3:07 Fontwell
This Class 5 mares' handicap hurdle over 2m3f29y at Fontwell features a compact field of six where the KTB Fit scores point to a competitive but not especially deep contest. Diamond White tops the ratings with a 63 Fit and is the clear KTB Selection, while the next three principals sit in a narrow band from 54 down to 51. With every runner unproven on the prevailing ground the race carries a layer of unknowns, and the overall numbers suggest the outcome will hinge on which horse handles the conditions and the tactical pace best.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is muddling and tactical with medium confidence and no obvious front-runner, which should play into the hands of those ridden close to the pace. Three of the four principals like to race prominently, so the early fractions are likely to be set by a combination of Diamond White, Border Gem and It's Easy. Inion Tiogair and the two field runners prefer to be held up, meaning the race could tighten up quickly from halfway and the key question will be whether the prominent trio can dictate matters or if the hold-up performers will be able to pick their way through in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Diamond White KTB Selection63/100
Diamond White is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and recent placed efforts at this level, with form figures of 2-7226 underlining her consistency. She drops back in trip here and sports first-time headgear in a bid to sharpen her up. The O'Neill yard fires at a solid 23% strike-rate at Fontwell with an A/E of 1.2 from 40 runs, though the mare showed little when seventh on her only previous visit to the track. Richie McLernon takes the ride; he has a 12% strike-rate at the venue from 214 rides with an A/E of 0.93. She remains unproven on the ground and her trainer-jockey combination shows 26 wins from 216 rides at 12% with an A/E of 0.95 and +£32.69 LSP.
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2Inion Tiogair54/100
Inion Tiogair is a useful performer who has won three of her five starts at this trip and arrives in solid form after a string of placed efforts, reflected in her recent figures of 21311-. Now aged nine, she has never run at Fontwell and remains unproven on the prevailing ground, both of which add an element of uncertainty. Grace Harris has yet to record a winner from seven runs at the track, while claiming jockey Joe Anderson is 7% at Fontwell with an A/E of 0.44 from 30 rides. The trainer-jockey partnership has a 19% strike-rate from 86 runners with an A/E of 1.43 and +£59.75 LSP. She will be held up in the early stages in a race that could suit her style given the muddling pace.
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3Border Gem53/100
Border Gem is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a string of placed efforts and a respectable fifth last time out, with figures reading 4525-5. Dropping in class and back from 3m1f to a trip at which she has been placed once from two starts, she remains unproven on the current ground. This is her first run at Fontwell. Jeremy Scott has a 16% strike-rate here from 147 runs with an A/E of 0.92, while Rex Dingle is operating at 18% from 200 rides with an A/E of 0.9. The trainer-jockey record stands at 13% from 375 rides with an A/E of 0.87 and -£20.20 LSP. Usually prominent, she should be on or close to the lead in a race that looks tactical.
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4It's Easy51/100
It's Easy is a useful performer on his day with a solid recent win on his record and strong data confidence from ratings and history, shown by figures of 3187P-. He showed promise when second on his only previous run here, though the trainer's record at Fontwell is poor at 0% from nine runs. Stepping up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance, he remains unproven on the ground. Adam Wedge takes the mount with a 9% strike-rate at the track from 161 rides and an A/E of 0.71. The trainer-jockey combination is 9% from 22 rides with an A/E of 0.63 and -£13.62 LSP. He likes to race prominently and should be handy in a muddling pace.
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5Eastern Shores49/100
Eastern Shores is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at a lower level and arrives here off the back of a recent run, with figures of 3256-7. He has already tried this trip once without success and steps up in distance again today, which asks a fresh question. Fergal O'Brien holds a solid 14% strike-rate at Fontwell from 76 runs with an A/E of 0.7, while the horse himself could only manage fourth on his sole visit to the track. Usually held up, he will be produced late.
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6Follow The Plan40/100
Follow The Plan showed fair form when third on hurdling debut at Taunton and has since been given time to strengthen up, with figures of 939-. Stepping up in trip today having looked short of pace over two miles last time, which could suit, while first-time headgear is also applied. David Pipe has a solid 17% strike-rate at Fontwell from 325 runs with an A/E of 0.86. Usually held up, he will race in rear.
KTB verdict
Diamond White is the KTB Selection. She is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and recent placed efforts at this level, and the first-time headgear coupled with the drop back in trip may help her show her best. The O'Neill yard's healthy 23% strike-rate at Fontwell adds to the appeal despite her modest display on her only previous visit. The main dangers are Inion Tiogair, who brings strong trip form and recent solidity but faces questions about the track and ground, and Border Gem, who drops in class and should be prominent. It's Easy cannot be dismissed either given his previous promise here, though the yard's poor Fontwell record is a concern.
KTB Selection Diamond White
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 21 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond White | 9/4 | Bet365 |
| Inion Tiogair | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Border Gem | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| It's Easy | 10/1 | William Hill |
| Eastern Shores | 4/1 | 7Bet |
| Follow The Plan | 9/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 3:07 Fontwell. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Fontwell racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Fontwell results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Fontwell racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is the KTB Selection and what is its Fit score?
Diamond White is the KTB Selection with a Fit score of 63.
How many of the runners are proven on the prevailing ground?
None of the six runners have any recorded form on the prevailing ground and are all listed as unproven.
Which horses are likely to race prominently given the muddling pace shape?
Diamond White, Border Gem and It's Easy are all noted as prominent runners who usually race handily or close to the lead.
What is the trainer's strike-rate at Fontwell for the yard of the selection?
Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill have a 23% strike-rate at Fontwell with an A/E of 1.2 from 40 runs.
Which runner is dropping in class and also has the lowest OR in the field?
Follow The Plan is dropping in class and has the lowest official rating of 81.
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