2:47 Hamilton
This Class 5 handicap over 1m4f15y at Hamilton on soft ground brings together a field of 12 modest performers where recent course form and soft-ground ability are likely to prove decisive. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Perseus Way heading the numbers on 68 while the next four principals sit between 55 and 57. With no obvious front-runner in a race that lacks a leader, the pace is expected to be steady and tactical, placing a premium on those who can produce their effort at the right moment.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay dividends. Almost every runner is described as held up, suggesting the field will bunch early before the race unfolds in the final three furlongs. The key question is which of these late closers can time their run best on the soft surface, particularly from the inside to middle draws where the principals are clustered.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Perseus Way KTB Selection68/100
Perseus Way is a modest performer who has won all three of his starts at Hamilton and arrives in decent form after two wins this year. He is held up and usually produces his effort late, which should suit the steadily-run race anticipated here. The seven-year-old drops back to 1m4f having failed to score in two previous attempts at the trip and last ran over 1m5f. Tristan Davidson and Rowan Scott both hold solid records at the track, the trainer operating at a 21% strike rate with an A/E of 1.27. He has shown he handles soft ground with two wins from seven starts and three placings.
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2Rewired57/100
Rewired is a modest performer who has been largely consistent at a low level but is stepping up in trip today having shown his best form over shorter. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the tactical nature of this steadily-run race. He has been placed four times from ten starts on soft ground so the conditions should suit, though he has never won on it. The yard strikes at a solid 21% rate here at Hamilton while Jack Garritty records an 11% strike rate from his 170 rides at the track.
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3Humble Spark56/100
Humble Spark is a fair performer with a solid record here at Hamilton including a win from five runs. He is held up and usually produces his effort late with high confidence, fitting the shape of a race that may not be strongly run. Dropping in class, he returns to a trip he has won at twice from 14 starts though his recent form has been patchy and he is 0-3 on soft ground. Jim Goldie has a modest 10% strike-rate at the track from a large sample while 5lb claimer Lauren Young posts a solid 13% from her 67 rides here.
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4Fans Favourite55/100
Fans Favourite is a modest performer with a solid recent record that includes three wins on soft ground from just three attempts. He is held up and usually produces his effort late with high confidence, which could be an asset in this tactical contest. Stepping up in trip today having failed to score in one previous try at this distance, he makes his first appearance at Hamilton. Hugo Palmer holds a strong 24% strike rate at the track while Oisin Orr records a more modest 14% from his 135 rides here.
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5Unchartedterritory55/100
Unchartedterritory is a modest performer who has shown enough to be competitive at this level. Held up with high confidence in his run-style, he should find a position that allows him to deliver late in a steadily-run affair. He has placed on his only start on soft ground and again when tried over today's trip, though he has yet to win at either. His course run was poor yet David O'Meara's solid Hamilton record with Daniel Tudhope in the saddle offers some encouragement.
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6Yafreh55/100
Yafreh is a fair 3-year-old who has shown consistent placed form including a second over course and distance on his only visit to Hamilton. He steps up in trip again today having already placed once at this range, though the first-time headgear is an unknown, while the yard has a solid 12% strike rate here.
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7Northern Brave49/100
Northern Brave is a modest performer who has shown some consistency lately with a placed effort at this trip on his third attempt. First-time headgear is now applied and the yard has a solid record at Hamilton, though the soft ground remains an unknown with only seven runs on the board.
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8Sure And Stedfast48/100
Sure And Stedfast is a modest performer who has been placed on three of his five starts at Hamilton without winning. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m5f, with a placed effort at this distance from two attempts, though the trainer's modest 5% strike-rate here is a negative.
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9Helmsley46/100
Helmsley is a modest performer with a string of ordinary efforts this year and has never won. He drops back from 2m1f to a trip where he has been placed once in four tries, though he remains unproven on soft ground.
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10Spanish Hustle41/100
Spanish Hustle is a modest performer who has won six times here from 23 starts and knows his way around this track. He drops back to his winning distance today having last run over 1m5f, though he has been out of the frame in his last four starts and is 0-8 on soft ground with only a single placing.
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11Florida Dreams40/100
Florida Dreams is a modest performer who has shown consistent form of late with a string of respectable efforts including a third here over further. He drops back in trip to an untried distance today which asks a fresh question of him while the trainer has only a tiny sample at Hamilton.
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12Thequietman40/100
Thequietman is a modest performer who has struggled this year with a string of poor efforts culminating in a pulled-up run last time. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question while the wide draw in stall 12 is far from ideal on soft ground.
KTB verdict
Perseus Way stands out as the KTB Selection. He has won all three starts at Hamilton, arrives in decent form after two victories this year, and boasts strong trainer and jockey records at the track. The steadily-run race should suit his held-up style, and he has already shown he can handle soft ground. His main dangers are Rewired, who should appreciate the conditions having been placed multiple times on soft, and Humble Spark, who has a good record here and is dropping in class, while Fans Favourite and Unchartedterritory add further depth to a competitive field.
KTB Selection Perseus Way
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 21 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Perseus Way | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| Rewired | 60/1 | Dragon Bet |
| Humble Spark | 13/2 | 7Bet |
| Fans Favourite | 11/2 | 7Bet |
| Unchartedterritory | 9/2 | Bet365 |
| Yafreh | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Northern Brave | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Sure And Stedfast | 15/2 | Midnite |
| Helmsley | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Spanish Hustle | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Florida Dreams | 14/1 | 7Bet |
| Thequietman | 125/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:47 Hamilton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hamilton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Hamilton results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why does Perseus Way drop back in trip for this race?
He drops back to 1m4f having failed to score in two previous attempts at the trip and last ran over 1m5f.
How many wins has Perseus Way recorded at Hamilton?
He has won all three starts at Hamilton.
Which horse is making its first appearance at Hamilton?
Fans Favourite makes his first appearance at Hamilton.
What is the course record of Spanish Hustle at Hamilton?
He has won six times here from 23 starts.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Yafreh and Northern Brave are both wearing first-time headgear.
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