2:40 Chester
The 2:40 at Chester is a Listed contest over 1m6f87y on good to soft ground, featuring a compact field of eight runners. KTB's Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with the principals separated by only seven points, suggesting a competitive renewal where small margins and the ability to handle an uncontested lead could prove decisive. The selection, Fantasy World, tops the pile on 62 with recent winning form at the trip and on the ground, while the yard and jockey both hold above-average records at the Roodee.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with high confidence, and with Lazy Griff the only confirmed front-runner in the field the race is likely to be run at a steady gallop that could prove difficult for closers to overcome. Fantasy World, By The Book, Lady Vivian, Midak, Orchard Keeper and Duraji are all typically held up, while Tactician settles in mid-division, meaning the key question will be whether any of the patient runners can bridge the gap to an uncontested leader on this turning track. The race could well be won or lost from the front in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Fantasy World KTB Selection62/100Fantasy World is a useful performer who arrives in solid form having won three of his last five starts.
- 2Lazy Griff60/100Smart performer with solid placed efforts at this track and on this ground.
- 3By The Book55/100Smart performer who has shown consistent form in good company this year, including a recent second over 1m4f.
- 4Lady Vivian55/100Useful performer who won on her only previous visit to Chester and has solid placed form on good to soft.
- 5Midak54/100Useful performer who has been below form in his last four starts and now steps up in trip as a fresh question.
- 6Tactician49/100Tactician is a fair performer who has shown solid form with two wins from his last four starts and holds strong course connections.
- 7Orchard Keeper48/100Useful performer who has run to a similar level on all three starts this year.
- 8Duraji44/100Useful performer who has run creditably on this track once when finishing third.
The contenders
Fantasy World KTB Fit 62/100
Fantasy World is a useful performer who arrives in solid form having won three of his last five starts. He has already shown he handles good to soft ground with two wins from four starts on it and has winning form at today's trip. The yard and jockey both have above-average records at Chester though this is his first run here. Andrew Balding posts a 21% strike rate at the track from 642 runs with an A/E of 1.08, while Rob Hornby is 17% from 122 rides with an identical A/E. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn in stall five and steps out with recent form figures of 11531-. As the KTB Selection he is taken to capitalise on the uncontested lead scenario by coming from off the pace.
Lazy Griff KTB Fit 60/100
Lazy Griff is a smart performer with solid placed efforts at this track and on this ground. He drops back from 2m today having looked stretched at that distance last time, which poses a fresh question at the trip. Trainer Charlie Johnston holds a respectable record here with a 13% strike rate from 106 runs and an A/E of 0.81, while jockey Callum Shepherd's strike-rate is more modest at 7% from 45 rides with an A/E of 0.62. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he has course form of one second from one run and is placed once from one start on good to soft. With recent form of 23-317 he looks sure to take the field along under the race's predicted lone-leader shape.
By The Book KTB Fit 55/100
By The Book is a smart performer who has shown consistent form in good company this year, including a recent second over 1m4f. He steps up in trip today for the first time in a while having placed without winning over this distance on his sole attempt. Trainer Charlie Appleby has a solid 18% strike rate at Chester from 39 runs with an A/E of 0.64, while Billy Loughnane posts a 10% rate from 49 rides with an A/E of 0.61. Usually held up and producing his effort late according to limited evidence, he remains unproven on good to soft ground. Recent form reads 1-3362 and from draw seven he will need to find a way to close on the predicted clear leader.
Lady Vivian KTB Fit 55/100
Lady Vivian is a useful performer who won on her only previous visit to Chester and has solid placed form on good to soft. She drops back from 2m to 1m6f today having failed to win in one previous try at the trip, which asks a fresh question. Ralph Beckett has an 18% strike rate here from 204 runs with an A/E of 0.89, while Hector Crouch posts a 15% record from 46 rides with an A/E of 1.04. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she has course form of one win from one run and is placed once from two starts on good to soft. With form figures of 72-542 she is respected as a previous course winner.
The rest of the field
MidakKTB Fit 54/100
Midak is a useful performer who has been below form in his last four starts and now steps up in trip as a fresh question. He has won on good to soft ground from his only attempt on it and the yard holds a solid record at Chester with a 9% strike rate from 497 runs and an A/E of 0.82, while jockey Paul Mulrennan strikes at 13% from 194 rides with an A/E of 1.08. Usually held up, recent form is -69447.
TacticianKTB Fit 49/100
Tactician is a fair performer who has shown solid form with two wins from his last four starts and holds strong course connections through the yard. He drops back in trip today having last run over 2m2f yet has already won at this distance from three attempts, though he is stepping up in class. Andrew Balding holds a 21% strike rate at Chester from 642 runs with an A/E of 1.08, while Jason Watson is 15% from 131 rides with an A/E of 0.8. Typically settling in midfield, his only run on good to soft brought no win or place and recent form reads 12166/.
Orchard KeeperKTB Fit 48/100
Orchard Keeper is a useful performer who has run to a similar level on all three starts this year. He showed he stays this trip when winning over it last season yet his only run here was a modest fourth over 1m2f. Roger Varian has a solid 21% strike-rate at Chester from 135 runs with an A/E of 0.93, while Jack Mitchell is 13% from 91 rides with an A/E of 0.73. Usually held up, he has one run on good to soft with no win or place and recent form of 3244-5.
DurajiKTB Fit 44/100
Duraji is a useful performer who has run creditably on this track once when finishing third. He drops back from two miles today having failed to place in four previous attempts at this trip and his two runs on good to soft ground have also produced no win or place. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate at Chester from 37 runs with an A/E of 0.41 is a negative while the jockey's 17% record from 18 rides with an A/E of 0.88 offers some compensation. Usually held up, recent form is 0-6304 and he is stepping up in class.
KTB verdict
Fantasy World is the KTB Selection. He is a useful performer in solid nick, with three wins from his last five starts, two victories from four runs on good to soft and prior success at the trip; the yard and jockey both operate at above-average levels at Chester. The shape of the race, with its predicted lone leader, should suit his usual held-up style as he looks to come from off the pace. Main dangers are Lazy Griff, who is likely to dictate from the front having shown placed form at the track and on the ground, and the consistent By The Book, though both carry their own trip and ground queries. Lady Vivian cannot be dismissed either as a previous course winner with placed form on similar going.
KTB Selection Fantasy World
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:05 UTC, 22 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Midak | 12/1 | Midnite |
| Orchard Keeper | 14/1 | Midnite |
This is the narrative read of the 2:40 Chester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Chester racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is most likely to take the uncontested lead?
Lazy Griff is the only confirmed front-runner and tends to make the running or race on the pace.
How many wins has Fantasy World recorded on good to soft ground?
Two wins from four starts on good to soft.
What is Andrew Balding's strike rate at Chester?
21% strike rate at Chester from 642 runs with an A/E of 1.08.
Has Lady Vivian won at Chester before?
Yes, she won on her only previous visit to Chester.
What trip question does By The Book face today?
Steps up in trip today for the first time in a while having placed without winning over this distance on his sole attempt.
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