3:12 York
The John Smith's City Walls Stakes is a competitive Listed race over five furlongs at York on good to firm ground, featuring a field of 15 that includes several smart performers with previous form at the track. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Jm Jungle and Military Code sharing the highest mark of 69, followed by Starlust on 64, Luna A Inbhir Nis on 63 and American Affair on 61. Recent form is mixed across the principals, several of whom sport first-time headgear, and the race looks set to revolve around how the pace shape unfolds given the variety of run-styles on show.
How the race shapes up
With a strong pace shape indicated and several prominent runners in the field, the race is likely to be contested at a good clip from the start. Jm Jungle and American Affair are expected to go forward from their wide draws, while Starlust from stall one and Dickensian from three could also be prominent early. The key question is whether the leaders can sustain the gallop or if it sets things up for a closer like Military Code or Luna A Inbhir Nis to strike in the final furlong.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Jm Jungle KTB Selection69/100Smart performer who has won at this track and at today's trip.
- 2Military Code69/100
- 3Starlust64/100Smart performer with a solid record here, having won two of four starts at York.
- 4Luna A Inbhir Nis63/100Useful performer who has won at this trip and at this track.
- 5American Affair61/100Smart performer with a solid record at this trip and on this ground.
- 6Redorange60/100Redorange is a smart performer who has won twice at this trip but arrives in inconsistent form and was well held in a recent handicap.
- 7Washington Heights57/100Useful performer who has won once from six starts at this track and holds a solid record on good to firm ground with three wins from eleven attempts.
- 8Dickensian56/100Dickensian is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from just two runs here.
- 9Revival Power56/100
- 10Miss Attitude55/100Useful performer who has run well at this track in the past without winning.
- 11Heavenly Heather52/100Useful performer who has run to form on her one visit to York when finishing second.
- 12Aspect Island51/100
- 13Azure Angel48/100Useful performer who has won at this trip but has not convinced at York, finishing no better than third from three runs here.
- 14Lexington Blitz48/100Useful performer who has won four times at this trip but has looked limited on his only previous visit to York when finishing 15th.
- 15Naana's Shadow45/100Useful performer who has won four of her nine starts at this trip and showed her best form when landing a race here over the distance earlier this season.
The contenders
Jm Jungle KTB Fit 69/100
Jm Jungle is a smart performer who has won at this track and over today's trip. He has been out of sorts this season with three modest efforts from four starts and his recent form of 60-490 looks a clear negative. The John and Sean Quinn yard has a solid 15 percent strike rate at York from 40 runs while Jason Hart's own strike rate at the track is a more modest 8 percent. He has two wins from 15 starts on good to firm and has scored once from 12 runs here. From draw 10 he is likely to be prominent under Hart in a race with a strong pace shape.
Military Code KTB Fit 69/100
Military Code is a three-year-old with useful ability who has shown placed form at this track, finishing second on his sole visit. He has one win and two places from three starts on good to firm and his recent form of 0272-7 includes several competitive efforts. Charlie Appleby boasts a 17 percent strike rate at York while Connor Planas has an excellent 21 percent strike rate from a small sample of 14 rides at the track. Drawn in stall 11 he is expected to come from off the pace in a strongly-run race and remains an interesting contender at this level.
Starlust KTB Fit 64/100
Starlust is a smart performer with a solid record here, having won two of four starts at York. He has placed three times from eight runs on good to firm but is yet to win on the surface, while three wins from 11 attempts at this trip show he handles the distance. First-time headgear is now applied after two modest efforts this year. Ralph Beckett has a 13 percent strike rate at the track and Rossa Ryan a 13 percent strike rate from 165 rides here. Drawn in stall one he is likely to be to the fore in a race with a strong pace shape.
Luna A Inbhir Nis KTB Fit 63/100
Luna A Inbhir Nis is a useful performer who has won at this trip and at this track. She has been competitive on good to firm ground with two places from three starts and her recent form of 5-0362 shows she remains in the mix at this level. Katie Scott has a modest 8 percent strike rate at York from 25 runs but this is offset by Ray Dawson's strong 22 percent strike rate from 36 rides at the track. From draw six she could be ridden prominently and looks set to go well once more.
American Affair KTB Fit 61/100
American Affair is a smart performer with a solid record at this trip and on this ground. He has won here before and his recent form of 51-020 includes a second at Listed level so he remains competitive at this level. The yard has a modest 5 percent strike rate at York from a large sample and Paul Mulrennan's own record is 6 percent from 613 rides here. With three wins from eight starts on good to firm he handles the surface well and from the wide draw of 15 he is likely to be sent forward early in a race that should be strongly run.
