2:55 Ffos Las
The 2:55 at Ffos Las is the RWK Goodman Veterans' Handicap Steeple Chase, Leg 6 of the Stayers' Veterans' Chase Series, a Class 2 contest over 2m7f177y on good to soft ground. A field of nine features several high-class performers on their day, with KTB Fit Scores tightly bunched at the top between 70 and 62 for the leading quartet. The race is notable for the presence of a lone leader with high confidence according to the pace shape, which sets an interesting test for those who race off the pace.
How the race shapes up
With a lone leader likely to have an uncontested lead according to the pace shape, the race should unfold with one horse dictating from the front while the remainder are held up. Hold Your Fort is the only front-runner in the line-up and can be expected to take that role, while the other eight principals and field runners are all held-up types who produce their effort late. The key question is whether the clear advantage of an uncontested lead can be pegged back by the closers on this stamina test, or whether the pace-setter can dictate matters throughout.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Fanion d'Estruval KTB Selection70/100
Fanion d'Estruval is a high-class performer with strong ratings and a solid race history. He drops back in trip having been placed once from two runs at this distance while showing clear ability on good to soft ground. The Rebecca Curtis yard has a 21% strike rate at Ffos Las from 496 runs with an A/E of 0.98, and Jamie Brace boasts a 20% strike rate at the track from 15 rides with an A/E of 1.28. This is the horse's first run at the course but he has a 1 win from 5 record on good to soft with 3 placed efforts. The combination of dropping in class, proven trainer and jockey course records, and ability on the surface makes him the KTB selection.
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2Sherborne70/100
Sherborne is a high-class performer with a solid recent record and strong course connections having won his only start here. He has three wins from 11 runs on good to soft ground and the Joe Tizzard yard holds a 17% strike rate at Ffos Las from 23 runs with an A/E of 1.42, while Freddie Gingell is even stronger at 33% from 9 rides with an A/E of 1.56. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he steps up in class and in trip for the first time in a while, though he has tried this distance once before without success. His course win and above-average trainer and jockey figures at the venue make him a major player.
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3Hold Your Fort66/100
Hold Your Fort is a high-class performer on his day with solid recent form including a win last time out. He has won three times at today's trip from seven attempts and has shown he handles good to soft ground with a win and three places from six runs. The Debra Hamer stable has a 10% strike rate at Ffos Las from 221 runs with an A/E of 1.06, and Shane Fenelon is on 7% from 42 rides with an A/E of 1.3. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he represents the lone leader in a race with a clear pace advantage on paper. Course form is a clear negative though with three runs yielding no better than fifth and no placed efforts.
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4Iron Bridge62/100
Iron Bridge is a high-class performer who has won over course and distance. He drops back in trip today having last run over further and holds a solid record on good to soft ground with two wins and five places from eight starts. The Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill team has a 13% strike rate at Ffos Las from 31 runs with an A/E of 0.88, while Jonjo O'Neill Jr. is on 9% from 98 rides with an A/E of 0.55. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he brings strong ability and a C&D success to the table despite the yard and jockey figures being below average at the track.
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5The Boola Boss57/100
The Boola Boss is a smart performer who has placed three times from four runs at this track without winning. He showed his best form when winning at this trip on good to soft last season and arrives in decent order after a recent third. The Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen combination both hold solid 21% strike rates at Ffos Las from large samples, and he is usually held up.
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6Nocte Volatus56/100
Nocte Volatus is a high-class performer on his day with a solid record at this trip including two wins from four starts. He has been placed on good to soft ground but his record on that surface is modest overall with just two wins from thirteen runs. Course form shows two fourths from two runs here while both trainer and jockey have below-par strike rates at Ffos Las, and he is usually held up.
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7Guard Your Dreams56/100
Guard Your Dreams is a high-class performer with strong ratings and a solid career record including multiple wins. He steps up in trip today having been placed once at this distance without winning and has a respectable record on good to soft ground. The yard has a modest 14 percent strike rate here from just seven runners while Sam Twiston-Davies holds a solid 17 percent from 420 rides at the track, and he is usually held up.
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8Lermoos Legend54/100
Lermoos Legend is a smart performer with a solid record here, including three wins from eight runs at Ffos Las. He has been consistent this year with a string of placed efforts and handles good to soft ground well with three wins from nine starts. Stepping up in trip today asks a fresh question as he has failed to win in two previous attempts at this distance, and he is usually held up.
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9Lord Accord52/100
Lord Accord is a high-class performer with a solid career record who has already won at today's trip. He has shown useful form on good to soft ground with three wins from ten starts and looks to have the class to make his presence felt despite a recent dip. Trainer and jockey both have established records at Ffos Las though neither is particularly strong, and he is usually held up.
KTB verdict
Fanion d'Estruval is the KTB Selection. A high-class performer with strong ratings who drops back in trip and in class while showing clear ability on good to soft, he benefits from the trainer and jockey both holding proven records at Ffos Las. The race shape with its lone leader could suit a horse coming from off the pace if the leader is vulnerable, and his placed effort at the trip adds to the appeal. Main dangers are Sherborne, who brings a course win and strong trainer and jockey figures at the track, and Hold Your Fort, who is likely to make the running and has a strong record at the trip. Iron Bridge cannot be dismissed either given his C&D success and high-class ability.
KTB Selection Fanion d'Estruval
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:14 UTC, 14 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Fanion d'Estruval | 16/1 | Midnite |
| Hold Your Fort | 6/1 | Midnite |
| The Boola Boss | 5/1 | Midnite |
| Lermoos Legend | 9/2 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 2:55 Ffos Las. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ffos Las racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ffos Las results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Ffos Las racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to take the uncontested lead?
Hold Your Fort is the only front-runner in the field and tends to make the running or race on the pace.
How many wins has Fanion d'Estruval recorded on good to soft ground?
Fanion d'Estruval has 1 win from 5 on good to soft with 3 placed efforts.
Which runners have previous course wins at Ffos Las?
Sherborne has won here from 1 run, Iron Bridge has won here from 1 run, and Lermoos Legend has won here 3 times from 8 runs.
What is the combined Ffos Las strike rate for the trainer and jockey of the selection?
Rebecca Curtis has a 21% strike rate at Ffos Las from 496 runs, while Jamie Brace has a 20% strike rate from 15 rides.
Which horse has the strongest recent form at the trip among the principals?
Hold Your Fort has won three times at today's trip from seven attempts.
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