3:20 Beverley
This Class 4 handicap over 1m 100y at Beverley on soft ground brings together a field of 13 where recent form is mixed and several runners enter off the back of modest runs. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Walsingham heading the list on 64, closely followed by The Sweet Escape on 62 and Nostrum on 61. Overall the numbers point to a competitive race in which course experience, soft-ground ability and the ability to handle a strong pace will be key.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners present the pace shape is likely to be strong, which raises the prospect of the leaders coming back to the field in the closing stages. Nostrum and Golden Redemption are both inclined to make the running or race prominently, while Panelli tends to go forward from stall 13. That sets up a race in which hold-up performers should be favoured as the pace collapses late, posing the key question of which closers can time their effort best once the early speed has done its work.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Walsingham KTB Selection64/100
Walsingham is a fair performer who has won four times at this trip from 19 attempts and also holds a solid record on soft ground with one win and two places from three starts. He arrives in modest recent form having managed only one win from his last 23 starts and now makes his first visit to Beverley from stall 12. The selection is a usual hold-up performer who produces his effort late, which looks ideal given the expected strong pace. Trainer David O'Meara has a 14% strike rate here from 683 runs while apprentice Conor Whiteley is having his first ride at the track. The combination of proven stamina at the trip, a good record on soft ground and the favourable run-style gives him every chance to rebound.
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2The Sweet Escape62/100
The Sweet Escape is a fair performer who arrives in excellent order after three wins from her last four starts and has already proved herself at Beverley by winning both previous visits. She has also won twice at today's trip so the distance is no issue. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she should be suited by the anticipated strong pace that could collapse. Trainer David Loughnane has a 17% strike rate at Beverley from 88 runs and jockey Laura Pearson boasts a 21% strike rate from 14 rides at the track. The only question is how she will handle soft ground having never raced on it before, yet her progressive profile and course record make her a major player.
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3Nostrum61/100
Nostrum is a fair performer who has been out of form for much of this year with a string of modest efforts. He drops back to a trip he has won at before while the yard's respectable 12% strike rate at Beverley offers some encouragement. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he could set a strong gallop that may ultimately play into the hands of the hold-up horses. Only placed once from two starts on soft ground and this is his first run here. Jockey Jason Hart and trainer Michael Appleby combine with modest figures at the track, yet the drop in class and his front-running style could see him go well for a long way.
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4On The River59/100
On The River is a fair performer who has won twice at Beverley from seven runs and holds a strong record on soft ground with five wins from eleven starts. He has been consistent enough this year without quite landing a blow in recent starts and looks suited by this trip having won eight times from thirty-six attempts. A usual hold-up performer who produces his effort late, he is well placed to capitalise if the strong pace collapses. Trainer Harriet Bethell has a solid 16% strike rate here from 31 runs while jockey Tom Kiely-Marshall has limited experience at the track. His course record and proven effectiveness on soft ground make him a live contender.
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5Wondrous Light58/100
Wondrous Light is a fair performer who has won both starts at this track including over today's trip. He has a solid recent record and the trainer holds a strong 17% strike rate here from 41 runs. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be at home if the race develops with a strong pace up front. Jockey Kevin Stott adds further strength to the booking with a 17% strike rate at Beverley from 295 rides. The negatives are his two runs on soft ground which produced no win or place, yet his unbeaten record at the venue cannot be ignored.
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6Hot Cash56/100
Hot Cash is a fair performer who has been consistent enough to place twice this year but has also run poorly on his last two starts. He handles soft ground well having won his only start on it and has scored at today's trip, though the trainer's modest record at Beverley is a slight concern on what is his first run here.
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7Tele Red53/100
Tele Red is a fair performer who has won once from a single run at Beverley. Recent form of 52212 shows consistent placed efforts and he has three wins from 12 starts on soft ground. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m2f though he has won at this distance before.
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8Highland Olly52/100
Highland Olly is a fair performer who has won once from four runs at Beverley and steps up in trip today having scored three times from seven starts at this distance. He has shown competitive form on soft ground without winning and his recent form of 042175 includes both placed efforts and lesser runs.
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9Priapos51/100
Priapos is a fair performer who has won four times at this trip from ten attempts and showed his best form when landing two handicaps earlier this season. He has been below that level on his last two starts and is 0-2 on soft ground, while his only run here produced a modest seventh.
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10Golden Redemption50/100
Golden Redemption is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and recent form that has included placed efforts at this level. He steps up in trip having looked stretched at 7f last time while his trainer operates at a modest 8% strike rate here from a large sample. No experience on soft ground adds another unknown.
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11Count Palatine49/100
Count Palatine is a fair performer who has run well at this track once before when finishing second. He has won on soft ground and is proven at this trip though he steps up from 7f today. The trainer's modest 11% strike rate at Beverley is backed by a large sample of 554 runs.
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12Financer43/100
Financer is a fair handicapper who has been in and out of form this year and ran respectably when fifth over course and distance on his only visit here. He has never won on soft ground from three attempts and is dropping back in trip today having been well held over 1m2f last time.
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13Panelli40/100
Panelli is a modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning, placing in four of his last six starts. He has won over today's trip but his only soft-ground run brought no joy and the trainer's modest 2% strike rate at Beverley offers little encouragement. Stall 13 adds another negative.
KTB verdict
Walsingham is the KTB Selection. A fair performer with four wins at this trip and a strong record on soft ground, he is ideally suited by the strong pace that is likely to unfold, given his usual hold-up run-style and late effort. The selection can rebound from modest recent form on his first visit to Beverley, with the yard's respectable record at the track providing further encouragement. The Sweet Escape, buoyed by excellent recent form and a perfect course record, is the most obvious danger, though her unproven status on soft ground is the main query. On The River and Wondrous Light, both with good course form and soft-ground credentials in the case of the former, complete the main threats in a race where the pace will likely sort the field late.
KTB Selection Walsingham
This is the narrative read of the 3:20 Beverley. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Beverley racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Beverley results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is proven at Beverley and on soft ground?
On The River has won twice at Beverley from seven runs and holds a strong record on soft ground with five wins from eleven starts.
Why is the strong pace expected to favour hold-up horses?
The pace shape is strong with two or more habitual front-runners present, which could cause the pace to collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
Which runner has the strongest recent form among the principals?
The Sweet Escape arrives in excellent order after three wins from her last four starts.
What are the main negatives for Wondrous Light?
His two runs on soft ground produced no win or place.
How does Nostrum's run-style fit the expected pace shape?
As a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is likely to be prominent in a race that is forecast to be strongly run.
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