamina is unproven at this distance. The yard has a solid 11% strike rate at Haydock from 27 runs. Dropping in class from a draw of one, the colt is usually held up and produces its effort late. Adrian Keatley and M. P. Sheehy combine with a 12% strike rate and A/E of 1.03, though the jockey has no record at the track. Recent form reads 318 and the selection has the KTB Fit top rating.
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2Girl Scout54/100
Girl Scout is a fair two-year-old who has already shown her ability at this track and trip by winning both starts over course and distance. Her recent form of 531 includes a solid third last time and she remains lightly raced with scope to improve further. The Burke yard posts a 12 percent strike rate at Haydock while Sam James is a proven jockey here with an 8% strike rate from 114 rides. Dropping in class from draw four, she typically settles in midfield. The going remains unproven on soft, yet the course record of one win from one run is a clear positive.
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3Asgar52/100
Asgar is a fair two-year-old who showed his best effort when winning a nursery last time out after three placed efforts. He steps up in trip today to a distance he has not tried before. The trainer has a solid 15% strike rate from 328 runs at Haydock and pairs with Hector Crouch who has a 17% strike rate from 161 rides at the track. Stepping up in class from draw five, he usually races handily on or close to the lead. Recent form reads 9461 and he has one run on soft without placing.
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4Noble Prince51/100
Noble Prince has shown fair form in three starts, finishing second twice including when stepped up to 7f last time. He is a lightly raced colt from a yard with a solid 26% strike rate at Haydock, though the 7lb claimer is less proven at the track. First-time headgear is now added and the trip remains an unknown. Usually held up and producing its effort late, the colt has no runs on soft ground. Charlie Appleby and Toby Moore combine with a 33% strike rate and A/E of 1.38 from a small sample, and recent form reads 422.
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5Keep Grating45/100
Keep Grating has shown fair form across five runs with a solid recent sequence of 63212 that includes two wins and consistent placings. He has already placed at today's trip on his only attempt and holds a strong draw in stall three. The Hannon yard posts a 12% strike rate at Haydock from a big sample while the lightly-raced profile leaves going preferences unknown on soft ground.
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6Real Edition36/100
Real Edition is a modest performer who has shown little in three starts to date with a best effort of seventh. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from ten runs at Haydock while the trip has already been tried without success. Usually held up, the colt has no runs on soft and the data confidence is only medium.
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7Blanquita34/100
Blanquita has shown fair form in two starts, finishing second on her most recent outing over today's trip. She is a modest performer on the balance of what she has achieved so far and still has some improvement to find. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from nine runs at Haydock while she has placed once from one run on soft.
KTB verdict
Thebesthasyetocome is the KTB Selection. A fair two-year-old with a win on soft ground already to its name, the drop in class and hold-up style look well suited to a race that could fall apart late given the strong pace predicted. The yard's record at Haydock adds further confidence. Main dangers are Girl Scout, who has already won over course and distance and remains lightly raced, and Asgar, who comes off a nursery success and should be prominent in a race that may suit his run-style. Noble Prince cannot be dismissed with first-time headgear and the powerful Appleby yard behind him.
KTB Selection Thebesthasyetocome
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:06 UTC, 25 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Thebesthasyetocome | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| Girl Scout | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| Asgar | 9/4 | William Hill |
| Noble Prince | 3/1 | William Hill |
| Keep Grating | 11/2 | William Hill |
| Real Edition | 35/1 | 7Bet |
| Blanquita | 14/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 2:33 Haydock. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Haydock racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Haydock results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has already won over course and distance in this field?
Girl Scout has won here with a record of one from one at this track and trip.
How many front-runners are likely to contest the early lead?
Two habitual front-runners are present in Keep Grating and Blanquita, contributing to the strong pace likely.
Which runners are unproven on soft ground?
Girl Scout, Noble Prince, Keep Grating and Real Edition have no runs on soft.
Who adds first-time headgear in the race?
Noble Prince is fitted with first-time headgear.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Haydock among those represented?
Charlie Appleby has a 26% strike rate at Haydock from 187 runs.
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