The rest of the field
RedorangeKTB Fit 60/100
Redorange is a smart performer who has won twice at this trip but arrives in inconsistent form and was well held in a recent handicap. He has run only once at York when finishing eighth and first-time headgear is now applied after a string of ordinary efforts. The trainer has a modest 9 percent strike rate at the track from a large sample while the jockey matches that figure from far more rides.
Washington HeightsKTB Fit 57/100
Washington Heights is a useful performer who has won once from six starts at this track and holds a solid record on good to firm ground with three wins from eleven attempts. He has won at this trip as well yet his recent form of 00-081 is mixed and the yard's modest 8 percent strike rate at York from a huge sample is another negative. The jockey's own 4 percent record here from 622 rides adds a further note of caution.
DickensianKTB Fit 56/100
Dickensian is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from just two runs here. He has been placed twice on good to firm ground without winning on it and his recent form includes a win and two placed efforts in similar company. He is stepping up in class and both the yard and jockey have modest strike rates at York.
Revival PowerKTB Fit 56/100
Revival Power is a three-year-old who is stepping up in class. He has won at this track and has two wins from four starts on good to firm but his recent form of 115-70 is mixed. The yard has a modest 6 percent strike rate at York from a very large sample and the jockey's own record here is 6 percent.
Miss AttitudeKTB Fit 55/100
Miss Attitude is a useful performer who has run well at this track in the past without winning. She has won on good to firm ground and at this trip but her recent form is patchy and first-time headgear is now applied. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at York.
Heavenly HeatherKTB Fit 52/100
Heavenly Heather is a useful performer who has run to form on her one visit to York when finishing second. She has won over today's 5f trip but her record on good to firm ground is poor with no placed efforts from two starts. The yard and jockey both have modest strike rates at the track.
Aspect IslandKTB Fit 51/100
Aspect Island is a three-year-old who has placed on his sole visit to York. He has shown some ability at this trip but his recent form of 3-7300 is modest and first-time headgear is now tried. He has no placed efforts from three starts on good to firm and both trainer and jockey have below-average records at the track.
Azure AngelKTB Fit 48/100
Azure Angel is a useful performer who has won at this trip but has not convinced at York, finishing no better than third from three runs here. First-time headgear is now tried after a string of modest efforts. Trainer and jockey both have below-average strike rates at the track.
Lexington BlitzKTB Fit 48/100
Lexington Blitz is a useful performer who has won four times at this trip but has looked limited on his only previous visit to York when finishing 15th. First-time headgear is now applied after a mixed bag of results this year that include two placed efforts from his last three starts. He is stepping up in class and both trainer and jockey operate at a 5 percent strike rate here from large sample sizes.
Naana's ShadowKTB Fit 45/100
Naana's Shadow is a useful performer who has won four of her nine starts at this trip and showed her best form when landing a race here over the distance earlier this season. She acts on a variety of ground but has never tackled good to firm so that remains an unknown. She is stepping up in class, the yard has a modest record at York and the jockey is operating below his usual level at the track.
KTB verdict
Jm Jungle is the KTB Selection. He remains a smart performer who has won at York and over five furlongs, and the yard's solid record at the track offers encouragement despite his recent modest efforts. The selection can bounce back in a race that should suit his prominent style given the strong pace shape on offer. Main dangers are Military Code, who brings strong trainer and jockey figures along with placed form at the track, Starlust with his excellent York record and first-time headgear, and Luna A Inbhir Nis who has been competitive of late and boasts a fine jockey record here. American Affair cannot be ruled out either given his Listed-placed form and proven ability on good to firm.
KTB Selection Jm Jungle
This is the narrative read of the 3:12 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best recent York record among the principals?
Starlust has won two of four starts at York.
How many of the principals are wearing headgear for the first time?
Starlust is the only principal wearing first-time headgear.
Which horse has the strongest jockey track record at York among the principals?
Connor Planas has a 21 percent strike rate at York from 14 rides, riding Military Code.
Who has won the most times at today's trip among the principals?
Jm Jungle and Luna A Inbhir Nis have both won at this trip, with American Affair also having a solid record at the distance.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at York among those with principals in the race?
Charlie Appleby has a 17 percent strike rate at York with Military Code.
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