3:15 Haydock
This Class 4 handicap over six furlongs at Haydock on soft ground brings together a field of 14 where the KTB numbers highlight a competitive but open-looking affair. The top five in the Fit rankings are tightly bunched between 61 and 55, underlining how little separates many of these fair performers on current form. With no obvious front-runner in a steadily-run, tactical race, the ability to race handily or time a late challenge from a good draw will be key on this surface.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. Most of the field are held-up types who will be looking to produce their effort late, so the race is likely to develop into a test of timing and positioning from midfield or further back. The key question is whether any horse can get into a rhythm early enough to take advantage of the lack of pace pressure, particularly from those drawn low on the soft ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Woven KTB Selection61/100
Woven is a fair 10-year-old with a solid record at this trip and on soft ground, including two wins from 13 starts. He has won once from seven runs at Haydock and his recent form of 0-4729 shows he can still be competitive at this level. Trainer Michael Dods has a 12% strike rate from 453 runs here while jockey Connor Beasley is 0 from 2. Typically settling in midfield, he should be well placed to take advantage of the steadily-run affair. His course-and-distance record adds to his claims and he arrives with a KTB Fit of 61.
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2Milford60/100
Milford is a fair performer who has been in and out this year and arrives off the back of a solid second at Redcar. Drawn in stall one which could be an advantage on soft ground where he has shown he handles the surface with a win and two places from six attempts. The yard's modest 9% strike rate at Haydock is worth noting. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a steadily-run race. His recent form of 4-6092 suggests he retains enough ability to figure at this level with a KTB Fit of 60.
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3Wild Clary58/100
Wild Clary is a fair performer who has been consistent this year with form figures of 42314. He has already shown he handles soft ground and this trip, finishing placed both times he has tried them, and he was second when he ran here before. The Hannon yard posts a 12% strike rate at Haydock while Clifford Lee is in the saddle. Dropping in class, he is another who is usually held up and will be produced late. His placed effort on his sole previous visit to the track is a positive and he carries a KTB Fit of 58.
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4Territorial Knight56/100
Territorial Knight is a fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with two placed efforts from his last four starts. He has won over today's trip but is 0-2 on soft ground and makes his first visit to Haydock. The yard has a solid 10% strike rate here from a large sample. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need to overcome the lack of course experience in what looks a steadily-run race. His recent form of 5-5425 keeps him in the mix with a KTB Fit of 56.
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5Lord Bertie55/100
Lord Bertie is a fair performer who has shown his best form on soft ground, winning three times from seven starts. He has placed here before without winning and is proven at this trip, though his recent form of 600690 is patchy at best. The trainer holds a solid 12% strike rate at Haydock from a large sample. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he should be suited by the steadily-run nature of the race. His three wins from seven on soft ground mark him down as one for the conditions with a KTB Fit of 55.
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6Kodi Lion55/100
Kodi Lion is a fair performer who has won once from three starts at Haydock and holds a solid course connection. He drops back to 6f today having won twice at the trip from eight attempts, though his recent form of 905-99 is patchy and he is yet to score on soft ground despite one placed effort from four starts. The trainer operates at a 9% strike rate here from 195 runs.
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7Tip Foster53/100
Tip Foster is a fair sort who has shown ability in both starts, winning a 7f maiden before finishing third in a similar race last time. Drops back to 6f where he has already placed without winning, though whether that shorter trip will suit him remains to be seen. Trainer has a solid 14% strike rate at Haydock from 37 runs. He is unproven on soft ground.
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8Coachello52/100
Coachello is a fair handicapper who has won five times at this trip but arrives in ordinary form having failed to finish in the first four on his last five starts. He handles soft ground well enough with a win and two places from six attempts yet makes his first visit to Haydock from a wide draw. The yard's modest 5% strike rate here from 91 runs adds another negative.
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9Never Just A Dream50/100
Never Just A Dream is a fair performer who has won four times at this trip from 18 attempts and arrives in reasonable form having shown a bit of spark on his last two starts. First run at Haydock and no experience on soft ground both add unknowns while the trainer has yet to strike at the track from ten attempts. His recent efforts suggest he should be competitive if the new trip and surface suit.
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10Reciprocated50/100
Reciprocated is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip but has been out of form for some time with three heavy defeats this season. Soft ground clearly suits and he has shown he can win on it. Trainer's modest 5% strike rate at Haydock is a concern.
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11Cargin Bhui49/100
Cargin Bhui is a fair performer who arrives in decent nick after two placed efforts off this mark. Drops back to 6f having won twice at the trip earlier in his career, though he showed little on his only previous soft-ground start. The Barron yard has a solid 14% strike rate at Haydock while Orr takes the ride.
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12Grant Wood47/100
Grant Wood is a fair performer who has won over this trip five times from 30 starts and landed a race here from five visits. He has been out of sorts of late with a string of modest efforts and his only soft-ground run brought no joy. The trainer's modest record at Haydock adds a further note of caution.
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13Ran Amok47/100
Ran Amok is a fair performer who has shown some spark on his last two starts, finishing third and second. He has been tried on soft ground without success and was well held on his only previous visit to Haydock. The yard's solid 17% strike rate here offers some encouragement but his overall profile suggests he will need to improve to land this.
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14Trust Amy44/100
Trust Amy is a modest performer who has shown little spark this year and finished well held on both previous runs here. Drops back to 6f having won at the trip earlier in her career but recent form suggests she will struggle to get competitive from stall 7. Trainer's modest record at Haydock adds little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Woven is the KTB Selection. He brings a solid record at this trip and on soft ground, has won at Haydock before, and his recent efforts suggest he remains competitive at this level for a yard with a respectable strike rate at the track. The steadily-run pace should suit his midfield run-style and the draw is favourable. Main dangers include Milford, who is well drawn in stall one and handles soft ground, Wild Clary who is consistent and has already placed here, plus Territorial Knight and Lord Bertie who both have claims if the race sets up for the hold-up brigade.
KTB Selection Woven
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:07 UTC, 4 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Woven | 7/2 | Bet Victor |
| Milford | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Wild Clary | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Territorial Knight | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Lord Bertie | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Kodi Lion | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| Tip Foster | 15/2 | Midnite |
| Coachello | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Never Just A Dream | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Reciprocated | 22/1 | Bet365 |
| Cargin Bhui | 25/1 | 7Bet |
| Grant Wood | 11/1 | 7Bet |
| Ran Amok | 12/1 | Bet Victor |
| Trust Amy | 50/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 3:15 Haydock. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Haydock racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Haydock results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best course record at Haydock among the principals?
Woven has won once from seven runs at Haydock.
How many of the field are proven winners on soft ground?
Woven has two wins from 13 on soft, Milford has one win from six, Lord Bertie has three wins from seven, Coachello has one win from six, and Reciprocated has one win from two.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Haydock in this race?
Hugo Palmer has a 17% strike rate at Haydock from 234 runs.
Who is the only horse in the field with a previous win at this course and distance?
Woven has won here over this trip.
How does the lack of a leader affect the race shape?
It points to a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
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