2:46 Bangor-on-Dee
This Class 4 mares' handicap hurdle at Bangor-on-Dee serves as a qualifier for the Challenger Mares' Hurdle Series over an extended 2m3f on good-to-soft ground. A field of ten looks competitive on paper with several smart performers on official ratings ranging from 100 to 122, though the KTB Fit scores identify a clear top five separated from the rest. The selection Masked Dance tops the KTB rankings on 69 while the next quartet sit in the low-to-mid 50s, suggesting the race may revolve around a handful of established performers.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is genuinely run with high confidence, featuring a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types. Multiple principals including Masked Dance, Laysoft, Hornica, Betty's Daisy, Iamyouare and others all race prominently or on the lead, which should ensure an honest gallop and a fair test. The key question is which of these forward-going performers will handle the pace pressure best while seeing out the longer trip on this ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Masked Dance KTB Selection69/100
Masked Dance is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a string of placed efforts and a recent fifth. He has won twice on good to soft and twice at today's trip from limited attempts. The eight-year-old races prominently, usually handily on or close to the lead. Trainer Mel Rowley has a 9 percent strike rate at Bangor-on-Dee from 53 runs in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Toby Wynne posts a 19 percent strike rate at the track from 113 rides, also in line with his overall figure. He holds an official rating of 118 and his recent form reads 1226-5.
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2Laysoft61/100
Laysoft is a useful performer who arrives off the back of solid placed efforts at this level and holds an official rating of 100. The yard have a 23 percent strike rate at Bangor-on-Dee from 22 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while jockey Peter Kavanagh posts a 33 percent strike rate here from 39 rides, above his 8 percent at other tracks. She races prominently with high confidence, usually handily on or close to the lead. Trip experience is limited to one run without success and the small going sample on good to soft leaves suitability unknown. Half-sister to Life On The Rocks who won six times from 43 runs, with the dam having produced four other runners including one winner. Recent form reads 13235-.
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3Hornica58/100
Hornica is a smart performer on the figures who arrives in solid form after a 76231- sequence that ended with a win last time. The step up from 2m to 2m3f is a fresh question and the dam's four other runners have produced no winners so pedigree offers no clues. She races prominently with high confidence, usually handily on or close to the lead. Trainer Ben Pauling has a 14 percent strike rate at Bangor from 101 runs which sits in line with his overall record while jockey Beau Morgan, claiming 5lb, has a 22 percent strike rate from nine rides here. She holds an official rating of 113.
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4Betty's Daisy58/100
Betty's Daisy is a high-class performer who arrives off an official rating of 122 after a mixed recent record of 812P-. She drops back in class and in trip to an untried 2m3f today which asks a fresh question while the going form shows a win from five runs on similar ground. The six-year-old is a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace. Trainer Ben Pauling holds a 14 percent strike rate at Bangor from 101 runs in line with his overall figure and jockey Ben Jones records an 18 percent strike rate here from 49 rides also in line with his wider record. Half-sister to Betty's Tiara who won three times from 24 runs, with the dam having produced three other runners that were all winners.
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5Iamyouare58/100
Iamyouare is a smart performer who has already shown his liking for Bangor with placed efforts on both starts here. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance earlier in his career though his only try on good to soft ground brought no reward. The six-year-old races prominently, usually handily on or close to the lead. Trainer Donald McCain operates at a 19 percent strike rate here which is above his overall figure while the jockey matches his general record with an 11 percent strike rate at the track from 166 rides. Recent form reads -3F221 and he holds an official rating of 110.
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6Edith Pelham57/100
Edith Pelham is a smart performer who arrives off the back of a win at this track last time and holds an official rating of 113. She drops back in class and in trip to a distance she has never tried, which poses a fresh question, while the dam has produced only one other runner that failed to win. Races in mid-division and has a win from three runs on good to soft.
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7Crystal Spring56/100
Crystal Spring is a smart performer who arrives on the back of solid placed efforts and holds an official rating of 108. Drops back in trip to a distance at which he has already won once from three starts, though he is unplaced in both runs on good to soft ground. Races prominently with high confidence.
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8I Spy A Diva52/100
I Spy A Diva is a smart performer who arrives off the back of a solid third last time out. Has placed twice at today's trip from five attempts and showed ability on good to soft ground with a win and two places from three runs. Races prominently.
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9Queen Maeve50/100
Queen Maeve is a smart performer who landed a 2m novice at Hereford on her final start last season. She now steps up in trip for the first time which asks a fresh question while the dam's limited record as a producer offers no strong clues. Races held up and drops in class.
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10Hot Goddess48/100
Hot Goddess is a smart performer who arrives off a solid string of placed efforts and holds an official rating of 107. Has been placed at today's trip without winning and has shown nothing on good to soft ground in two previous tries. Races prominently and drops in class.
KTB verdict
Masked Dance looks the one to beat. A smart performer in solid form after a string of placed efforts, he has already won twice on good to soft and twice at this trip, and his prominent style should see him ideally placed in a genuinely-run race. The selection can build on his recent fifth and take advantage of a track where both trainer and jockey operate at their normal level. Main dangers are Laysoft, whose yard and rider both boast strong Bangor figures, and the in-form Hornica, though both face questions over the longer trip. Betty's Daisy and Iamyouare, with their course placings and trip experience, complete the main cluster of threats.
KTB Selection Masked Dance
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:02am, 27 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Masked Dance | 25/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Laysoft | 28/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Hornica | 11/2 | Bet365, 12:02am |
| Betty's Daisy | 15/2 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Iamyouare | 8/1 | BoyleSports, 12:02am |
| Edith Pelham | 11/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Crystal Spring | 6/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| I Spy A Diva | 10/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Queen Maeve | 15/8 | Bet365, 12:02am |
| Hot Goddess | 10/1 | William Hill, 12:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:46 Bangor-on-Dee. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Bangor-on-Dee racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Bangor-on-Dee results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Bangor-on-Dee 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 highest KTB Fit Score and why does that matter here?
Masked Dance on 69/100. The KTB Fit Scores identify him clearly ahead of the next quartet who sit in the low-to-mid 50s, highlighting him as the top-rated in a competitive field of smart performers.
How many principals race prominently or on the lead?
All five principals have prominent or front-running run-styles: Masked Dance, Laysoft, Hornica and Iamyouare are prominent while Betty's Daisy is a front-runner.
Which runner has the strongest Bangor-on-Dee trainer-jockey combination on strike rate?
Laysoft, with the yard on 23 percent from 22 runs and Peter Kavanagh on 33 percent from 39 rides at the track.
Who has previous placed form at Bangor-on-Dee itself?
Iamyouare, who has finished second and third on his two starts at the track.
Which horses are dropping in class for this race?
Betty's Daisy, Edith Pelham, Queen Maeve and Hot Goddess are all dropping in class.
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