3:35 Cheltenham
The 3:35 at Cheltenham is a competitive Class 2 handicap steeple chase over 1m7f199y on good ground, featuring a field of nine high-class performers. Several hold strong course records at Prestbury Park, with official ratings ranging from 123 to 158, and the KTB Fit scores cluster tightly between 43 and 63. The race asks pertinent questions around trip suitability for some and whether the strong pace will play into the hands of those who can come from off it.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners and a strong pace likely, the race is set to be run at a searching gallop from early on. Traprain Law, Duke of Luckley and Sans Bruit are all prone to take the field along or race prominently, while Soul Icon, JPR One, Calico, Sky Lord, Palacio and In The Air will all be handily placed. This shape could see the pace collapse late on, posing the key question of whether any hold-up horses can pick up the pieces or if the prominent racers will be able to sustain their efforts.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Soul Icon63/100
Soul Icon is a high-class performer with a solid career record and an official rating of 140. He has won at this track from three runs and shows a strong record on good ground with eight wins from 18 starts. The step up in trip today asks a fresh question while the trainer's 8% strike rate at Cheltenham from 24 runs sits in line with his overall record. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he arrives with recent form of 45B-62 and is likely to be in the thick of things early. The combination of course success and proven ability on the ground makes him a major player in what looks a stiff test.
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2JPR One KTB Selection63/100
JPR One is a high-class performer who has placed twice from seven runs at Cheltenham without winning. He has won at today's trip and holds a solid official rating of 158, though his recent form of 21442- shows mixed results. Trainer records an 8% strike rate at the course from 86 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he drops in class today which could bring out further improvement. With Brendan Powell in the saddle, this looks a prime opportunity for a horse who has the class to take a hand in a race run at a strong gallop.
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3Calico60/100
Calico is a high-class performer with a solid Cheltenham record that includes two wins from eight runs here. He has dropped back to a trip he has won at five times from 20 starts though his recent form of 1404-5 is a bit patchy. The yard’s 12% strike rate at the track from 592 runs sits below their 19% at other courses while Harry Skelton’s record at Cheltenham is not supplied. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, the ten-year-old retains plenty of ability and his course form makes him a dangerous contender. On good ground he has three wins from 19 starts and should be thereabouts if the strong pace takes its toll on those up front.
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4Traprain Law57/100
Traprain Law is a high-class performer with a solid recent record including a win and two places from his last five starts. Has run twice at Cheltenham without placing and the yard's 11% strike rate from nine runs here is in line with their record at other courses. Drops back in trip today having won three times from ten starts at this distance while going form shows one win and three places from four runs on good ground. A habitual front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he could set a strong gallop that may ultimately play against him late on. The booking of Mr Lucas Murphy claims 7lb and adds to the interest in a race where his prominent style could either see him dominate or fold under pressure.
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5Duke of Luckley57/100
Duke of Luckley is a high-class performer who arrives in strong form after three wins from his last four completed starts. He has won five times from 11 starts at today's trip and holds a solid record on good ground with six wins from 21 runs. The trainer's 9% strike rate at Cheltenham is in line with his record at other courses while this is the horse's first appearance here. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he steps up in class today.
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6Sky Lord52/100
Sky Lord is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent record that includes a win and a third. He has winning form over today's trip but drops back from 2m1½f having finished eighth on his only previous run at Cheltenham. The yard's 12% strike rate at the track is in line with their record elsewhere while he has won on good ground. Usually races handily on or close to the lead.
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7Sans Bruit50/100
Sans Bruit is a high-class performer who has shown consistent form this season with three placed efforts from his last five starts. He has run just once at Cheltenham, finishing fifth, while trainer Paul Nicholls records a 13% strike rate here from 1,908 runs which is below his 24% at other tracks. The drop back to this trip looks a positive as he has two wins from ten starts at the distance, though he is only 1-6 on good ground. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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8Palacio46/100
Palacio is a high-class performer with a solid official rating of 131 and useful recent form that includes a win and a placed effort. He has shown ability at Cheltenham with a third on his only visit and holds a 1-from-3 record on good ground. Drops back in trip today having won twice from seven starts at this distance. Usually races handily on or close to the lead.
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9In The Air43/100
In The Air is a high-class performer on his day with a solid recent record of 7-4121 and six wins from 13 starts on good ground. Steps up in trip today having already won twice at this distance from seven attempts. Trainer is 0% from 32 runs at Cheltenham which is below their 11% at other tracks while the horse himself finished only sixth on his one previous run here. Usually races handily on or close to the lead.
KTB verdict
This looks a strong handicap with several high-class performers lining up. JPR One is the KTB Selection, a high-class performer who has placed twice from seven runs at Cheltenham and has won at today's trip from an official rating of 158. Dropping in class looks a positive and his prominent run-style should see him well placed to handle the strong pace that is anticipated. Soul Icon, Calico and Traprain Law head the list of dangers, with the former two boasting strong course records and the latter likely to set the early fractions. The race could be decided late if the pace does indeed collapse as expected.
KTB Selection JPR One
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:21am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Icon | 11/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| JPR One | 7/2 | 7Bet, 1:18am |
| Calico | 7/2 | 7Bet, 1:18am |
| Traprain Law | 4/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Duke of Luckley | 50/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Sky Lord | 11/2 | William Hill, 1:18am |
| Sans Bruit | 9/1 | Bet365, 1:18am |
| Palacio | 10/1 | Bet Victor, 1:18am |
| In The Air | 28/1 | William Hill, 1:18am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:35 Cheltenham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cheltenham racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cheltenham results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Cheltenham racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest official rating in the field?
JPR One on 158.
How many Cheltenham wins does Calico have from his eight runs here?
Two.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Cheltenham for the yard of the selection JPR One?
8% from 86 runs.
Which runners are noted as front-runners in a race with a strong pace likely?
Traprain Law, Duke of Luckley and Sans Bruit.
How many wins has Soul Icon recorded on good ground from 18 starts?
Eight.
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