3:20 Stratford
The 3:20 at Stratford is a competitive Class 3 handicap steeplechase over 2m3f98y on soft ground, featuring a field of ten with several high-class performers dropping in class. KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Go West heading the list on 65, closely followed by Issam and George's Lad on 64. The race carries GBB status and looks set to be strongly run, placing emphasis on stamina and positioning in the latter stages.
How the race shapes up
With a strong pace confidently predicted, the presence of multiple habitual front-runners including Go West, Gatineau Park, Jipcot and Big Ticket ensures an early battle for the lead. This shape is likely to test those racing prominently and could see the pace collapse in the closing stages, playing to the strengths of hold-up performers such as George's Lad and Mr Hope Street. The key question is whether the front-runners can dictate terms or if the race will fall into the hands of patient riders coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Go West KTB Selection65/100
Go West is a high-class performer with a solid recent record of 23144-. He drops back in trip to 2m3f where he has won once from two starts, and he has shown ability on soft ground with one win and a place from two runs. Paul Nicholls has a 26% strike rate at Stratford from 305 runs, in line with his record elsewhere, while Freddie Gingell boasts a 33% strike rate at the track from just nine rides. This is the horse's first appearance at Stratford and he tends to make the running or race on the pace. As the KTB Selection he is taken to capitalise on the drop in class and the strongly-run nature of the race.
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2Issam64/100
Issam is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last five starts. He has won four times from seven runs on soft ground and has also won twice from four starts at today's trip though he now drops back from 2m4f. Tom Symonds has a 7% strike rate at Stratford from 27 runs, in line with his overall record, while Gavin Sheehan holds an 18% strike rate at the venue from 250 rides. This is the horse's first run at Stratford and he typically settles in midfield. The combination of soft-ground prowess and proven ability at the trip makes him a major player.
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3George's Lad64/100
George's Lad is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form after a recent third and has already won at today's trip. Emma Lavelle has a 19% strike rate at Stratford from 221 runs which is above her overall figure while Jonathan Burke has a 10% strike rate at the track from 120 rides. He has had only one run on soft ground so far without success and this will be his first appearance here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited by the expected strong pace that could collapse in the straight. The yard's above-average record at the course adds further interest.
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4Gatineau Park62/100
Gatineau Park is a high-class performer who arrives on the back of two wins from his last three starts. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance on his only previous attempt, and he has shown he handles soft ground with one win from three runs. Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls are 0% from seven at Stratford while Tom Bellamy has a 13% strike rate at the track from 121 rides. A confirmed front-runner with high confidence in that run-style, he is sure to be prominent early in what is set to be a strongly-run affair. Stepping up in class adds a layer of difficulty but his recent progress cannot be ignored.
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5Mr Hope Street60/100
Mr Hope Street is a high-class performer who arrives off the back of a win last time out. He has won on soft ground from limited attempts and his yard posts a 23% strike rate at Stratford from 373 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton combine with a 22% strike rate from 6428 rides together. Dropping back in trip to an untried 2m3f poses a fresh question while this is his first run at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be well suited by the strong pace that is anticipated.
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6Onemorefortheroad58/100
Onemorefortheroad is a high-class 11-year-old who has won once from two starts at Stratford and is dropping back to a trip where he has already scored once from three attempts. He showed he remains competitive when runner-up on his return last time after a long break, though the placed effort on soft ground came without a win. Trainer Neil King operates at a 15% strike rate here, in line with his overall record, while Jack Quinlan has a 0% strike rate at Stratford from four rides. Usually races prominently with high confidence.
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7Lounge Lizard56/100
Lounge Lizard is high-class on his day with a solid official rating of 125 and a career that includes two soft-ground wins from ten starts. He drops back from 3m to a trip where he has been placed once in two runs, though he has never been to Stratford before in 25 starts. Trainer Sarah Humphrey records a 14% strike rate here from 51 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. He usually races handily, on or close to the lead.
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8Bucksy des Epeires55/100
Bucksy des Epeires is a high-class performer on his day who arrives off a 122 official rating and has already won twice at today's trip. He drops back from 3m to 2m3f on soft ground where he is 1-6 with two places. Trainer Venetia Williams holds a 16% strike rate at Stratford from 212 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while this is the horse's first run at the track. He typically settles in midfield.
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9Jipcot55/100
Jipcot is a high-class performer on his official rating of 131 with a solid recent record that includes a win and two placed efforts from his last five starts. He drops back in trip today having failed to win in two previous runs at this distance and has only one win from eight starts on soft ground. The yard has a 3% strike rate at Stratford from 29 runs which is in line with their record elsewhere while this is his first appearance at the course. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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10Big Ticket50/100
Big Ticket is a high-class performer who has shown strong form this year with a win and two placed efforts from his last four starts. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance on his only previous attempt and the yard have a 16% strike rate at Stratford from 31 runs which is in line with their record elsewhere. The jockey also has a 17% strike rate at the track from 440 rides though the small sample on soft ground leaves that side of his profile unknown. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
KTB verdict
Go West stands out as the KTB Selection in a race full of high-class performers. His proven ability at the trip, solid record on soft ground and the trainer-jockey combination's strong figures at Stratford give him a compelling profile, particularly as he drops in class and can make the running in a race expected to be strongly run. The main dangers are headed by Issam, who boasts an excellent soft-ground record and prior success at similar distances, and George's Lad, whose hold-up style should be perfectly suited to the anticipated pace collapse. Gatineau Park and Mr Hope Street add further depth to what looks a typically competitive Stratford handicap.
KTB Selection Go West
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:03am, 29 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Go West | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Issam | 17/2 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| George's Lad | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Gatineau Park | 2/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Mr Hope Street | 10/3 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Onemorefortheroad | 16/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Lounge Lizard | 66/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Bucksy des Epeires | 16/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Jipcot | 11/2 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Big Ticket | 15/2 | Bet365, 12:03am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:20 Stratford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Stratford racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Stratford results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Stratford racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is dropping back in trip after winning at this distance on its only previous attempt?
Gatineau Park drops back in trip today having won at this distance on his only previous attempt.
How many wins has Issam recorded on soft ground?
Issam has won four times from seven runs on soft ground.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Stratford among those represented?
Paul Nicholls has a 26% strike rate at Stratford from 305 runs.
Which runners are confirmed front-runners in a strongly-run race?
Go West, Gatineau Park, Jipcot and Big Ticket are all front-runners or tend to make the running.
Who has won at Stratford previously in this field?
Onemorefortheroad has won here once from two starts.
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